Kishkumen Murder Mystery - c586449.r49.cf2.rackcdn.com
Kishkumen Murder Mystery - Overview
This activity should be set up for groups of eight. In each group you will have one person to represent each of the six suspects in the murder mystery, and one person designated as the table leader (maybe an adult leader) to hand out the clues and keep the group on task and away from just silliness. The extra chair should be kept open in case someone arrives late to the activity. Late arrivals will not have a character, but may be assigned to hand out clues or to announce the group’s decision of the guilty party.
Make up a set of character nametags (6) for each table. Assign those who come in to tables as they arrive, and let them sit in a seat that has a nametag in front of it. They shouldn’t put the nametags on until the activity starts, just in case you have to do some shuffling at the last minute.
The characters in this version of the story are:
1. Shawn Vant –
2. Heath Lamb
3. Garrison Thompson
4. Khan Spinto
5. Monroe Hanah
6. Seargant Strong
Each table leader will have four envelopes. Each envelope is labeled “Introductions,” “Round 1,” “Round 2,” or “Round 3.” In the envelope is a clue for each suspect. So each round, each of the six suspects will have a clue to read.
Copy the clues for each table. Cut the clues apart and put them in corresponding envelopes. All clue #1 (one for each character) in one envelope labeled CLUE #1, All clue #2 (one for each character) in a second envelope labeled CLUE #2. And all of clue #3 in a third envelope labeled CLUE #3.
In other words, if you think you will need five tables, you will need to copy and cut up five pages of CLUE #1, five of CLUE #2, and five of CLUE #3. Table leaders hold onto the clues until they are instructed to given them out later in the activity.
When the table leader hands the clues to each character (at the appropriate time) the characters keep the clues to themselves and should not show them to each other.
The mystery in set around a three-course dinner
First – Event organizer (or assigned helper) does the opening song and prayer. They then set the scene. Then the table leaders hand out the introductions to the characters.
Each character reads the portion of the introduction that they are instructed to read aloud. Each introduction has a portion that should not be read aloud.
At the leader’s signal, the table leaders then hand out the first batch of clues.
Round 1 – Each character reads the clue, there is discussion and questioning, then the leader signals for the groups to eat the first course of the meal. Many wards have success having the participants come to the kitchen or a serving table to get their food, while others enlist help to take the food to the tables.
Ideas for first course: salad, chips and salsa, veggies and dip, crackers and cheese
At the leaders’ signal, the table leaders hand out the second clues.
Round 2 – each character reads his or her second clue, asks any questions they wish of the other characters, and have a discussion about the clues. At the organizer’s signal, they have their second course:
Ideas: taco bar, taco salad, potato bar, lasagne and bread, spaghetti and bread, etc.
At the leaders’ signal, the table leaders hand out the third clues.
Round 3 – each character reads his or her third clue, asks any questions they wish of the other characters, and have a discussion about the clues. At the organizer’s signal, they have their third course:
Ideas: brownies, cake, cookies, etc.
Each table now decides who they think the murderer is, and assigns someone to announce their decision. Then the organizer (or designee) asks each spokesperson to stand. Then he/she reveals the murderers and the identity of each character.
The Activity:
Introduction (read/presented by organizer or designee):
You are about to become a murder suspect and so is everyone else at your table, except the Private Investigator (table leader). You can prove your innocence only by proving that someone else is guilty. The people at your table must work together to solve the mystery.
As the evening progresses, each person will receive an outline of their character and pieces of information that will be known only to them. You must be sure to clearly and accurately reveal all the facts that you know about yourself and the other suspects in each round. You may not lie about the clues you are given. When someone reads a clue that places suspicion on you, then you need to read your clue, which will change the subject and raise suspicion on a different character.
This activity is divided into an Introduction and three rounds. Round 1: First meal course and CLUE #1; Round 2: Second meal Course and CLUE #2; Round 3: Dessert and CLUE #3.
