In this photo taken on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, Reilly Fahrenholz takes photographs of evidence at a mock crime scene for Adams Central's Forensic Science course in Hasting, Neb., where students will try to solve a murder mystery. (AP Photo/The Hastings Tribune, Amy Roh)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, Reilly Fahrenholz takes photographs of evidence at a mock crime scene for Adams Central's Forensic Science course in Hasting, Neb., where students will try to solve a murder mystery. (AP Photo/The Hastings Tribune, Amy Roh)

Class uses scientific principles to solve ‘crime’

  • By WILL VRASPIR
  • Sunday, March 30, 2014 7:19pm
  • News

HASTINGS, Neb. — Among the first group to arrive at the crime scene, senior Reilly Fahrenholz carefully photographed each piece of evidence.

It was the first day for students at Adams Central High School in Hastings to work toward solving a murder mystery during the forensic science course at the school.

“I think it’s fun,” Fahrenholz said.

She found out firsthand that evidence collection takes more work than a two-minute montage seen on TV crime shows. For each photograph, Fahrenholz placed a ruler next to the piece of evidence.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Meanwhile, senior Ali Stark compiled a list of evidence that was photographed at the crime scene. Senior Morghun Koepke started drawing a rough sketch of the room and where everything was found. Senior Derek Miller recorded video of the evidence and evidence collection.

“It’s a lot of work,” Stark told the Hastings Tribune.

For the first day, students in the class learned scant details about the crime.

Jack Xavier, 54, was found dead at a chemistry room lab at the fictitious Midwest Regional Community College. Xavier, a longtime chemistry professor, had a bullet hole in his head and a gun was found at the scene. Other evidence included blood splatter, playing cards, poker chips and beer bottles.

Jay Cecrle, instructor for the course, said the class shows practical applications for scientific principles students learned in other classes. So far this semester, the class has learned various skills that will be used for the crime scene investigation. They used trigonometry to calculate the angle of a shot from a gun. They conducted labs to analyze blood.

“It’s science instruction in a different way,” he said. “I’m hoping they can use scientific logic to solve real-world problems.”

Students from last year’s class created the mystery for this year’s crime scene. Over the next few weeks, the students will learn more information about the murder and the suspects involved. Once the evidence has been collected and suspects interviewed, the case will be sent to a mock trial before students in the business law class with the instructor serving as judge.

The forensic science course was added to the school’s curriculum in 2008. The class is an elective for juniors and seniors and can be used to fulfill a science requirement for college.

Cecrle has changed the program over time.

“This thing’s come quite a ways since we started it in 2008,” he said.

In this photo taken on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, Ali Stark catalogs evidence at the mock crime scene during her Forensic Science class at Adams Central High School in Hasting, Neb. (AP Photo/The Hastings Tribune, Amy Roh)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, Ali Stark catalogs evidence at the mock crime scene during her Forensic Science class at Adams Central High School in Hasting, Neb. (AP Photo/The Hastings Tribune, Amy Roh)

More in News

Robert Weaver was last seen at the Doroshin Bay public use cabin on June 25, 2025. (Photo provided by the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
Kenai wildlife refuge seeking information on missing man

Robert Weaver was last seen near Skilak Lake on June 25.

The Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team conducts a training mission in Seward, Alaska in 2024. Photo courtesy of the Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team
Anchor Point fundraiser to benefit Alaska rescue and recovery group

Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization established in 2016.

Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic staff (left to right) Angie Holland, RN; Jane Rohr, Sonja Martin Young, CNM; Robin Holmes, MD; and Cherie Bole, CMA provide an array of reproductive and sexual health services. (Photo provided by KBFPC)
Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic releases report on STI trends on the Kenai Peninsula

The report pulls from data gathered from 2024 to early 2025.

Pool manager and swim coach Will Hubler leads a treading water exercise at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Swimmers, parents call on Kenai to support Kenai Central pool

The KPBSD Board of Education last week said communities will need to step up and take over administration of pools within the next year.

Traffic passes by South Spruce Street in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai drops effort to rename South Spruce Street

The resolution would have changed the name to make it clear which road led to North Kenai Beach

Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress fourth grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Dunleavy calls special session for August

Lawmakers on Wednesday said they were surprised by the move.

A makeshift coffin decrying the risks of Medicaid funding cuts is seen on Thursday, June 26, in front of the Blazy Mall in Soldotna. The cuts were included in legislation passed by the U.S. Senate early Tuesday morning. (Photo by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)
Ahead of Senate vote, Soldotna protesters defend Medicaid funding

Cuts to the program were included in legislation passed by the U.S. Senate early Tuesday morning.

Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough school board to finalize budget

The new budget designed by the committee will be considered at a public hearing during the full board meeting on Monday evening.

Most Read