This week I’m giving away a copy of Silence in the Dark! Now for last week’s winner of the $10 gift card: Caryl Kane!
Last week’s Mystery Question intrigued me from the get-go. I had to disguise the crime, but this is what attracted my attention:
She was one of Germany’s most-wanted criminals. Dubbed “The Phantom of Heilbronn” and “The Woman Without a Face,” she apparently committed an extraordinary series of crimes across Germany over more than 15 years, including murders, break-ins and theft. Lab tests showed her DNA at 40 different crime scenes. Investigators had to admit they were stumped. When they finally arrested someone, they had to release the person. What was the problem?
- She was an identical twin and they had the wrong twin.
- When they arrested the person, they had to release him because DNA said the suspect was a woman.
- A woman at the factory where DNA cotton swabs were manufactured contaminated the swabs, giving a false DNA reading.
- Another murder was committed and the person caught confessed to the serial killings.
The answer is #3. Here is the article from Spiegel Online Links:
The woman, however, probably does not exist. Investigators now fear the “evidence” was a result of using contaminated cotton swabs to collect DNA samples, the public prosecutor’s office in Saarbrücken announced Wednesday.
Suspicions arose after the Phantom’s DNA turned up during an investigation into the identity of a burned body, which had been found in France and which was thought to belong to an asylum seeker who disappeared in 2002. Police discovered that the missing man had had his fingerprints taken for his asylum application. They obtained DNA from the fingerprints and found — to their surprise — that it matched up with the Phantom’s DNA.
Can you imagine the nightmare of cases that will have to be re-tried from this error? Or the criminals who might go free?
Now for this week’s Mystery Question.
A suspect had just broken into a pickup truck, and stolen a radar detector, and placed it in a stolen bank deposit bag. Also stolen was a wallet with cash and credit cards. The suspect was arrested, but couldn’t remember his name. The wallet in his pocket belonged to the owner of the pickup. How did the officer discover the suspect’s name?
- His fingerprints outed him along with a long list of arrests.
- He had his probation officer’s business card in the wallet in his other pocket.
- He’d stolen his sister’s pickup and when the officer called him, she readily gave up her brother’s name.
- He was the arresting officer’s brother and the pickup belonged to the officer.
Okay, Mystery Solvers, which one is the correct answer? Leave your comment and be sure to share on Facebook and Tweet about it so others can try to solve it!
This week, I’m giving away a copy of my last book–Silence in the Dark to one of my readers who leave a comment. If you tweet about it or post it on Facebook, I’ll put you in twice!
I’ll use Random.org again to pick the lucky reader!!
[tweet_box design=”default” float=”none”]Did his fingerprints give him away? #giveaway Silence in the Dark by Patricia Bradley[/tweet_box]
[tweet_box design=”default” float=”none”]Did he steal his brother’s pickup? His brother, the cop? #giveaway Silence in the Dark by Patricia Bradley[/tweet_box]
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Comments 18
I’m going to guess #1, the fingerprints.
Author
Hi Ellen! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. We’ll see if you’re right next week.
#4 it was his brother’s pickup and he was a cop
Author
Hi Lisa! Thanks for stopping by. We’ll see next week about the answer.
I think he had his probation officer’s business card in another wallet in other pocket–a dead giveaway and fun!
Author
Hi Dee! Good deductions. We’ll see if they are correct next week!
I’m going with number three, his sister was the victim .
Paula, wouldn’t you love to have a brother like that! Check back next week and see if that’s the right answer.
I’m going to say #2 he had his probation officer’s business card
Author
Hi Sharon. Glad to “see” you! And we’ll see next week about the answer. 🙂
I’m going with #2 or #4 this week, it would be funny to have it be the arresting officer’s brother and the pickup belonged to the officer! Or even that he had his probation officers card in his wallet! No need to enter my name Patricia as I had won a copy of this book a while back. I just find it fun to guess every week 🙂
Trixi, we’ll see next week. I think these stupid criminal stories are hilarious!
These are getting tougher! I’m going to guess #2. Thanks for the giveaway! I’ve tweeted and will share on Facebook! 🙂
I’m so glad they’re getting harder, Jershua! Thanks for stopping by!
My guess is #4. Patricia, thank you for helping to keep our minds sharp with these mystery questions. 🙂
Two and four seem to be the popular guesses, Caryl. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m choosing #3. Things like that happen all the time near where I live!
Author
Hi, Lisa and thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. We’ll see Tuesday if the sister turned him in.