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Forensics Help Truman Students Solve Mystery
February 10, 2015
Sixth-grade science students at Truman Middle School interviewed staff, analyzed forensic evidence and checked alibis during three days in January, to find out who stole a well known Marvin the Martian drawing from the main hallway. The detective work was all part of their genetics and DNA unit in science class, which is taught by Jessica Bockskopf and Andrew Althage.
Students were briefed at the crime scene, and learned that the picture disappeared following a staff appreciation dinner in the cafeteria. There were no witnesses, but Mr. Althage and Mrs. Bockskopf were able to collect evidence at the scene, including a small hair, a splash of blood and a shard of picture frame, a footprint and half of a fingerprint.
From there, students interviewed 28 potential suspects, collected alibis and blood types, analyzed blood, fingerprints, and a footprint, and compared sequence DNA to determine who stole the picture. Students blanketed the building interviewing teachers and delivering search warrants.
When the investigation was complete, students determined that two teachers worked together to steal the picture -- Special School District teacher Katie Woepke and eighth grade science teacher Jamie O’Daniel. They shared the findings with their teachers, who called School Resource Officer Jeff Kriska and asked him to apprehend the suspects while they recovered the lost picture.
Sixth-grade science students at Truman Middle School interviewed staff, analyzed forensic evidence and checked alibis during three days in January, to find out who stole a well known Marvin the Martian drawing from the main hallway. The detective work was all part of their genetics and DNA unit in science class, which is taught by Jessica Bockskopf and Andrew Althage.
Students were briefed at the crime scene, and learned that the picture disappeared following a staff appreciation dinner in the cafeteria. There were no witnesses, but Mr. Althage and Mrs. Bockskopf were able to collect evidence at the scene, including a small hair, a splash of blood and a shard of picture frame, a footprint and half of a fingerprint.
From there, students interviewed 28 potential suspects, collected alibis and blood types, analyzed blood, fingerprints, and a footprint, and compared sequence DNA to determine who stole the picture. Students blanketed the building interviewing teachers and delivering search warrants.
When the investigation was complete, students determined that two teachers worked together to steal the picture -- Special School District teacher Katie Woepke and eighth grade science teacher Jamie O’Daniel. They shared the findings with their teachers, who called School Resource Officer Jeff Kriska and asked him to apprehend the suspects while they recovered the lost picture.