The Case of Kirsten K.

WriteaForensicBlogdrawingaconclusionaboutwhatyoubelievehappenedtoKirstenK.

Showatimelineofyourinvestigationandexperiments.Includepictuesandgraphstosupportyourcase.
Detailyouraccusation,includinganyevidencethatsupportsyourargumentforwhokilledKirsten
and
explainingevidencethatdoesn
ot
supportyourargument.Accurateevidenceg
ains
points.Inaccurate
evidence
loses
points.

Besureyouincludethecorechemistryconceptsofeachaspectofthe
investigation.Usethequestionsaskedineachlabtoguideyou.

Part1:TheCoolerEvidence
(Density,pH)
Part2:TheDeliveryTruck
(ChemicalAnalysis,formulas,balancedchemicalequations)
Part3:TheCakeShopIngredients
(percentcomposition,limitingreactants)
Part4:TheFallenPrecipitate
(concentration/molarity,solubility,precipitates)

Submission:
Writeyourblogonthisdocument.ThistaskisdueJune3,11:59pm.Youreditingprivilegeswillclose
onJune4.
Grading:
10pointsavailableforeachPart,gradedfromthisdocument.Submitthelinktoechowhenreadytograde.

InformationonVictim:
KristenK.

PreviousOccupation:NurseatKaiserPermanente/parttimedeliverydriver
Residence:Napa,CA
KirstenhelpedElizabethG.withherweddingcakebusinessonthedayswhenshe
wasntworkingatthehospital
Kirstenwaslastseendeliveringaweddingcakeforareceptionatalocalhotel,
theAndaz,indowntownNapa.
Kirstenfiledarestrainingorderagainstherhusbandjust2weeksbeforeshe
disappeared.
KaiserhospitalrecordsshowthatKirstengave30daysnoticetoquithernursing
jobonJanuary30,2016.

BackgroundInformationonSuspects:

Suspect#1
:
HaroldM.
Occupation:Plumber,BellProducts
Residence:GreenValley,CA.(JustoffHighway12)
Haroldjustrecentlyhadsurgeryonhisbackfromawork

The Case of Kirsten K.

2

relatedaccident.
KirstenK.washisnurseduringhisstayatthehospitalforrecovery
HaroldwashiredbyGladysV.tocompletesomerepairsonherLakeBerryessa
houseduringtheweekofFebruary4.
TheheadnurseatKaisersaidthatHaroldhadcomplainedtoherthatKirsten
treatedhimpoorlyinthehospital.
HaroldM.suffersfromhyperthyroidismandhasaprescriptionforpotassium
iodide.Whenquestioned,Haroldclaimedthathispotassiumiodidemedication
hasamolarityintherangeof0.05Mto0.15M.

Suspect#2
:
GladysV.
Occupation:Retiredpharmacist
Residence:LakeBerryessa
Gladysownedthelakehousethatthevictimandherhusbandrentedandwere
stayingatduringtheweekKirstenwentmissing.
Gladyssayssheenjoyswalkingaroundthelakeintheeveningswhensheis
stayingatherLakeBerryessahome.
Gladyscouldnotexplainthecocaineresiduethatwasfoundonherclothing.
Followupbloodtestsrevealednotraceofcocaineinhersystem.
DuringtheirsearchofGladysV.slakehouse,policefoundajarofsilvernitrate
solutioninasmallroomthathadnowindowsandwaspaintedblack.Gladys
claimsthatsheusesthesilvernitratetodevelopthephotographsshetakesofthe
wildlifearoundthelake.Shesaystheconcentrationisbetween0.05Mand0.15M.
Suspect#3:
ElizabethG.
Occupation:Ownerofaweddingcakedesign//cateringbusiness(Victimsneighbor)
Residence:Napa,CA
ElizabethG.ownedtheabandonedwedding/cateringbusinessthatregisteredthe
(abandoned)deliverytruck.
ElizabethG.didnotreportthedeliverytruckmissing.
KirstenK.wasaparttimeemployeeofElizabethGsbusiness.
ElizabethG.sbusinessrecordsshowthatshehaslostanumberofclientsforher
weddingcakebusinesssinceKirstensdisappearance.
AsearchofgovernmentrecordsrevealedthatElizabethG.recentlyappliedfora
U.S.passport.
ElizabethG.admittedthatshehasacontainerofpotassiumiodidewitha
concentrationbetween0.15Mand0.20M.Sheclaimsshekeepsthepotassium
iodideinhergarageandusesittorepairhervintagecorvette.

The Case of Kirsten K.

