Name of the culprit/s: Charles Santiago

Reason/Information/Evidence:

- 911 received an emergency from parents looking for their daughters that has been missing for about 4 days.
The department handed out the case to an agent of Detective Acheron Agency to solve the case and this is her
report.

[ INFORMATION]
On Tuesday, September 25, 20** a group of investigators and other residents near Santa Mesa, Cotabato found
3 children buried in the 6-foot ground. It is stated in the report that the children's hands were all tied with a
rope, packing tape was taped on their mouths, and blindfolded with a red long scarf. The investigator concluded
that the three kids were all buried alive, and died from hypoxia, and blood loss. However, the question is… Who
committed the crime? How did he execute the crime? What’s the motive? Most importantly… What evidence do
you have to support your claim?

Who committed the crime?

Charles Santiago
- He is a nurse who has lived in the town for over 6 years. The case is called “Hide and Seek” for a reason. If you
are an observant person. You would immediately identify who is the culprit based on his alibi. How so?

“I know those kids; they are usually coming here to my house since they love to play with my mother and they
love the cookies that my mother bakes for them.”

In this first sentence, the word “play” is a hint of who is the killer. The children love to play “Hide and Seek” w/
the mother of Charles Santiago. To elaborate on my reasoning, let’s move on to the next question.

How did he execute the crime?

- For someone who is living in town for more than 6 years planning a scheme is easier to do.

[ 4 days ago]
- Just the same usual days where the kids went to the house to play with Charles's mother. His mother is also part
of this plan. Although, I think Charles's mother has a health problem (I’ll elaborate on this one later on why I
think that there is). When the kids went to their house Charles's mother bake cookies with a hint of hydrangea
in them. It was stated on the autopsy report that all of them have traces of a small amount of hydrangea.

According to Queensland Health, “Symptoms: All parts of the plant are poisonous. If eaten, symptoms can
include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Skin contact can cause dermatitis, rash, or irritation. Warning: Seek
medical attention if symptoms occur.”

However, I wasn’t sure if they had eaten the cookies before or after. It could also be that the hydrangea they get
is due to the place where they were buried.

According to https://www.1800flowers.com/blog/flower-facts/poisonous-flowers/,

Where they grow: Hydrangeas grow best in areas with rich, porous, and moist soils. They also prefer an
environment with full morning sun and some afternoon shade.

What’s poisonous: The buds and the leaves of hydrangeas are toxic.

Symptoms: When ingested, hydrangeas can cause stomach pain, headache, dizziness, vomiting, and trouble
breathing. In certain situations, these symptoms may be delayed.

Hydrangeas grow best in areas with rich, porous, and moist soils. Loam soil is also the best soil to plant a
hydrangea. However, it wasn’t on the report. If they were hydrangeas in the place where they were buried. It
should be on the report at least—because it is where they found the children’s bodies. So, I excluded that Idea
of mine.

They ate the cookies baked for them with a hint of hydrangea.
 [ HIDE AND SEEK SCENARIO]
As I said, I do not know if it is before or right after. So, let me illustrate scenarios of possibilities.

1st
- The three children went to the house of Charles to play hide and seek again with his mother. However, before
they play the “Hide and Seek” game which most of the kids love to play with. Her mother gave them cookies and
then captivate the kids.

However, the symptoms of Hydrangea are:

1. stomach pain
2. headache
3. dizziness
4. vomiting
5. trouble breathing.

Therefore, I do not think that it is plausible that they ate the cookie before they play the game of Hide and Seek.
I do not know how long a person starts to experience those symptoms of Hydrangea right after they ate. But if
I’ll relate this case to a portion of spoiled food. Humans start to feel ache in their stomachs minutes after they
ate spoiled food. Well… how much more if they ate a poisonous plant, right? They do not have much energy to
do the Hide and Seek.

2nd
- The three children went to the house of Charles to play hide and seek again with his mother. They play the “Hide
and Seek” game. And, then Mother of Charles offered the cookies to them.

