Names________________

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Who Killed Betsy Botanist?

In this lab, you will attempt to discover the identity of the murderer of Betsy
Botanist using physical evidence. Hairs, fibers, and pollen were found around
Betsy’s body, as well as on the suspects. Your job as the forensic scientist is to
match the crime scene evidence with the suspect evidence.

The Victim:
Betsy Botanist

Betsy Botanist is an honor student at the local university. She has just made a new
discovery about a rare kind of orchid. She plans on publishing her discovery and
will become the youngest botanist to make such a discovery in the world.

The Suspects:

Professor Pollen (Suspect 1)

Professor Pollen has dedicated his life to the study of rare orchids. He has made
several discoveries, but has never achieved the level of fame he wants in the
scientific community. He is the supervisor of the students who work in the
greenhouse.
 Sassy Sarah (Suspect 2)

Sassy Sarah is a student who works in the greenhouse with Betsy. She has a
tendency to miss classes often, so she hasn’t achieved very good grades or been
chosen for special honors.

Reckless Regina the Roommate (Suspect 3)

Reckless Regina is Betsy’s roommate. She works as a waitress in a local diner, but
doesn’t make much money. She is often late with her rent, and Betsy may have to
evict her.

Part 1: Hair Evidence

While examining the hair evidence under the microscope, fill in the following data
table.

Hair Evidence
Color Width Medulla Cuticle
Pattern Pattern
Victim brown 400 solid imbricate
Suspect #1 black 400 continuous imbricate
Suspect #2 blonde 400 continuous imbricate
Suspect #3 orange 400 fragmented imbricate
Crime Scene A blonde 400 continuous imbricate
Crime Scene B orange 400 fragmented imbricate
Crime Scene C white 400 continuous coronal
 Questions:
1. Did any of the unknown samples match the victim’s hair? If so, which one?

no

2. Did any of the unknown samples come from animals? If so, which ones?
yes, crime scene C contained an animal hair

3. Did any of the unknown samples match the suspects’ hairs? If so, which
ones? crime scene A matches suspect 2, and crime scene B matches suspect 3

4. Based on the evidence, can you identify Betsy’s killer? Why or why not?
Not yet, but only because their is 2 different matches with separate suspects.

5. If not, can you eliminate any of the suspects? If so, which ones?
We can eliminate suspect 1, Professor Pollen.

Part 2: Fiber Evidence

Use the fiber samples to make wet mount slides to view under the microscope. While examining
the fiber evidence under the microscope, fill in the following data table.

Fiber Evidence
Fiber Single Color(s) of Relative Relative Shape of
Sample Color or Fiber(s) Numbers of Thickness Fiber
Multi- Fibers of Fibers (Twisted or
Colored? (Single, (Thin, Straight)
Few, Or Thick, or
Numerous) Variable)
Victim
single clear few twisted
thick
color

Suspect #1
single white thin twisted
numerous
color

Suspect #2
single red numerous twisted
color thin

Suspect #3
single pink numerous twisted
thin
color

Crime
Scene single thin twisted
red numerous
color
Use the fiber samples provided to do a simple burn test. Fill in the data table while you complete
the test.
Fiber Flame Test Burn Test When Odor While Color and Source of
Sample (Does the (Burns or Removed Burning Texture of Fiber
sample Melts? from Flame (Tar, Residue
curl as it Burns (Goes out burning (Beads,
burns?) slowly or or hair, Ash,
quickly?) continues burning Crusty,
to glow?) paper, Fluffy,
acrid Round)
smell?)
Victim soft black
yes melts goes out burning paper crusty ash acrylic

Suspect
#1 yes melts goes out burning hair crusty

Suspect
#2 yes burns goes out burning hair
crusty

Suspect vinegar
no melts glows
#3 hard

Crime
Scene yes burns goes out burning hair
crusty
Questions:

1. Did the crime scene sample match any of the suspect’s fibers? If so, which
one(s)?
suspect 2

2. What criteria did you use to match the fibers?

everything
3. Is this conclusive evidence of the suspect’s guilt? Why or why not?
No, because it could've been picked up somewhere
Part 3: Pollen Evidence
Use the flower samples to make slides to view under the microscope. While examining the
pollen evidence under the microscope, fill in the following data table. Get the crime scene
sample from your teacher.

Pollen Sample Size Shape Color Picture

Victim

Suspect #1
small boomerang green

Suspect #2 clumped up
small
brown

Suspect #3
small brown red
clumped up

Crime Scene
small oval brown

Questions:
1. Did the crime scene sample match any of the suspect’s pollen? If so, which one?
suspect 2

2. Which criteria did you use to match the pollen?

shape, size, and color

3. Is this enough evidence to get a conviction in a court of law? Why or why not?

No, because she could have made contact with someone or even contact with
the victim could've cause this
Final Conclusions:
You now have enough evidence to make a solid hypothesis as to the identity of Betsy
Botanist’s killer. Who killed Betsy Botanist? How do you know? Do you think the three
pieces of evidence will convict the suspect? Why or why not?

Our group believes that Betsy Botonists killer was Sassy Sarah. All of the evidence leads to her
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being the sole suspect of the murder.
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