Mock homicide provides hands-on forensics skills

A viable source tipped The Record-Courier on Tuesday to the mock murder of Maybel O’Keefe and a reporter was sent to Douglas High School for the inside scoop.

The reporter arrived at the scene and was escorted to rooms 706 and 708, where Kimberly Tretton’s forensics students were securing the crime scene.

After getting clearance from Tretton, junior Dalton Nixon, head investigator in room 706, told the reporter what his team had discovered, so far.

“We just got the call and have been securing the area,” he said. “So far, we know that Maybel was shot and killed. The gun has been located and my team is dusting for fingerprints and conducting interviews of suspects.”

Nixon said their first suspect was senior Reese Torres.

“We spoke with Haley Wilkinson who is Maybel’s neighbor and she told us that she saw Reese outside of the apartment at 7 o’clock this morning,” said Nixon.

Nixon went on to reveal that Torres is the boyfriend of Maybel’s niece Talia Tretton and his alleged motive was that Maybel disapproved of Torres and forced the couple to break up. 

The mock homicide is a crime scene practical exercise part of the forensics class offered at the high school where students learn how to investigate a crime scene, including containing the scene, collecting evidence, photographing and sketching, analyzing hair, fiber and fingerprints, and talking with media.

In the scenario, students put those skills to the test and work together to solve the case. Some students are the suspects while the others are investigators split into two teams, each given a specific job like security, sketchers and interviewers.

The suspects were interviewed as the investigators discovered evidence.

Douglas High School Resource Officers Ryan Grant and John Meyer were on scene to provide realistic advice and procedures on crime scene investigations.

“We’re here in case they get stumped,” said Grant. “Everything they are doing is all practically how we do it in a real case.”

Once the students are done gathering and analyzing evidence, conducting interviews and ultimately cracking the case, their findings, sketches and reports are logged in a google doc where it is reviewed by Tretton for 50 percent of the student’s grade.

The forensics class has been offered at the high school as an elective for eight years and is in its third year as a science fulfillment course toward graduation.

“It’s really great that Tretton is doing this and giving the students this hands on experience,” said Grant.

Senior Shirley Johnson said she took the class after peers made it sound interesting and exciting.

“Tretton really added to that excitement and expectation of this class,” said Johnson. “It’s fun, hands-on and I think it’s really cool.”