A murder case was assigned to us in chemistry this year, and that case was the case of Kirsten K, who had been reported missing from the Napa-Solano area by her husband on February 4. With this, there were four main suspects, which included the husband himself. The four suspects turned out to be her husband Larry, Harold the plumber, Gladys the retired pharmacist, and Elizabeth the neighbor. With the evidence gathered by the labs that we completed, and the Suspect Files, I came to the conclusion that Gladys is the culprit for the murder, as she tried to blame it on Larry. Here is my theory and the evidence proving why:
Beginning Information on Gladys
- Retired Pharmacist
- Resident of Lake Berryessa
February 3 - Kirsten last seen hurrying a cake delivery at a hotel
February 4 - Kirsten K reported missing by husband, Larry.
February 7 - Blue cooler with possible bullet hole found, suspect spotted carrying chain
With this evidence, police suspected that the suspect(s) tried hiding the evidence after failing to sink Kirsten’s body in either Lake Curry, Lake Berryessa, or Lake Hennessey. After completing the density lab, we were able to conclude that all of Kirsten would have indeed been able to fit in the cooler. But as it turns out, the density of the lakes would not allow the cooler to float with Kirsten inside, even after the bullet hole could have caused all of the water to sink in. So with this, I suspected that the possible lake where it took place in was Lake Curry, though I was later proven wrong when new evidence was provided, proving that Lake Berryessa was the actual scene of the crime by the lake’s pH.
Information on Gladys now:
- Owns lakehouse at Lake Berryessa
- Rented it to Larry and Kirsten
- During week she went missing
Once further evidence was conducted:
Harold - Aspirin
Gladys - Cocain
Elizabeth - Unknown, Acetaminophen
Larry - Nitroglycerine, Unknown
Information on Larry Now:
Gladys had been interviewed before, as she stated she rented her house to friends or acquaintances for vacations. She denied knowing Kirsten, though admitted recognizing her from a photograph.
She claimed:
Finally, Kirsten’s body was found near original crime scene (at Lake Berryessa), and searched.
But after completing a Molarity Lab, more information was discovered:
Only after completing the Lab, did I realize that we had forgotten to look for Lethal Dosage of Silver nitrate. Which now I was able to find out that for 50kg, 1.4 grams is enough to result in possible death. Kirsten weighed 128 lbs = about 58.1 kg. This would mean that it would take 1.63 kg to affect Kirsten.
And we were informed that:
Gladys runs an illegal cocaine business at her secluded lake house.
Why/how this is backed up:
Gladys used to deal with Larry
Why/how this is backed up:
Why/how this is backed up:
As Gladys used Silver nitrate on a knife to stab Kirsten, thus killing her. Not knowing what to do with the body, Gladys decided sinking her body at Lake Berryessa would work just fine. She found a blue cooler, and shoved Kirsten’s body inside, only to realize the cooler didn’t go down much. Thus, she decided to wrap the chains around the cooler, trying to make it heavier. When that still didn’t work, a gun was used to create a hole, as Gladys hoped the cooler would finally sink. But with the density in Lake Berryessa making it impossible for that to actually work, she ended up hiding Kirsten’s body in the abandoned delivery truck, where it was later found by police along a remote area at the lake.
Why/how this is backed up:
After taking the cooler to the recycling center, as to rid of the evidence, she tried to frame the situation on Larry, knowing the two weren’t getting along recently, with Larry having affairs, and the whole drugs situation. With this, she cut off her left ring finger, to show “anger in marriage” kind of situation. She then proceeded on hiding her body around the lake, where it was later found by the officers.
Why/how this is backed up:
And that is how I think it was done.
Beginning Information on Gladys
- Retired Pharmacist
- Resident of Lake Berryessa
February 3 - Kirsten last seen hurrying a cake delivery at a hotel
February 4 - Kirsten K reported missing by husband, Larry.
February 7 - Blue cooler with possible bullet hole found, suspect spotted carrying chain
With this evidence, police suspected that the suspect(s) tried hiding the evidence after failing to sink Kirsten’s body in either Lake Curry, Lake Berryessa, or Lake Hennessey. After completing the density lab, we were able to conclude that all of Kirsten would have indeed been able to fit in the cooler. But as it turns out, the density of the lakes would not allow the cooler to float with Kirsten inside, even after the bullet hole could have caused all of the water to sink in. So with this, I suspected that the possible lake where it took place in was Lake Curry, though I was later proven wrong when new evidence was provided, proving that Lake Berryessa was the actual scene of the crime by the lake’s pH.
Information on Gladys now:
- Owns lakehouse at Lake Berryessa
- Rented it to Larry and Kirsten
- During week she went missing
Once further evidence was conducted:
- 5 chemicals were found at the crime scene
- some matched with the five suspects
- Gladys owned a lake house
- Kirsten and Larry were staying at during the week Kirsten went missing.
- Larry was convicted for dealing drugs four years ago, in May of 2012.