3

Suspect#4:
LarryJ.
Occupation:Investmentbanker,JPMorgan
Residence:Napa,CA(Victimshusband)
Kirstenshusband
LarryandKirstenwerestayingatavacationhouseinLakeBerryessaduringthe
timeshewentmissing.
Larrywasconvictedfordealingdrugsfouryearsago.
AwitnessreportedtothepolicethathesawLarryJ.arguingwithKirsteninthe
NapaBowlparkinglotonoraroundJanuary23.
LarrywasseenleavingalocalrestaurantwithElizabethG.onFebruary14.

TheCoolerEvidence:
BelowisthelabthatwascreatedtotofindoutthedensityofthewateraswellasthepH.

ThisisamurdermysterycaseandourvictimisKirstenK.Sheisaregisterednursefor
KaiserPermanenteinSt.Helena,althoughshelivesinNapa,CA.KirstenK.disappearedon
February4thandherhusbandfiledamissingperson'sreportbutunfortunatelyherbodyhasnot
beenrecovered.Thepolicenarroweddownsomesuspectandfiguredoutthatoneofthemon
February7thhaddumpedacoolerattherecyclingcenterafterallegedlydumpingthebodyin
oneofthreelakes,Curry,Berryessa,orHennessey.Thatcoolerwasrecoveredandaccordingto
themanageroftherecyclingcenterwassaidtohaveasomewhatofabulletholeshapeinthe
sideandoursuspectwascarryingachainwhilebringingitin.
Therearefoursuspects,firstwehaveHaroldM.heisaplumberforBellProductsand
livesinGreenValleyCAjustoffHighway12.NextwehaveGladysV.whoisaretired
pharmacistandlivesinLakeBerryessa.ThenwehaveElizabethG.whoistheownerofa
weddingcakedesign/cateringbusiness,sheisalsoKirstensneighbor.Finallyourlastsuspectis
LarryJ.,heisaninvestmentbankeratJPMorganandisourvictim'shusband.
Weweregiven2piecesofcoolerthatourvictimcouldhavebeenputin,andwasasked
tofindthedensityofthem.Wewerealsogivenlakewatersamplesfromeachlakeandaskedto
findtheirpHs.

Materials:

Lakesamplesfromthethreelakes
Recycledsample
Smallweighboats(plasticdishes)
Graduatedglasscylinder(small,medium,andlarge)

The Case of Kirsten K.

4

Red/bluelitmuspapers
UniversalPHindicator
BalanceScale
DIWater
Pipettes
Prongs

Procedures:

TOFINDDENSITY:
(
Density=mass volume)
Takeagraduatedglasscylinderandfilluptotheknownvolumelevelwithwater,and
writedowninitialvolume.
Ifneeded,tiethesamplewithapieceofthread,andfullyimmerseitintothecylinder.
Writedownthefinalvolumeofwater.
Takethedifferenceofthetwopositionsofthewaterleveltofindvolumeofsample
immersed.
Repeatthisstep
threetimes
withthetwodifferentsamples.
Findtheaverageofthreeobservationstaken.
Averagevalue=
value+value+value
#ofvalues

TOFINDpH:
pH
Drip12dropsofUniversalIndicatorintoyoursubstance
Waitandseewhatcoloritchangesto
LookattheimagebelowthattellsyouwhichcolorrepresentswhichpH
Ifitlessthan7itisanacidandifitismorethan7itisanbase
Takingthatinformationlookingatwhetheritisanacidorabaseifitisanacidithas
morepositivechargessoitmustbeontheleftsideoftheperiodictable.Ifitisabaseit
musthavemorenegativechargesanditmustbeontherightsideoftheperiodictable.

The Case of Kirsten K.

5

Discussion:

Aftertestingforourcoolerpiecesandourlakewaterswegainvaluableinformation
abouttheirpHsanddensities.Wefoundoutthatthebluecoolerpiecesthatweweregivenhad
thedensityof0.825.WealsofoundoutthatthewaterfromLakeCurryhasapHof7.4,the
waterfromLakeHennesseyhasadensityof8.2,andthewaterfromLakeBerryessahasapHof
6.8.AftertestingthedensityandthepHwenowhadtocalculateifthecoolerwouldsinkorfloat
inanyofthelakes.Firstwecalculatedthevolumeofthecoolerbythewidthandthelengthand
thedepthandwefiguredoutouranswerwhichwas253,324.24cm,thenwetestedthevolume
andthewaterdisplacementinallthreeofthelakes.Wealsohadtocalculatehowmany
centimetersthecoolerwiththechainandbodywouldbeandthatturnedouttobe45.39.After
testingthatwecouldseethatthecoolerwouldfloat.

