The Case of the Middle School Vandals
Suspects:
Beth
Bob
Greg
Ron
Wanda
Ah, it was the day after Veteran's Day and Principal Harrington felt refreshed. It was great to have an extra day off from school. It's not just students that feel like they need a break from school sometimes, after all. Teachers and principals feel the same way at times. Her mood changed instantly as she drove into the Jefferson Middle School parking lot. To her horror, she discovered that someone had spray painted the school building! They kept the event patriotic by using red, white, and blue spray paint, but it was still defacing school property! She was certain it was one of the students from Jefferson Middle School because some of the teachers' names were mentioned in the graffiti. As she walked into the school building, she was furious. She wanted to get to the bottom of this.
During the morning announcements, Principal Harrington made it known that she wanted any information that anyone had in this matter. "This is a very serious matter. If you have any information that you think might help and you don't come forward, you are just as guilty as the person who did this." Later that morning, a student came into her office and asked to remain anonymous. This is still a huge secret as to who the tipster was, so we will call this person ""Dr. Secrecy"". ""Dr. Secrecy"" said that he (or she) saw five students at the school the day before and this person was able to identify all five suspects by name.
After speaking with the "Dr. Secrecy", Principal Harrington called the five suspects Beth, Bob, Greg, Ron, and Wanda to the office. In the office's waiting area, she told them that she had a strong suspicion that one of them was the guilty party. "I'm not going to ask you any questions", she said. "I want you to tell me in your own words what happened. And I better get the truth", she warned. "I will ask you each to come into my office one at a time, but I will give you a few minutes so the guilty party can think about the fact that he or she should confess." With those words, Principal Harrington left the waiting area and went into her office.
"What are we going to do", asked Wanda. "We can't tell on the guilty party and if we lie we could make things worse."
"What if we all refused to talk at all", asked Ron.
"Then she'll call all of our parents and we'll all get into trouble. Maybe the guilty person should confess", said Wanda.
"No! I just thought of an idea", exclaimed Ron. "If we all tell her two small details about what happened, she'll never figure it out, but then she can't say that we didn't tell her what happened."
"Do you think she'll let us get away with that", asked Beth.
"It's worth a try", Ron said.
"Okay. Time's up", Principal Harrington informed the five students. "Has anyone reached a decision as to what they'd like to do."
"Yes", said Bob. "We'd each like to tell you our version of what happened alone in your office."
"Very well, Bob", said Principal Harrington. "How about if you go first?"
Bob walked into her office and he told her the following:
1. "One of the five of us vandalized the school and it was the one of us that was last to leave the school grounds."
2. "Each of us were wearing a different color jacket."
"Is that all you have to say", the principal asked.
"Yes ma'am", he replied with a smile.
Principal Harrington sighed and shook her head. "Okay, Bob. If this is how you want to play things, we can do it this way. I'll just get the information I need from the other four."
Bob's smile got even wider. "Yes ma'am", he repeated.
Next, the principal called Wanda into her office. Wanda's statements were:
1. "The first initial of each jacket color didn't match the first initial of any person wearing the jacket."
2. "I left the school immediately after the person wearing the black jacket left."
Poor Principal Harrington! She was exasperated! It was obvious to her now that the five of them came up with this plan. She could've demanded them to be more direct or there would be severe consequences, but she decided against it. She wanted to beat them at their own game. She was determined to find out who committed the crime using their clues. "Thank you for your time, Wanda", said the principal. Wanda looked a little stunned as she walked out of the office.
Beth was the third to be called into the principal's office. She told Principal Harrington:
1. "I wasn't wearing the gray jacket."
2. "Bob left the school grounds second."
"Thank you for the information, Beth", Principal Harrington responded. "That was very helpful."
Beth looked disappointed and confused. "It was?"
"It sure was", the principal said with a smile.
The fourth student to speak was Greg. He said:
1. "Ron left before me, but not immediately before me."
2. "The person wearing the red jacket left the school grounds before anyone else."
When he finished, Greg smiled. To his disappointed, so did Principal Harrington. "Thank you so much for your time, Greg. That was wonderful information."
Greg frowned. "Oh", he said meekly. "You're welcome. Do you want me to tell Ron to come into your office?"
"No thank you. That won't be necessary. I have all of the information I need. I know who did it", Principal Harrington replied.
Solution:
Clue # 1: Principal Higgins knew that Bob left second because Beth mentioned this in her second statement. Bob said in his first statement that the guilty person was the last to leave. This eliminates Bob as a suspect.
Clue # 2: Greg stated that Ron left before him, so this eliminates Ron as a suspect, leaving three suspects: Beth, Greg, and Wanda.
Clue # 3: Wanda stated that she left the school grounds immediately after the person wearing the black jacket. Since Wanda left immediately after the person wearing black, that person couldn't have left first because that would mean that Wanda would've had to have left second, but Bob left second (Clue # 1). Principal Harrington also knew that Bob wasn't wearing the black jacket because both the jacket color and his name begin with a "B" and Wanda stated that no person had the same first initial for their name and jacket color. This means that the person wearing the black jacket left either third or fourth and Wanda left either fourth or last.
Clue # 4: Greg stated that the person that wore the red jacket left first, Principal Harrington knew that person wearing red wasn't Bob because he left second. She knew Ronnie wasn't wearing red because his name and the color red both start with the letter "R". Wanda stated that she left after someone else and Greg said he left after someone else, so neither of them could've left first. Therefore, the person who left first was Beth. This leaves Greg and Wanda as suspects.
Clue # 5: Since Ron left before Greg but not immediately before Greg (according to Greg's first statement), there had to be at least one person who left in between the two of them. Ron didn't leave first (Clue # 4) and Bob left second, so Ron had to have left third. This means that Greg had to have left last. Therefore, Greg is the guilty party.