Do not go on to the next round until you are told to do so. (All tables should stay on the same schedule of starting and finishing.) At the conclusion of the three rounds, you should decide as a table who you believe the murderer is. The solution will be revealed after the final round.
Remember, you are out to catch a murderer. Be inquisitive! Be aggressive! Be suspicious!
Setting the scene:
The beloved president of Healmsland, Peter Holmes II, was murdered at his presidential residence two years ago. The people elected his replacement, Paul Meanath, but Paul was killed in a successful attempt to subdue a rebellious uprising originating in a neighboring country.
Heath Lamb was then elected president in a closely fought election. All is now peaceful, and he is maintaining control of the country. However, no one has found the murderer of Peter Holmes II, so a degree of fear remains in the land.
Even worse, there are whisperings that the murder of Peter Holmes II was committed by a conspiracy, a conspiracy that will not rest until its own candidate is president. No one knows if there really is a secret conspiracy group or not. If there is a conspiracy, no one knows if Heath Lamb was it’s president of choice or if they are still trying to seat their own president.
Then yesterday morning on the street near the presidential residence, police found the body of Ken Coburn, a former lobbyist and lawyer. He had been stabbed multiple times and left for dead. Who is Ken Coburn? Who killed him? Why?
At each table there are six suspects. One of them is the murderer of Ken Coburn. Is it you?
Characters:
1. Shawn Vant – The President’s Chief of Staff
2. President Heath Lamb – Healmsland’s President
3. Garrison Thompson – A powerful lobbyist and businessman
4. Khan Spinto – A lesser businessman with many political and international contacts
5. Monroe Hanah – The General of the Healmsland Army
6. Seargant Strong – A sergeant in the police force
(The organizer/designee stops reading here and turns things over to the table leaders)
# # #
At the end (after everyone has finished dessert and has selected a suspect):
This murder is taken not from today’s headlines in a foreign country, but instead is lifted from the pages of the greatest book of all time – the Book of Mormon.
To solve this mystery, we will turn to the book of Helaman, Chapters 1 and 2.
Pahoran the second, (Our Paul the Second) the Chief Judge, was murdered by Kishkumen (Our own Ken Coburn) as he sat on the judgment seat. Kishkumen supported one of Pahoran’s brothers as chief judge, and wanted to smooth the way for the brother to be put into power.
Kishkumen enlisted the help of others and had them covenant that they would never reveal his deeds and would help protect him from justice.
He and his conspirators lived among the Nephites without them knowing who he was or what he had done.
The people appointed Pacumeni (Our own Paul Meenath) to be the chief judge, but because of all the dissension and difficulties in the country, the Lamanites attacked into the center of Zarahemla (our Healmsland) and killed Pacumeni.
Thanks to General Moronihah (or Monroe Hanah) and the arrogance of the leader of the Lamanites, the Lamanites were defeated and driven out of the land. Helaman won the election and was made chief judge.
However, Kishkumen and his band were not driven out of the land, and they were determined to destroy Helaman as they had Pahoran and Pacumeni.
A new leader arose in the band. Gadianton is Garrison Thompson in our story, a smooth operator, gregarious and articulate and expert in deception, robbery and murder. He became the leader of the band and convinced Kishkumen and his followers that he would make an excellent chief judge. He promised the others power and riches if they helped him become the chief judge. Of course, they all took secret oaths to protect one another, to never reveal the identities of those in the group, and to do whatever necessary to ensure Gadianton’s rise to power. These people became the band of Gadianton, the conspirators, or Khan Spinto in our story. They were later known as the Gadianton Robbers.
Helaman was blessed with a faithful servant, known to us as Shawn Vant, who risked his own safety by becoming affiliated with the secret group in a minor way, just enough to learn the signs and signals that would let him be known as one of the gang.
The night that Gadianton had decided to carry out his plan to take over the judgment seat, he sent Kishkumen to carry out the murder of Helaman. Kishkumen had successfully carried out the deed before, and he was the most trusted crook of the group.