Table1Cooler&WaterSampleEvidence

Location/Samples

Mass(g)

Volume(mL)

Density(g/m)

pH

LakeBerryessa

1.07

pH6.8

LakeCurry

0.91

pH7.4

LakeHennessey

1.02

pH8.2

AverageofBlueSamples

0.825

Averageofwhite
samples

0.0510

Conclusion:

Theevidenceshowsthatherbodywouldhaveindeedfitinsidethecoolerbecausesheis
128lbsandthetotalmassofthecoolerwas188lbs.Aswellasitwouldhavebeenabletofloat.
Weknowthisbecauseaftercalculatingthedensityofherbodyandthecoolerthedensityofthe
lakesarehighersoitwouldnotbefullysubmerged.Thevolumeofthecoolerwas1441.54liters

The Case of Kirsten K.

6

andthemassofthelakewaterthatwouldthenfillthecoolerwouldbe93.116cm.Althoughif
thebulletholeallowedthewatertofillthecoolerthanthecoolerasitfilledmoreandmore
wouldhavesunk.Thewaterwouldthenmakethedensityofthecoolerwithherbodyinitlarger.
BasedonwhatIknowsofarandtheevidenceIhavecollected,IthinkthatGladysV.
committedthecrimebecauseshewasaretiredpharmacistwhocouldhaveworkedwithKirsten,
andalsoshelivesrightnexttoLakeBerryessawhichiswhereIbelievethebodywasput,in
LakeBerryessa.

ShownaboveisthelabforthecoolerevidenceandbelowarethecalculationsthatIdidformore
informationonthecooler.

The Case of Kirsten K.

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The Case of Kirsten K.

8

The Case of Kirsten K.

9

CrimeSceneandEvidence:
Atthecrimescenethesechemicalswerefound:

DeliveryTruck:
ChemicalA:Vanilla
CrimeScene:
ChemicalB:Vanilla
ChemicalC:Cocaine
ChemicalD:Aspirin
ChemicalE:Unknown

Name

LocationFound
(crimescene)

CommonUse(s)

PotentialReasonforitspresenceat
thecrimescene

A:

Vanilla

Deliverytruckand
Kirstensclothing

Usedincakesand
frosting

Usedinweddingcakesandfrosting
thatwouldvebeendeliveredinthe
truck.Kristenhelpsdelivercakeson
daysshewasntworking.

B:Vanilla

Crimesceneand
Kirstensclothing

Usedincakesand
frosting

Couldbeleftoverresidueifshewas
deliveringcakes.Victimalso
couldvemadeacakeand/orfrosting
withvanillathatpotentiallygoton
herskinorclothing.

C:Cocaine Crimesceneand
Suspect#2

Usedtonumb,to
gethigh.

Usedtogethigh,numbpain,aswell
ascausesheartattack,stroke,
seizureorrespiratory(breathing)
failure,whichcanleadtosudden
death.

D:Aspirin Crimesceneand
Suspect#1

Usedasan
analgesicoranti
inflammatory
drug.

Togetridofheadachesormake
somethinglesspainfulforeither
yourselforsomeoneelse.

E:Caffeine CrimeScene

Oftengivesyou
energy

Possiblyusedincakesandfrostings.
Mayhavebeenusedtostayawakeor
getarushofenergywhenneeded.

Herewehavethecalculationsthatwerecreatedtofindthechemicalcompounds.

The Case of Kirsten K.

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The Case of Kirsten K.

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The Case of Kirsten K.

12

Belowwehaveskin,blood,and/orclothingtestsfromthesuspectsandvictim.

Individual:

Chemicalfound:

Victim(clothing)

Vanilla

Suspect#1(clothing)

Aspirin

Suspect#2(clothing)

Cocaine

The Case of Kirsten K.

13

Suspect#3(skin&blood)

Unknown&Acetaminophen

Suspect#4(skin&blood)

Nitroglycerine

Thesearethecalculationsfortheskin&bloodtestingonsuspects#3&#4.

