The Case of the Student Teacher Gone Missing

Crime Scene Report:

At approximately 8:00 am, Wednesday morning, Ms. McNamara notified the Main Office that
her student teacher, Ms. Goodman, was missing from her classroom. The Main Office verified
that Ms. Goodman had signed in to work that morning. School Police Officer Hall soon arrived to
investigate in Ms. McNamara’s classroom.

Finding nothing there, he went down the hall to the teachers’ lounge where he found several
suspicious items. The furniture had been moved about and a chair was knocked over, indicating
that a struggle had taken place (see Evidence # 1 for a photo of the crime scene). He found
several footprints on copy paper strewn about on the floor (see Evidence #2 for a footprint). On
one of the tables, he found a strand of brown hair (see Evidence #3 for hair strand). Officer Hall
was able to lift some fingerprints from that same table (see Evidence #4 for fingerprint). Also on
the table was a ransom note demanding student teachers for all teachers (see Evidence #5 for
handwritten ransom note).

Finally, Officer Hall began to interview students and other staff members about anything
suspicious they might have seen in the hallway that morning (see Evidence #6 - 10). The school
newspaper, Speedy’s Special Report, wrote up the whole incident (see evidence #11) and the
crime was also featured on the school’s morning news show, Waking up with West (see evidence
#12). Officer Hall narrowed down the suspect pool to the four ninth grade English teachers: Ms.
McNamara, Ms. Keller, Ms. Stead, and Mr. Quaranta. Using the clues found at the crime scene, it
is now up to you to solve the case of the student teacher gone missing and determine which of
the suspects is to blame.

Suspect #1: Ms. McNamara

Ninth Grade English Teacher Signature:
Room 204
Height: 5’6”
Hair Color: Blonde Fingerprint:

On that fateful Wednesday morning, Ms. McNamara was wearing a tan dress and a navy
cardigan. She fixes her hair each morning in front of the mirror in the teacher’s lounge and uses
the microwave to heat up meals. Ms. Goodman was student teaching in Ms. McNamara’s
classroom and Ms. McNamara was happy to be in charge. She enjoyed wielding her power over
her student teacher and telling her what to do. Ms. McNamara did not react well when she
thought the students favored Ms. Goodman over her. Ms. McNamara says she was in the office
getting her roll book at the time of the incident, but no one can confirm what time that was.

All Rights Reserved © Brynn Allison 2016 theliterarymaven.com

Suspect #2: Ms. Keller
Ninth Grade English Teacher Signature:
Room 202
Height: 5’ 8”
Hair Color: Dark Brown Fingerprint:

On the day of the crime, Ms. Keller was wearing her uniform of khaki slacks, a white collared
button up, and a navy blue sweater. She puts her lunch in the refrigerator in the teacher’s
lounge every morning and can often be found making last minute copies there before the day
starts. Ms. Keller seemed to be friendly with Ms. Goodman, but frequently made comments
about how lucky Ms. McNamara was to have a student teacher helping her in her classroom. Ms.
Keller claims that she was in her classroom the morning of the crime, but no one could say for
sure that they saw her there.

Suspect #3: Ms. Stead

Ninth Grade English Teacher Signature:
Room 200
Height: 5’10”
Hair Color: Brown Fingerprint:

On the day the crime occurred, Ms. Stead was wearing khaki pants, a white collared button up,
and a navy blue blazer. She also keeps her lunch in the refrigerator in the teacher’s lounge and
sometimes eats there as well. Ms. Stead did not have any issues with Ms. Goodman, but was
struggling with her workload of teaching English and World History. She spends many hours
after school working on her materials and lesson plans. Ms. Stead was supposedly in her
classroom that morning, but she was alone so no one can confirm her alibi.

Suspect #4: Mr. Quaranta

Ninth Grade English Teacher Signature:
Room 216
Height: 5’8”
Hair Color: Dark Brown Fingerprint:

On Wednesday morning, Mr. Quaranta was wearing khaki slacks, a white collared button up, a
navy blue sweater with light gray stripes, and a tie. He makes and enjoys a cup of coffee in the
teacher’s lounge before the start of each day. Mr. Quaranta is quiet and his sudden appearances
easily startle others. Mr. Quaranta told the authorities he was changing the coffee filter at the
time of the crime, but no one could remember if they thought the coffee tasted fresh that
morning.

All Rights Reserved © Brynn Allison 2016 theliterarymaven.com

Evidence # 1 – Photo of the Crime Scene

All Rights Reserved © Brynn Allison 2016 theliterarymaven.com

 Evidence #3 - Hair Strand from Crime Scene

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Evidence #4 - Fingerprints from Crime Scene
Evidence #5 - Handwritten Ransom Note Recovered at
Crime Scene

All Rights Reserved © Brynn Allison 2016 theliterarymaven.com

 Evidence #6 - Interview with Teacher #1
(unnamed for his/her own protection)

“Around 7:30 Wednesday morning, I saw a teacher with brown hair, khaki pants,
and a blue sweater leading Ms. Goodman down the stairwell. It was too far away
for me to see which teacher it was, but Ms. Goodman seemed to be trying to get
away from him or her. Just before she disappeared down the stairwell, I heard
her yell out ‘I will never work in your classroom, never!’”
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Evidence #7 – Statement from Student #1 from Ms.
McNamara’s classroom
(minor must remain unnamed for his/her own protection)

“I heard about how Ms. Goodman, our student teacher, went missing this
morning. I bet it was Ms. McNamara. She never seemed to like Ms. Goodman
very much. She was always bossing her around and telling her what to do. Ms.
McNamara probably thought we liked Ms. Goodman better than her and got
jealous.”

All Rights Reserved © Brynn Allison 2016 theliterarymaven.com

 Evidence #8 – Statement Student #2 from hallway
(minor must remain unnamed for his/her own protection)
“Ms. Goodman, that student teacher in Ms. McNamara’s room is missing? Well
I’m not a snitch, but if you ask me, Mr. Quaranta is pretty sneaky so I can see him
doing something like that. Besides all the other English teachers are women.
They aren’t strong enough to kidnap anybody.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Evidence # 9 – Teacher #2
(unnamed for his/her own protection)
“Ms. Stead is always here really late at night working on things in her classroom.
When I walk past her classroom to leave every day, she is always still in there. I
bet she could use a student teacher to help her out with all that work.”
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Evidence # 10 – Teacher #3
(unnamed for his/her own protection)
“Ms. Goodman is missing, hmmm. Well I guess Ms. Keller might have done it. Her
classroom always seems like it is out of control and if she had another person in
there like a student teacher, maybe she could actually get some teaching done.

All Rights Reserved © Brynn Allison 2016 theliterarymaven.com

Evidence # 11- The school newspaper, Speedy’s Special
Report, wrote up the whole incident

All Rights Reserved © Brynn Allison 2016 theliterarymaven.com

Evidence # 12 – Case featured on the school’s morning
news show, Waking Up With West

WAKING UP WITH WEST

All Rights Reserved © Brynn Allison 2016 theliterarymaven.com