Forensics: Crime Scene Detective – Barrel Secrets Walkthrough

Barrel Secrets Evidence Overview

Evidence given:
Fingerprint (Anna Schneider)
Fingerprint (Markus Schneider)
Biological Sample (Anna Schneider)
Biological Sample (Markus Schneider)
DNA Profile (Dieter Krause)
Fingerprint (Georg Schneider)

Photos and Evidence at the Crime Scene:
17x Fingerprint (Unknown)
2x General (Knife & Handgun)
4x Biological Sample
23x Crime Scene Photos

Web of Evidence Whiteboard Overview

Evidence to send:
17x Fingerprint Analysis
4x DNA Analysis

Briefing

Investigations commence after a phone call from Anna Schneider. She was clearing out the shed of her late grandfather, Georg Schneider, and found a barrel which contained a corpse. The body has already been removed by the forensic pathologists for examination.

Witness Statement Anna Schneider:
Her grandfather Georg Schneider had passed away a few months ago. After a period of grief she decided that it was time to clean out his house and his shed. Starting with the biggest items, she found the barrel hidden in the back corner. Upon moving the barrel into a better-lit spot she immediately noticed a rotten stench coming from inside. After opening the barrel she then found a body that was stabbed to death. She claims that she had no prior knowledge of the corpse and that she had called her brother Markus right after informing the authorities. Her fingerprints and a biological sample were taken for comparison.

Witness Statement Anna Schneider:
Markus Schneider arrived at the scene after investigations had commenced. He claims that their grandfather Georg was no violent man and that he had no knowledge of the corpse hidden inside his shed. His fingerprints and a biological sample were taken for comparison.

Travel to the Crime Scene

The crime scene is in a backyard with a garden shed.

Let’s start with the fingerprints. There are 17 fingerprints in total with one on the knife and one on the gun. Number the fingerprints, take a photograph and extract them with the Fingerprint Kit. When evidence is close together, like on the barrel, you may have to remove some of them first to be able to properly use the evidence marker and camera for the other pieces of evidence.

The first fingerprint is at the outside, at the bottom of the water tank, the next one is at the top of the yellow wheelbarrow.

The third fingerprint is on the stool at the shed entrance. The next one is on a jerry can inside the shed on the shelf to the left.

A single fingerprint is on the red pot on the shelf, another one on the barrel lid.

There are seven fingerprints on the outside of the blue barrel and two prints at the inside.

There is a knife in a box and a firearm that have to be marked and photographed before taken away. As for the biological samples, there is one with the knife and three with the gun. Mark, photograph and extract the biological samples first, then you can mark, photograph and take away the knife and gun.

For the biological sample in the box, place the evidence marker inside the box to the left, then you can take the photograph.

The same for the biological samples in the barrel. Mark and photograph them at an angle, extract them and go to the next one to have enough room for documentation. You are allowed to remove the evidence marker once you’ve done the photo. Be careful not to accidentally pick up the gun while doing this.

Evidence:
13x Fingerprint (Unknown)
4x Biological Sample (Unknown)
General Knife
General Handgun

Analyzing the Evidence

Back in the Lab, read the email on the DNA. There is a match from the criminal database: Dieter Krause. Another match, a fingerprint, is provided from Karl Mayer.

Evidence:
DNA Profile (Dieter Krause)
Fingerprint (Georg Schneider)

Let’s start with the Cyanoacrylate Fuming. This is for the collected Knife and Handgun. Open the chamber, place the first item, close the chamber and interact with the computer to start the extraction. Do this for both items. Then, collect the results.

Evidence:
2x Fingerprint (Unknown)

Analyze all the Fingerprints at the Fingerprint Analysis station to compare them against the three fingerprint samples provided. Four prints match with Anna Schneider. Three fingerprints match Markus Schneider, and eight match Georg Schneider.

Now head over to the Bio Evidence Analysis Station. Put six samples inside: Two samples provided (Anna Schneider and Markus Schneider) and the four unknown samples from the crime scene. Wait until all samples are analyzed, then pick up the results.

Then do the DNA Comparison. Compare the crime scene samples to Dieter Krause all four samples found at the crime scenes match to him.
One matches Dieter Krause in the second row from 4 to 6.

A second sample matches Dieter Krause in the first row from 18 to 21.

A third sample matches Dieter Krause in the first row from 2 to 8.

A fourth sample matches Dieter Krause in the last row from 4 to 7.

Send off your evidence by email. The evidence confirms that Markus Schneider had helped his grandfather to move the barrel. You will receive Dieter Krause’s Fingerprints for conparison.

Evidence:
Fingerprint (Dieter Krause)

Return to the Fingerprint Analysis station to compare them against the sample from Dieter Krause. One fingerprint matches.

Send off the results and close the case. The crime scene is clean. I was a bit messy with the analysis.