SUSPECT#3CHEMICAL#1
Element
Symbol

Convertgramstomoles
(calculation)

Dividebythe
smallest#of
moles

Multiplytogetnextwhole Ratio
#(calculatewhole
numberratio)

1mol = 2.7
32.43gx 12.01g
moles

2.7
2.67

1.01x1=

C2

1mol = 2.67 moles

2.70gx 1.01g

2.67 =1
2.67

1x2=2

H2

64.87gx 1mol
16g = 4.05
moles

4.05 =1.52
2.67

1.52x2=3

O3

=1.01

Unknown

SUSPECT#3CHEMICAL#2
Element
Symbol

Convertgramstomoles
(calculation)

Dividebythe
smallestnumber
ofmoles

Multiplytogetnextwhole Ratio
number(calculatewhole
numberratio)

1mol =5.29
63.56gx 12.01g

moles

5.29
.66

= 8.01

8.02x1=8

C8

1mol =5.94moles
6gx 1.01g

5.94
.66

= 9

9x1=9

H9

1mol =.66moles
9.27gx 14.00g

.66
.66

1x1=1

1mol = 1.32
21.17gx 16.00g
moles

1.32
.66

2x1=2

O2

Acetaminophen

= 1

= 2

The Case of Kirsten K.

14

SUSPECT#4CHEMICAL#1
Element
Symbol

Convertgramstomoles
(calculation)

Dividebythe
smallestnumber
ofmoles

Multiplytogetnext
Ratio
wholenumber(calculate
wholenumberratio)

1mol = 1.02
15.87gx 12.01g
moles

1.32
1.296

= 1.02

1.02x3=3

C3

1mol = 2.198 moles

2.22gx 1.01g

2.198
1.296

= 1.69

1.69x3=5

H5

1mol = 1.296
18.15gx 14.00g
moles

1.296
1.296

= 1

1x3=3

N3

1mol = 3.96
63.41gx 16.00g
moles

3.96
1.296

= 3.05

3.05x3=9

O9

Nitroglycerine

SUSPECT#4CHEMICAL#2
Element
Symbol

Convertgramstomoles
(calculation)

1mol = 4.12
49.48gx 12.01g
moles

4.12
1.03125

1mol = 5.099 moles

5.15gx 1.01g

Unknown

Dividebythe
smallestnumber
ofmoles

Multiplytogetnext
wholenumber
(calculatewhole
numberratio)

Ratio

= 3.99 4

4x1

C4

5.099
1.03125

= 4.94 5

5x1=5

H5

1mol = 2.06
28.87gx 14.00g
moles

2.06
1.03125

= 1.997 2

2x1=2

N2

1mol = 1.03125
16.50gx 16.00g
moles

1.03125
1.03125

= 1

1x1=1

O1

The Case of Kirsten K.

15

AftertestingallsuspectsGladysseemedtolookguiltyduetothefactthatshehadcocaineonher
clothing,whichhappenedtobefoundatthecrimescenewhichwasunexplainable.

BelowIhavepicturesofthecalculationsdonebyhandforvictimandsuspects.

The Case of Kirsten K.

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The Case of Kirsten K.

17

The Case of Kirsten K.

18

Nowhereisthecakeshopingredientanalysisandwhileusingthetoolsofpercentage
compositionandlimitingreactantwewereabletofigurethisoutthesecretrecipethatElizabeth
woulduseandputinhercakes.

The Case of Kirsten K.

19

POLICEREPORT:
Afteranextensivesearch,thebodyofthevictim,KirstenK.,hasbeenlocatednearthe
originalcrimesceneatLakeBerryessa.Policehavestartedtogatherevidencefromthesite
wherethebodywasfound,includingshoeprints,soilsamples,andwhatappeartobebone
fragments.Anautopsyonthevictimhasbeenscheduled.
Whenthepolicefoundthevictim,herleftringfingerwasmissing,andaclearliquidwas
foundpooledunderneaththebody.Whenthebodywasmoved,acrystalline,saltlikes
ubstance

fellfromthebodyandmixedwiththeliquid.Thisreactedtoproduceanopaquesubstancethat
thepolicecannotidentify.

Possiblemurderweapons:

Therearetwopossiblemurderweaponsafterlookingveryclosely,(KI)PotassiumIodideor
silvernitrate(AgNO3).OnceIlookedatthesolubilityrulesitclickedwhichmurderweaponwas
used.ThemurderweaponishastobeSilverNitrateduetohowsolubilityrulesandhowthey
affecttheallegedmurderweapons.Potassiumiodidewouldvefullydilutedintowaterbutit
wouldnotleaveanopaquesubstancelikethepoliceasserted,insteaditwouldvebeensilver
nitratebecauseeventhoughdoesdilute

itleavesanopaqueandfoggysubstancebehinditwhich
iswhatthepoliceofficersfound.

ShownbelowaretheteststhatmyforensicsteamconductedwhilecombiningSamplesAand
SampleBwhichwerethetwopossiblemurderweaponswithNaClandNa
CO
.Asyoucansee
2
3
sampleAhadthereactantsthatsoundedlikewhatthepolicefound.

