Copyright, 2002 © The Lost Dollar What happened to Mr. Miller???

Someone has “disposed of” Mr. Miller!!!

The evidence: His body was found at 10:00pm by the janitors in the AP office.His body was found at 10:00pm by the janitors in the AP office. At the time his body was found the temperature of his body was 82.43°F and the room was 72.9°FAt the time his body was found the temperature of his body was 82.43°F and the room was 72.9°F By 10:30pm his body had cooled to 80.81°.By 10:30pm his body had cooled to 80.81°.

Our suspects: We have six suspects.We have six suspects. Each has their own alibi that accounts for certain times of the day.Each has their own alibi that accounts for certain times of the day. Every suspect has some unaccounted time in their day.Every suspect has some unaccounted time in their day.

Suspect #1 : Mrs. Ellison

Mrs. Ellison carpools home at 4:00pm.Mrs. Ellison carpools home at 4:00pm. She was at home with her daughter until 8:00pm.She was at home with her daughter until 8:00pm. Her daughter went to a friend’s house for an hour and she was alone at home.Her daughter went to a friend’s house for an hour and she was alone at home. Her daughter came home at 9:00pm and spent the rest of the evening with her!!Her daughter came home at 9:00pm and spent the rest of the evening with her!!

Suspect #2 : Coach Franklin

Coach Franklin was at football practice until 6:00pm.Coach Franklin was at football practice until 6:00pm. He was seen buying frozen tv dinners at Kroger from 7:00pm until 7:45pm.He was seen buying frozen tv dinners at Kroger from 7:00pm until 7:45pm. He and his son drove home and he was at home with his family for the rest of the evening.He and his son drove home and he was at home with his family for the rest of the evening.

Suspect #3 : Ms. Goode

Ms. Goode was seen leaving school at 2:45pm.Ms. Goode was seen leaving school at 2:45pm. She was seen at the AMC Theatre attending “Underworld” from 4:00-6:30.She was seen at the AMC Theatre attending “Underworld” from 4:00-6:30. After the movie she walked to Buffalo Wild Wings and was there until 10:30pm.After the movie she walked to Buffalo Wild Wings and was there until 10:30pm.

Suspect #4 : Mr. Mattair

Mr. Mattair was at school tutoring students until 4:00pm.Mr. Mattair was at school tutoring students until 4:00pm. He was teaching a class at Tomball College from 5:00pm until 6:15pm.He was teaching a class at Tomball College from 5:00pm until 6:15pm. After class he went home (got home at 6:30pm) and spent the rest of the evening with his family.After class he went home (got home at 6:30pm) and spent the rest of the evening with his family.

Suspect #5 : Mrs. Prine

Mrs. Prine was hosting the math contest and had students at school helping her until 7:00pm.Mrs. Prine was hosting the math contest and had students at school helping her until 7:00pm. She got home at 8:00pm and was home with her family the rest of the evening.She got home at 8:00pm and was home with her family the rest of the evening.

Suspect #6 : Mrs. Sims

Mrs. Sims was at school with her students until 5:00pm.Mrs. Sims was at school with her students until 5:00pm. She came back to school at 6:00pm to pick up her son from band practice.She came back to school at 6:00pm to pick up her son from band practice. She spent the rest of the evening with her family working on her Corvette.She spent the rest of the evening with her family working on her Corvette.

In Summary Use your knowledge of Newton’s Law of Cooling with the fact that the body would have been 98.6°F at the time of death.Use your knowledge of Newton’s Law of Cooling with the fact that the body would have been 98.6°F at the time of death. Good luck Gumshoe!! CyCreek is counting on you!!Good luck Gumshoe!! CyCreek is counting on you!!

Hints: f(0) = 82.43f(0) = f(1/2) = 80.81f(1/2) = f(?) = 98.6f(?) = 98.6

Hints: Using the formula:Using the formula: Where B = Body Temperature ST = Surrounding Temp ST = Surrounding Temp t = time t = time c & k = random constant c & k = random constant

Hints: Solving for C:Solving for C: Use f(0) = C = 9.53 C = 9.53

Hints: Solving for k:Solving for k: Use f(1/2) = k = k =

Hints: Thus the formula is:Thus the formula is: Use this to find the time of death!!

Solution:

Solution: This places the time of death approximately 2:30 before the body was found…or 7:30 p.m.!!This places the time of death approximately 2:30 before the body was found…or 7:30 p.m.!!

Solution: Is this the face of a killer? Let the judge decide.