The Oakland Post

Murder mystery hits downtown

By Tyrell Johnson
Posted: Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 at 10:47 pm | Last Updated: Thursday, September 15th, 2011 at 8:40 pm Comments Print This Email This Tweet This Delicious

Rochester residents had the opportunity to participate in a “whodunit” murder mystery that took over downtown Rochester Saturday.

The Case of the Dead Paparazzi event, which was hosted by the Rochester Avon Recreation Authority, gave participants the chance to help solve a murder mystery by determining suspects, weapons and the crime scene through a downtown scavenger hunt and clues.

The crime? A member of the local paparazzi was found dead in their Rochester apartment the night before. The murder had teams investigating bars, stores and alley ways all around downtown and questioning suspects.

Fifteen spots were available for teams of four members to register. Participants had to be 21 years or older for the event which ran from 7-11 p.m.

A total of 13 teams were registered to compete in the event.

Supervisor Melissa Byrd was more than pleased with the turnout of the event.

“With 13 teams signed up, I am very happy with how everything turned out,” Byrd said. “Since this is our first time doing something like this, the results of this event is definitely something to congratulate.”

Once teams registered, they were sent exclusive information  and clues with their starting location and further instructions.

Grouped in teams of four, participants tried to solve the murder that occurred in downtown Rochester. However, in order to obtain clues that would lead to the killer, participants were given a set of tasks by eyewitnesses located in the city to help them eliminate suspects and weapons.

There were a total of nine suspects in the game, which included famous names like Lindsay Lohan, Kwame Kilpatrick, Nickelback and Travis Barker.

There was also nine possible murder weapons which included crabs, a wrench, a frying pan and an 8 iron.

With the list of suspects and weapons in hand, the teams of detectives were set out amongst the city on a scavenger hunt to find  lock boxes in parts of the woods, listen to recorded tapes from a fireman and take photographs of clues that might lead directly to the killer.

Christopher Ware, a junior, was at the event.

“This isn’t just something you can solve quick, fast and in a hurry,” Ware said. “You actually have to think about some of the things you’re doing and really pay attention to
everything given to you.”

The two hour mystery scavenger hunt ended with five of the teams chasing down the suspect. The first team to find the suspect was declared the ultimate winner.

The winning team received prizes which included a variety of gift certificates to local businesses.

Local bars and restaurants also featured food and drink specials.

RARA Recreation raised approximately $1,040 to benefit their organization, eleven teams enjoyed the hunt in Rochester and one team was claimed victorious.

Wondering who is the killer? And the answer to that is….it was Colonel Mustard in the dining room with the wrench.