It says in the scripture: “
“6 -- And it came to pass as he went forth towards the judgment-seat to destroy Helaman, behold one of the servants of Helaman, having been out by night, and having obtained, through disguise, a knowledge of those plans which had been laid by this band to destroy Helaman—
7 -- And it came to pass that he met Kishkumen, and he gave unto him a sign; therefore Kishkumen made known unto him the object of his desire, desiring that he would conduct him to the judgment-seat that he might murder Helaman.
8 -- And when the servant of Helaman had known all the heart of Kishkumen, and how that it was his object to murder, and also that it was the object of all those who belonged to his band to murder, and to rob, and to gain power, (and this was their secret plan, and their combination) the servant of Helaman said unto Kishkumen: Let us go forth unto the judgment-seat.
9 -- Now this did please Kishkumen exceedingly, for he did suppose that he should accomplish his design; but behold, the servant of Helaman, as they were going forth unto the judgment-seat, did stab Kishkumen even to the heart, that he fell dead without a groan. And he ran and told Helaman all the things which he had seen, and heard, and done.
10 -- And it came to pass that Helaman did send forth to take this band of robbers and asecret murderers, that they might be executed according to the law.
11 -- But behold, when Gadianton had found that Kishkumen did not return he feared lest that he should be destroyed; therefore he caused that his band should follow him. And they took their flight out of the land, by a secret way, into the wilderness; and thus when Helaman sent forth to take them they could nowhere be found.”
Our Sergeant Strong represented the group of people Helaman sent out to unsuccessfully attempt to capture the Gadianton Robbers.
So the actual murderer in this case was Shawn Vant, a faithful and true servant the Lord prepared to be in the right place at the right time to prevent a serious problem and potential chaos in the Nephite government.
(Comment if anyone got it right – we are going to connect this to being an example of the believers. That the servant was willing to stand up and not be lured into the gang through greed for power and money, but instead “Ran and told Helaman all that he had seen, heard and done.”
Table Leader Instructions:
We appreciate your help in making this activity fun and successful for the individuals at your table. Help them to "get into" the activity by playing the part as much as they feel comfortable doing. We don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable, so they can just read their clue if that is what they are comfortable with. Your job is to hand out the clues to the appropriate characters at the beginning of each round.
Your job is to keep the table on track, distribute the clues to each suspect, make sure they are read properly and the suspects stay on schedule, and help with the discussion. At the end of the activity, help the table choose a spokesperson and help them come to a decision about who the murderer is.
You are the Private Investigator.
If you have an extra youth at the table, have them take on the role of the Private Investigator and let them steer the conversation.
Explain that they are taking on the role of these people, it is meant to be fun, and they can use their acting abilities, but they CANNOT lie about their character. Players should not let other players read their clues.
Make sure everyone has a name tag. There should be six suspects:
. Shawn Vant – The President’s Chief of Staff
2. President Heath Lamb – Healmsland’s President
3. Garrison Thompson – A powerful lobbyist and businessman
4. Khan Spinto – A lesser businessman with many political and international contacts
5. Monroe Hanah – The General of the Healmsland Army
6. Seargant Strong – A sergeant in the police force
Help generate discussions.
If someone is getting too much attention, try and get someone else to ask questions that will reveal something about someone else.
Give the group about 2 minutes to discuss each group of clues as they finish reading.
Have the youth read the clues in order, handing them out one at a time.
1. Listen to the Organizer/Designee – when they finish setting the scene, they will signal you to begin handing out the introductions.