On second thought, if they were playing hide and seek. The kids have probably gotten away from them and
might not execute the plan concisely. But if they were playing hide and seek for too long, they already know
where those kids would hide. However, wouldn’t it mess up the situation? What if they do not know where the
kids are hiding? After all, they are just kids and smart kids. They might change their hiding places. And it’ll
consume much time to find them.

3rd
The three children went to the house of Charles to play hide and seek again with his mother. “Charles sneaked
out when his mother was baking cookies for the kids and put on the hydrangea when his mother was out. And
then, his mother gave those cookies to the children.” This is actually good if his mother truly isn’t part of the
scheme.

After eating, they start playing Hide and Seek.

However, my reason for my first two possibilities indicated two factors. Why it wouldn’t make sense. The first
possibility is the symptoms of hydrangea. That I already said out loud on the first possibilities. Second, it’ll
consume too much time to search for them if they’ll play the game hide and seek (it is stated on the second
possibility)

4th
- My last resort, the three children went to the house of Charles to play hide and seek again with his mother.
However, I do not know if the mother is acquainted with this. Or, Charles is the only one who is in the house.
Nevertheless, I think the mother is acquainted to lure out the kids. The three children went to the house of
Charles and then Charles and his mother offered cookies to them when they arrived. Then, they executed the
plan.

Another question,

How come there is a hydrangea?

- Based on Darlene Lopez's profile; She is a botanist.

According to Planit Plus, “Botanists, or Plant Biologists, study all forms of plant life, including fungi and algae, in
the laboratory or their natural environment. They work for a wide range of industries including agriculture,
environmental conservation, forestry, pharmaceuticals, and food science.”

Charles got that Hydrangea from Darlene's Garden or backyard. Again, as someone living for more than 6 years.
He already knows who are the people living and what they do that benefits his scheme. I do not believe that a
nurse easily forgot things and everything. One of the major things a nurse always does is memorize stuff.
 Basically, with his alibi.

"I know those kids, they are usually coming here to my house since they love to play with my mother and they
love the cookies that my mother bakes for them. Actually, they are four, but I don't where's the other one. I'm
sorry I really don't know their names since after work dumidiretso na ako matulog and I let my mother do
what she want to do"

It is already a sauce. How can you not know their names when they “usually” come into your house? You also
know that they were four but not their names. When you are living for more than 6 years? I really bet the
mother is part of this, “I let my mother do what she wants to do.”

What happened after they ate the cookies?

- Let’s relate the symptoms of Hydrangea. A poisonous plant even with a small amount can immediately affect a
human especially when they are kids. Dizziness is one of the symptoms. Charles took advantage of the situation
and tied their hands with a rope, packing tape taped on their mouths, and blindfolded them with a red long
scarf.

Why there are multiple syringe pricks on their autopsy report?

- I’ve mentioned earlier about Charles's mother's health. To think of it really well… why kids? I do not know. As
you can see on the report multiple traces of syringe prick and sore veins in different veins. However, what is it
for? I have multiple possibilities and thoughts in my mind.

[ CONTINUATION]

- After the hands are tied, taped, and blindfolded. Charles put them in a basement where he performed his
experimentation. Those, multiple traces of syringe prick weren’t only meant for killing them. If it was for the
purpose of killing, you wouldn’t need those lots of multiple traces of syringes. They are just kids. You can kill
them immediately. I concluded; those syringes are meant for experimentation. It could be meant for Charles’s
mother's health.

It was stated on his alibi, that his mother had just recently resided with him. Is it because they would perform
the experiment with his mother? Or, does his mother seek help for his son because he is a nurse? Aside from
that, no other family aside from his mother. Could it be because his mother is the only one left that he takes
those kids as subjects to make his mother live longer? Or, it is just practically for medical practice?

It also makes you wonder why on the autopsy report there are blood types indicated. Is it because blood is the
reason why the culprit committed that crime? They have different types of blood. Perfect for experimentation.