- abandoned delivery truck was found along hidden coastline at Lake Berryessa
- not been reported missing.
- Kirsten had been working with Elizabeth,
- owner of found delivery truck.
- Kirsten had scheduled a week long vacation during the time she went missing.
- Vanilla
- Cocain
- Aspirin
- Unknown
Harold - Aspirin
Gladys - Cocain
Elizabeth - Unknown, Acetaminophen
Larry - Nitroglycerine, Unknown
Information on Larry Now:
- Staying at vacation house with Kirsten when she went missing
- Convicted for dealing Drugs
Gladys had been interviewed before, as she stated she rented her house to friends or acquaintances for vacations. She denied knowing Kirsten, though admitted recognizing her from a photograph.
She claimed:
- Kirsten and Larry rended lake home from February 1-5
- Larry arranged rental over telephone
- Only met kirsten briefly on Monday
- Gladys was out of town, staying at friend’s house
- Denied knowledge of Kirsten’s whereabouts
Finally, Kirsten’s body was found near original crime scene (at Lake Berryessa), and searched.
- Victim's left ring finger was missing
- Clear liquid was found under body
- When body moved, a “crystalline, Salt-like substance” fell from body
- “Opaque”
- Mixed with liquid causing reaction
- Either Potassium iodide or Silver Nitrate
But after completing a Molarity Lab, more information was discovered:
- When tested with chemicals, Potassium Iodide showed no “opaque” reaction
- Silver Nitrate was the chemical found on Kirsten’s body
Only after completing the Lab, did I realize that we had forgotten to look for Lethal Dosage of Silver nitrate. Which now I was able to find out that for 50kg, 1.4 grams is enough to result in possible death. Kirsten weighed 128 lbs = about 58.1 kg. This would mean that it would take 1.63 kg to affect Kirsten.
And we were informed that:
- Police found 3 small bottles of Silver nitrate solutions in Larry & Kirsten’s home
- Police found silver nitrate solution at Gladys lake house
- In a black room with no windows
- Filed restraining order on Larry 2 weeks before disappearance
- Gave 30 day notice on quitting nursing Job (Jan 30)
- Caught arguing with Kirsten in Napa Bowl Parking lot around Jan 23
- Leaving restaurant with Elizabeth on Feb 14
- Enjoys evening walks around Lake Berryessa
- Didn’t explain cocaine residue found on her clothing
- No trace of cocaine in her system
Gladys runs an illegal cocaine business at her secluded lake house.
Why/how this is backed up:
- Isolated area
- Not many people would visit
- Cocaine was found on Gladys
- Couldn’t/Didn’t explain why it was found on her clothing
- No trace of cocaine in her system
- She herself isn’t taking it
- Has a black room with no windows
Gladys used to deal with Larry
Why/how this is backed up:
- Rents house to friends or acquaintances for vacation
- Means she knows Larry
- Larry was convicted for dealing drugs in 2012
- Doesn’t mean he stopped
Why/how this is backed up:
- Kirsten filed restraining order on Larry 2 weeks before disappearance
- Angry with him not listening to her about his problem
- With drugs
- Possible affair with another woman
- Angry with him not listening to her about his problem
- Lake house was rented to Larry and Kirsten
- During week she went missing
- Larry was caught arguing with Kirsten in Napa Bowl Parking lot around Jan 23
- Possibly about an affair
- Again with Larry not being able to stop the drug dealing
As Gladys used Silver nitrate on a knife to stab Kirsten, thus killing her. Not knowing what to do with the body, Gladys decided sinking her body at Lake Berryessa would work just fine. She found a blue cooler, and shoved Kirsten’s body inside, only to realize the cooler didn’t go down much. Thus, she decided to wrap the chains around the cooler, trying to make it heavier. When that still didn’t work, a gun was used to create a hole, as Gladys hoped the cooler would finally sink. But with the density in Lake Berryessa making it impossible for that to actually work, she ended up hiding Kirsten’s body in the abandoned delivery truck, where it was later found by police along a remote area at the lake.
Why/how this is backed up:
- Police found silver nitrate solution at Gladys lake house
- Silver Nitrate was the chemical found on Kirsten’s body
- February 7 - Blue cooler with possible bullet hole found, suspect spotted carrying chain
- Abandoned delivery truck was found along hidden coastline at Lake Berryessa
After taking the cooler to the recycling center, as to rid of the evidence, she tried to frame the situation on Larry, knowing the two weren’t getting along recently, with Larry having affairs, and the whole drugs situation. With this, she cut off her left ring finger, to show “anger in marriage” kind of situation. She then proceeded on hiding her body around the lake, where it was later found by the officers.
Why/how this is backed up:
- Larry was caught arguing with Kirsten in Napa Bowl Parking lot around Jan 23
- Larry was seen leaving restaurant with Elizabeth on Feb 14
- A possible affair
- Might not have been the first time
- Victim's left ring finger was missing
- Kirsten’s body was found near original crime scene
And that is how I think it was done.