2. Hand out introductions in this order and have them read in this order:
a. Heath Lamb
b. Garrison Thompson
c. Shawn Vent
d. Khan Spinto
e. Monroe Hanah
f. Sergeant Strong
3. At the leader’s signal, hand out the Clues for Round #1 one at time and have them read in this order:
a. Heath Lamb
b. Garrison Thompson
c. Monroe Hanah
d. Shawn Vant
e. Khan Spinto
f. Sergeant Strong -- Discuss and ask questions
4. At the signal from the leader, go get your first course (or it may be brought to you)
5. At the signal, hand out the Second Round of clues and have them read in the following order:
a. Khan Spinto
b. Shawn Vant
c. Garrison Thompson
d. Heath Lamb.
e. Monroe Hanah
f. Sergeant Strong --- Discuss and ask questions
6. At the signal from the leader, get your main course.
7. At the leader’s signal, hand out the clues for Round 3 in this order:
a. Monroe Hanah
b. Sergeant Strong
c. Khan Spinto
d. Shawn Vant
e. Garrison Thompson
f. Heath Lamb
8. As instructed, get your dessert course.
9. Now decide as a table which character you think is the murderer, and assign someone to announce the decision when your table is asked for your answer.
All the Clues and Introductions, etc.
Introductions:
1. President Heath Lamb: (Read Aloud) I am Heath Lamb, President of Healmsland. I came into power at an extremely difficult moment in our nation. Foreign invaders killed our previous president, and it was only the lack of foresight on the part of the invaders that allowed our army to defeat them. I learned from their mistakes; I have a plan for our country. I am anxious to rid our land of any who empathize with those who wanted to overthrow the government. I’m also a little wary and watchful, since I saw the last two presidents of this country be killed. I keep a very good personal guard and my intelligence agencies are formidable.(Stop Reading)
(Do Not Read – You do not tell others this information unless you are asked directly) You trust Shawn Vant completely, even now after this murder has happened. You are sure he is completely loyal to you, and have trusted him for years, with only the best results. You believe there is a conspiracy in the country, and will do anything legal and necessary to rid the country of the conspiracy group. You don’t trust very many people that surround you.
2. Garrison Thompson: (Read Aloud) I am Garrison Thompson, a lobbyist for many powerful people in the country. I am not particularly loyal to anyone but myself, and I will work with anyone who can help me or pay me. I lobbied the last two presidents, and I lobby this president. Whoever pays the right price will get results from me. I have a large firm of lobbyists. I also have a network of friends in many other businesses, law firms and lobbying groups who privately -- you might say secretly -- work for me as well. (Stop Reading)
(Do Not Read – You do not tell others this information unless you are asked directly) You know Ken Coburn well. You and he recently had a power struggle over who would have control over the secret network of lawyers and lobbyists, and you won that conflict. You are very charismatic and influential and have a great deal of power in the world. You are a very intelligent person, and you use your brains to get ahead in the world by manipulating circumstances to your benefit.
3. Shawn Vant: (Read Aloud) I am Shawn Vant. I am President Lamb’s Chief of Staff. I have been a part of his political team for many years, and I have been very loyal to him. I have no particular political aspirations of my own, because I believe President Lamb is a great leader and should be supported. My expertise has been in helping him run his campaigns and his presidential organization, and to help the president avoid the traps you can run into in politics. (Stop Reading Here)
(Do Not Read – You do not tell others this information unless you are asked directly) You really are a loyal friend to Mr. Lamb. You really do believe in him. You are extremely loyal, in fact, and would do anything you needed to in order to preserve his power.
4. Khan Spinto: (Read Aloud) I am Khan Spinto. I have worked for Ken Coburn in the past. He was not my formal boss at the manufacturing firm where I work, but I met him through some mutual friends. We agreed on many things politically and in business, and I did some outside jobs for him. Recently, however, I started to work for Garrison Thompson. Although I still employed by the large manufacturing business, I know some important people, and Mr. Thompson pays me and rewards me in other ways for my influence with those important figures in the community.
(Do Not Read – You do not tell others this information unless you are asked directly) You are a corrupt individual. You are after money and power, and that’s why you abandoned Ken Coburn and began to hang out with Garrison Thompson. It’s why you have agreed, even promised, to do whatever he asks you to do, even if it is illegal, and never turn him in or confess your own guilt. So far, hanging with Thompson has paid off for you financially and in terms of power. You plan to stick with him and honor your promises.