Those are the motives that I have on my mind and the reason why they have a lot of multiple syringe pricks on
their bodies and sore veins on different parts.

[ AUTOPSY REPORT ANALYSIS]

The three of them received the same report.

[ Multiple traces of wounds and bruises all over her body]

- The three kids fought back at him that’s why there are multiple traces of wounds and bruises. Due to the
tightrope, or maybe they were bumped into a hard material when they were dragged into the basement or at
the crime scene.

[ No traces of sexual harassment]

- Confirmed. The culprit isn’t a pedophile.

[ There are traces of red marks on her both hands caused by the tight rope]
- Due to the rope.

[ Multiple traces of syringe prick]

- Already explained this one.

[ Traces of Anesthesia]
- For them not to scream and cry harder and draw attention to the neighborhood. Or, for them not to exhaust
themself that much and he couldn’t take the blood from their body while they are still alive. And, it might cause
them early death if there weren’t anesthesia.
 [ Traces of small amount of hydrangea]
- Already explained this one.

Michelle Hilton
[ Sore vein in the cephalic vein]
- Due to the blood experimentation.

Sandra Mervet
[ Sore vein in the basilic vein]
[ Traces of Minor Injury on her back head]
- Due to the blood experimentation.
- She fought back which results in her head injury or Charles did that.

Chona Yong
[ Sore vein in the perforating veins]
[ Among the three, Chona suffers from blood loss and multiple traces of sore veins]
- Same as the other two why she got those sore veins. It’ll sore if he took blood multiple times on the same spot.
- Among the three of them maybe Chona has a high percentage to make his experiment complete.

[ BLOOD TYPES]

Michelle Hilton [ AB-]

- According to BYJUS, ranking the three rarest blood types and one of them is AB-.

“AB negative(AB -ve), which is found in 0.6 percent of the total population.”

Charles acquiring the blood of a child with the rarest type is like he won a jackpot.

In accordance with Cleveland Clinic,

“The AB-negative blood type is the rarest one in the United States. Only 1%, or 1 in every 100, Americans have
this blood type.”

White: 1%

AB negative (AB-) Black: .3%

Less than 1%
*Least common blood type in the U.S. Asian: .1%

Latino: .2%

Sandra Mervet [ B+]

- Still according to Cleveland Clinic, in the US, only less than 9% have B+. Meanwhile, the percentage of the U.S.
population, broken down by ethnicity: White 9%, Black 18%, Asian 25%, and lastly Latino 9%.

White: 9%

Black: 18%
B positive (B+) 9%
Asian: 25%

Latino: 9%

Well, wow… having one rarest type of blood and high-demand B+ platelets are incredibly such an amazing
opportunity to do his scheme. Don’t you agree? And, I questioned earlier, “Why kids?"

It is because one of them has the rarest blood type, the other one has a B+ which is highly in demand due to its
platelets, and one has a universal blood type. Why would look for another subject? If there are kids living within
your neighborhood that can provide those blood types.
 And to complete the experimentation. We have Chona Yong with a blood type of O+

Chona Yong [ O+]

- In my autopsy analysis I’ve mentioned, “Among the three of them maybe Chona has a high percentage to
make his experiment complete.” Why did I say that tho? Well…

Blood type O+ is considered to be a universal donor. It is the chief reason why among all of them Chona suffers
from blood loss and multiple traces of sore veins. Her blood type is compatible with the others.

[ MORE INFO]

- Group O can donate red blood cells to anybody: O, A, B, and AB. It’s the universal donor.
- Group AB can donate to other AB’s but can receive from all others.
- Group B can donate red blood cells to B’s and AB’s. B-positive patients can receive blood from B-positive, B-
negative, O-positive, and O-negative donors.

