The Mystery of Lyle and Louise: Small Class Edition

A double homicide has occurred in a remote fishing cabin in the woods, and it's up to you to find the hidden truth and solve the case!

The Mystery of Lyle and Louise Mondelo is an exciting forensic entomology kit. With it, students will solve several fictional mysteries while learning about real forensic processes and analyses. This small class edition is ideal for small forensics classes or homeschool students. With it, up to 6 students can easily perform all the forensic labs using the materials inside. The Mystery of Lyle and Louise includes nine total units, which cover a wide range of forensic studies.

Using this kid-friendly forensic kit, students as young as 12 can solve the double homicide of Lyle and Louise, as well as a string of other murders connected to this fictional case. 

With this kit, students will analyze and trace evidence collected from the crime scenes and use scientific inquiry to solve the case. Along the way, they'll learn to perform:

• blood splatter/blood spatter analysis
• forensic entomology 
• footprint analysis
• blood detection and evidence processing
• questioned document examination
• fingerprint analysis
• bite marks analysis
• glass fragment identification
• and drug testing and analysis

The 150-page manual includes the story of The Mystery of Lyle and Louise, step-by-step instructions for analysis, and background information about forensic science. The manual is available for free download from the manufacturer's website; instructions for download are included in the kit.

Some additional items are needed, including a computer with internet connection. You will also need safety equipment, including gloves and goggles. This kit meets National Science Education Standards for high school and is also appropriate for an undergraduate college course. It is distributed by Crosscutting Concepts (formerly Vandalia Science Education).

Looking for some more crime-solving fun? Browse through our entire collection of forensic science kits to learn about blood typing, DNA typing, and more! Click here to view the complete set of kit instructions!

The Mystery of Lyle and Louise: Small Class Edition

• Cardboard blood drop angle support
• 10 sheets 11x17" paper
• Bottle of synthetic blood
• 2 pipets
• Cardboard cabin model
• 4 crime scene blood spatter images and evidence sheets
• 18" string
• Box of push pins
• Tape measure
• Protractor
• Species A life stages (6 vials) and Species B life stages (6 vials)
• 2 evidence collection vials
• Bag of dental stone and evidence casting
• Photo of crime scene shoeprint and shoe data pages
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Phenolphthalein solution
• Cotton swabs
• Positive control and testing cards
• Crime scene carpet sample
• 15 receipts as evidence
• 12 thin layer chromatography plates
• 6 bottles TLC solvent
• 1 TLC analysis jar
• 100 micro capillary pipets
• 30 hinge lifters
• Fingerprinting brush
• Dusting powder
• Professional fingerprinting ink pad
• Suspect fingerprint cards
• Evidence fingerprint from scene of the crime
• Base plate wax
• Bite mark photo
• Matching bite impression
• Bite impression from victim
• 72 microscope slides
• 100 microscope cover slips
• 3 bottles refractive index liquid
• 4 glass sample containers
• 2 bottles of drug testing reagents
• 7 powder samples (6 known and 1 unknown)
• 7 powder dispenser spatulas
• 2 spot plates
• Drug detection data (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry)
• Link with instructions to download the fully illustrated 150+ page teacher's manual