SampleA:Silvernitrate(AgNO3)
SampleB:PotassiumIodide(KI)

Predicted
Reactio
Reactants
Observations&
products
n#
(KnownandUnknown)
DescriptionofProducts
formed
1
NaCl+SampleA
AgCl (IS) +
Milkyincolor
(S)NaNO
Clumpedafterawhile
3
Clear liquid rose above
clumps

The Case of Kirsten K.

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Na
CO
+SampleA
2
3

(IS)AgCO
+
3
(S)2NaNO
3

NaCl+SampleB

(S)KCl+
(S)NaI

Na
CO
+SampleB
2
3

Na
CO
+NaCl
2
3

SampleA+SampleB

Turnedbeigeincolor
Clumped
Sedimentfelltobottom
thatsettledafterafewmoments.
Light sulfuric smell (sour and
metal)

Therewasnodifference

(S)K
CO
+
2
3
(S)2NaI

Therewasnodifference

NaCO
+ClNa
3
2

Therewasnodifference

AgI+KNO
3

Lookssimilartosample
A+NaCl

ForthestartoftheIthoughtthekillerwasGladysbecauseshelivedclosetothecrime
sceneandusetoworkwithher.IalsothoughtthatKirstenwaskilledwithpotassiumiodide
becausesheisallergictoit,buttheevidenceromthewatersamplesaidotherwise.SothenI
ruleoutthatmurderweaponbecauseitwouldntmakesense.Althoughsomethingthatcaught
myeyewasthattherewasnodiscolorationofKristen'sbodyunliketheusualbodycolorthat
peoplewhoarepoisonedwithsilvernitratewouldhave,suchasdiscolorationoftheskinbeing
purple,brownorblackstains
IthoughtthatthemainsuspectwouldofhadtobeGladysbecauseGladyslivescloseto
thedumpingsite.AswellasthefactthatwhileLarryandKirstenwereattheGladysslake
houseshedisappeared,anditwouldprobablybeeasiertotakesomeoneinahousethatyou
know.AsanotherstrikeagainstGladysshewasaretiredpharmacistandhadaccesstomore
drugsandchemicals.AftertestingGladys'sclothestheyfoundtracesofcocainewhichwasalso

The Case of Kirsten K.

21

foundatthecrimescenewhichmeantevidencewasstackingupagainstgladysandatthispoint
eventhebestlawyerintheworldcouldntgetheroutofthis.
Nowyoumightbethinkingareasonforthecakesuppliesyoumayask?WellIwilltell
you,itturnedouttheGladysandElizabethbothsecretlyhadacrushonKirstenincollegeand
highschool,andthefactthatshemarriedasleezeballlikeLarrymadethemangry.Sothey
teamedupandElizabethgaveGladysthetrucktomaketransportinghereasier.Nowtheygave
KirstenabitoftimetogetawayfromLarryandsheevenrealizedforabithowawfulhewas
andthatiswhyshefiledarestrainingorderonhimbutwhenGladysheardtheywantedtouse
thehouseshelostit.ShewassoangryatthatpointdidntevenincludeElizabethinthe
murderingofKirsten.ShecalledandorderedafakecaketobedeliveredtotheAndaztogether
awayfromherhusband,shethenapproachedherasshewasleaving,talkedaboutwhyshe
left,luredherawayfrompublic,thenhitheronthehead,putherinherowncaranddroveoff.
Shethenproceededtocutherupandstuffherinthecoolerafterkillingherwithsilvernitrate,
butbeforeputtingherinshecutoffherringfingerbecauseshehatedthethoughtofherbeing
marriedtosomeoneelse.Shethenmadeherwaytothecrimescene.
Nowlittledideveryoneknowgladyshadalowkeydrugproblemandsoallthestressof
thiscrazyactmadeherloseit.Thereforewhenatthecrimesceneshesnortedalineofcocaine
togetherthroughthelastbitanddumpedherinthelake.Stillhavingthefingershetookthe
ringofftokeepitandthenthrewthefingerbackintothelake.IntheendGladysandElizabeth
talkedandagreeditwastherightthingtodobecauseshedidntlistentothem,butplottwistin
theend,ElizabethtrickedGladys.ShewasneverinlovewithKirsten,shejustwantedGladysto
takeoutKirstensoshecouldhaveLarryalltoherself.Hencethepolicesawthemtogetheron
Valentine'sdaytogetherwalkingoutofalovelyrestaurant.YAYHEARTBREAK!