[ CONTINUATION]

[ CRIME SCENE SCENARIO]

- After the experimentation, Charles took them and buried them alive. Why? Because… maybe one of them tried
to run and escape. And, if the motive isn’t for his mother, then he has some serious mental illness. The kids are
too weak after the experimentation. Maybe after he is done, all of them aren’t useful for him. And, once he let
him escape it might lead to him, and they’ll be just dead after all the blood experiments. So, he just did the job
to bury them.

Well, I think he wouldn’t let those kids get away anyways.

[ CRIME SCENE ANALYSIS]

- The soil is loam.

- There are traces of big feet in the surroundings of buried children.
- No active CCTV was found in the area.
- The Dept of the soil is 6 feet below the ground.
- The burial of 3 children is neat and organized.
- No other traces were found at the crime scene.
 - There has been a question running around in the Junior GC. How does Jennifer know that there is a rotten smell
near his small cottage when it was buried 6 feet ground? Based on Jennifer Cruz alibi, “I was scared to look for it
since the lupa is so malambot and baka mamaya may mga animals dyan.” So possibly is… the soil is loam. Maybe
there are animals around that small cottage kaya nasabi niya yan. You know animals they dug, and maybe dahil
nag dug sila. And the soil is loam. That’s why she smells that rotten smell coming from their dead body.

How can he dig 6 feet below the ground alone?

- It is well-planned. He already digs that ground before the crime occurred.

There are traces of big feet in the surroundings of buried children.

- “It is because of boots.” It is mentioned by one of my co-agents. I do agree with her sights. If it is stated neatly
and organized. He wouldn’t leave a trace of him wearing his shoes. It should be with boots. But why there are
traces? If it was 4 days ago? Possibilities are he came back to check if he perfectly executed his plans. Maybe
those big feet would lead to the other suspects as well. And, also maybe that small cottage is far from their
houses that’s why Charles chose that place to bury those kids.

[ CAUSE OF DEATH]

Hypoxia

- According to NCBI,

“Hypoxia is a state in which oxygen is not available in sufficient amounts at the tissue level to maintain adequate
homeostasis; this can result from inadequate oxygen delivery to the tissues either due to low blood supply or low
oxygen content in the blood (hypoxemia)”

Hypoxia is one of the reasons why they died because they were buried alive.

Loss Blood

- Due to the multiple times Charles took a ton of blood from their body.

Motive:

- He needs those samples of blood. It may be meant for his mother’s cure that’s why he took blood from the
children. Or, he is mentally ill, or his mother as well. Or, for medical practice and experimentation.

[FOLLOW-UP ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS]

1.) Can you explain kung bakit si Chona lang ang mas maraming dugo ang nawala?
o O+ is a universal blood and compatible to most blood types that's why mas maraming dugo nakuha kay
Chona.
2.) If you were a nurse, pagsasabayin mo ba or hahayaan mo ba na turukan or gamitan mo ang pasyente mong
bata ng dalawang klaseng delikadong bagay?
o If two high dosage medicine were on the child's body. The possibility is death. Even you are a nursing
student or not. You'll surely think death in this case. Why? They are children their body couldn't take that
highly amount of medicine. However, it is mentioned that a small trace of hydrangea was found on their
body. My culprit intentionally put a small amount of hydrangea with the food. Just enough that their
body could take the hydrangea.
3.) Can you explain why did he need to experiment and take the blood of the children if he can find those blood
in the hospital since he is a nurse?
o Since na elaborate ko naman yung blood types: one of them has the rarest blood type, the other one has
a B+ which is highly in demand due to its platelets, and one has a universal blood type. Bakit hindi sa
hospital kamo? Kasi rare and maybe mas compatible yung blood types nila. You cannot take bloods for
your own agenda sa hospital. Based sa multiple pricks need niya talaga ng maraming dugo it is illegal sa
hospital. Unless, you’ll pay for it. And, maybe walang dugo na nandoon sa hospital nila like them
( highly kay Michille) and their bloods are clean kasi bata sila kaya sila yung ginawang experiment.