Elmhurst University Criminal Justice Club Hosts “Crack the Case” Event on Halloween

“Who has O+?” “Do you guys have a murder weapon?” “Where’s the fingerprint?”

These are just a few of the questions that were asked throughout the detective game hosted by the Elmhurst University Criminal Justice Club, held in Old Main 107 on Thursday, Oct. 31 — none other than Halloween.

The activity was preceded by a “homicide investigation presentation” delivered by Roy Selvik, the chief of police in neighboring Addison, who detailed one of the first cases he worked on as a detective: a familicide.

“This was a very touchy case,” Selvik said. “It rocked our community.”

According to Selvik, officers responding to a frantic 911 call discovered the bodies of four family members, including two children, in an Addison residence. All four had died from gunshot wounds.

Selvik then outlined how the case was solved, with multiple signs pointing toward the father being the perpetrator, including an autopsy that showed gun residue on his hands, the trajectory of the bullet that fatally struck him, and a suicide note found in one of his pockets.

The evidence gathered by detectives helped prove their own theory of a murder-suicide and explain how it could happen to a family “with no history … whatsoever” in “a very quiet residential area.”

“You have to play both sides of this,” Selvik said while explaining how the idea of an intruder was quickly disproven. “You have to go off the possibility.”

As there were no further questions, the event proceeded directly into a crime-solving simulation, with the participants being informed that one of the club’s five board members had murdered the fictitious Angela Smith in the very same room where they all stood.

The hopeful sleuths employed many of the same tactics used by Selvik, including gathering fingerprints, blood samples, and a murder weapon strewn throughout the room.

Crime scene tape, an outline of the victim’s body, a detailed newspaper article, and profiles of all the club leaders added to the theme and offered further insight to the participants.

Although the club’s vice president, Tiffany Cuevas, was initially suspected, upon collecting and analyzing all of the clues, the sleuths accused the president, Maya Kosiarek, having debunked her alibi that she “was at home all night.”

“It was me,” Maya confirmed. “Angela was…she was actually my best friend.”

Maya also revealed the motive for the crime, saying she killed Angela because she was planning to attend a Taylor Swift concert without her.

Further information about EU’s Criminal Justice Club can be obtained from mkosi6767@365.elmhurst.edu or by following the club’s official Instagram page.