5. Monroe Hanah – I am Monroe Hanah, Commanding General of the Army in Healmsland. I was able to defeat those foreign usurpers who killed our past president, President Meanath, and I intend to keep them out of the country forever. But I don’t think they were the ones who killed our previous president, Paul Holmes II. I never voted for Holmes; I liked another candidate, but I work for whomever wins, and Holmes won. I was very distressed when he was killed, and right in the presidential home, too! I want to find out who killed President Holmes so that I can be sure he or she (or it) will never kill again. The chaos that murder caused in our country is still not resolved, and I don’t think our police and intelligence agencies are doing enough to find the murder(s). I’m not sure if the murder of Ken Coburn has anything to do with all of this, but I think it might.
(Do Not Read – You do not tell others this information unless you are asked directly) You are a great and wise general, but you are a secondary character in this drama. You didn’t know Coburn, and you don’t really know Thompson, except by reputation. The reputation he does have isn’t very good. You are loyal to the President, even though you again voted for a different candidate. But you are faithful to your position as Army General and are loyal to your government. Those out for their own gain at the expense of the country sicken you.
6. Seargant Strong – I am Sergeant Strong, one of the police officers in the capital city of Healmsland. I often patrol at the presidential home, and sometimes the president hires me and some of the other officers in the department to provide extra security around his house. Things in Healmsland have been a little crazy lately, and I don’t think I’d sleep too well at night if I were president here, even with extra security. Finding Coburn in the street near the president’s house – well, I think it doesn’t look good. Why would a guy like that be crawling around the president’s house in the middle of the night? Or was he? Maybe he was killed somewhere else and dumped in the street there? Anyway you look at it, it doesn’t look good.
(Do Not Read – You do not tell others this information unless you are asked directly) You are an honest police officer. The current and past presidents relied on you. When Paul Holmes was killed, you were sent after the suspected killer, but couldn’t track him down. You feel mortified by that failure, and have vowed to find him/her/it and be sure they are never able to kill again.
First Round – Read Clues Before Salad Course
1 - Heath Lamb (#1) - I have discovered that Garrison Thompson and the network of “friends” who work for him often engage in illegal activities. We have a bunch of criminal investigations going on right now that involve him and many of his well-connected friends.
2- Garrison Thompson (#1) – Everyone knows that Monroe Hanah couldn’t save the last two presidents from being killed, even though it was a foreign army marching right into the capital city that killed Paul Meanath. How can someone that incompetent still be General of the Army? Or is it something besides incompetence? I think there’s something fishy going on there.
3 - Monroe Hanah (#1) – Shawn Vant has been too close the president, in my opinion. Any time someone is that trusted, it’s dangerous. If there’s a conspiracy to overthrow the government, who better to carry it out than Shawn? He’s a smart guy, too; I know him. He probably feels frustrated by always having to play second fiddle to Heath Lamb, even if he does agree with the president on lots of policy issues.
4 – Shawn Vant(#1) – Khan Spinto is a man that should not be trusted. When I talk to the intelligence agencies in the country, his name continues to pop up in one shady deal after another. Even though his company manufactures extension cords, he’s been connected to stock deals, weapons trades and pharmaceutical deliveries. I’ve heard he had a disagreement with Ken Coburn when he quit working for him and started working for Thompson.
5 – Khan Spinto (#1) -- I don’t believe Seargant Strong is always working in the best interests of the country. He always shows up right after a murder. When the first president Paul Holmes II was murdered, he was right there, supposedly “running the investigation.” Same with the murder of Ken Coburn. He was in charge of the investigation. They even sent him to try to chase down the murderer. He has every opportunity to hide or “overlook” any evidence if it’s convenient. He works with the intelligence offices, too. Did he know something about Coburn that we don’t know?
6-- Sergeant Strong (#1) – I have been around President Heath Lamb a great deal, and I can tell you that he is more than vigilant about his own protection. I’ve even thought he’s a little over the edge about it. I think he would stop at nothing to keep himself away from harm and retain his hold on the power of being president. I am not sure he would stop before murder. Did Ken Coburn know something that would hurt the president? I’m investigating the relationship there. I think there may be something going on.
(Anyone may discuss anything they want and ask questions of any of the suspects) After the discussion, go get your salad at the serving table and eat it. At the signal, continue to the second round.
Second Round – Read clues before the main course
1 - Khan Spinto (#2) - I saw Shawn Vant hanging around at one of the meetings I attended at Garrison Thompson’s home. The only people who go to those meetings are members of our little network of business contacts.
2 – Shawn Vant (#2) – I saw Garrison Thompson and Ken Coburn in a very intense conversation in the back of Thompson’s office the day before Coburn was murdered.
3 – Garrison Thompson (#2) -- I saw President Heath Lamb arguing with Monroe Hanah last time I was at the capital building on business. They stopped arguing when they saw me come closer.
4 – Heath Lamb (#2) – I had a visit from Shawn late in the evening on the night Ken Coburn was murdered.
5 – Monroe Hanah (#2) - I told Sergeant Strong that the police should be doing more to discover if there is a conspiracy in the country, and if there is, to track down the conspirators.
6- Sergeant Strong (#2) – I was alerted to the murder of Coburn just a short time after he died. When I arrived on the scene, I could tell he hadn’t been dead very long.
(Anyone may discuss anything they want and ask questions of any of the suspects) After the discussion, go get your dessert at the serving table and eat it. At the signal, continue to the third round.
1 – Monroe Hanah (#3) I believe Sergeant Strong is the murderer. He is too involved in all these investigations and murders to be innocent. Why has he never solved any of them? Why wouldn’t he chase those conspirators down? How well did he know Ken Coburn? Many times people law enforcement are supposed to be investigating end up corrupting the officer themselves. I think Sergeant Strong was in on a scheme for power, and is expecting a big assignment in a new government – maybe even General of the Army!
2 - Sergeant Strong (#3) -- I believe Khan Spinto murdered Ken Coburn. He used to work for Ken in some pretty shady deals. Now he works for Thompson in that same kind of work. What caused the falling out? Why did he stop working for Coburn? I think it could easily be that Coburn has something on him and Spinto wanted to keep Coburn from talking. With the kind of business dealings Spinto is a part of, murder wouldn’t be a big step away.
3- Khan Spinto (#3) -- I am certain Shawn Vant murdered Ken Coburn. I don’t know why anyone who is supposed to be that close to the president and says he runs a clean ship would have anything to do with Thompson or Garrison and the kinds of business we work in. But he was around, and so was Coburn. I don’t know everything Coburn and Thompson are into, but I do know that Vant can’t be as clean as he pretends to be, and once you’re committed to Thompson, you’d better follow through.
4- Shawn Vant (#3) – Garrison Thompson is the only one that has the motive to kill Ken Coburn. He and Coburn worked together, but were constantly sparring with one another. I know that there were more people than Khan Spinto who recently quit working for Coburn and shifted loyalty to Thompson. I’m sure Thompson wanted to solidify his power and get rid of Coburn altogether. Then Thompson would have full control over the network of helpers, and all the money they generate, which sounds like it is a lot. I’ve been doing some investigating of Mr. Thompson, and I think he’s capable of just about anything.
5 – Garrison Thompson (#3) – President Heath Lamb is the murderer of Ken Coburn. Ken was a bigshot in political circles, and was a pretty powerful political force until very recently. If anyone in this city had any dirt on Heath Lamb, it would be Ken Coburn. With the way Coburn had fallen from power lately, I’ll bet President Lamb was afraid he would start spilling any secrets he knew just to salvage any clout he could.
6 – Heath Lamb (#3) – I hate to accuse my army general, but I do believe Monroe Hanah killed Ken Coburn. Monroe has been so caught up in these conspiracy theories that I believe he has created suspicions that may not be justified. We have been watching Ken Coburn for several years, but never could pin anything more significant than some minor business fraud on him. I think Monroe has taken justice into his own hands and got rid of him because he could see we were never going to find anything more on the guy, but Monroe really thought he was involved in something bigger.
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