Suzanne Distrola

Graceful Malevolence

Kelly Prop was found dead in a local ballet studio in Salem Oregon around 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday July 11, 2010.

She was killed at approximately 10:30-11:00.

The Crime

Ryan LiamDetectiveBoyfriend of victim23 year-old artistForensics studentMet victim at an art

gallery and loved her ever sinceIndependentDeterminedBold

Kaylee BlaneBallet dancer

Injury had disabled her

MotiveRyan’s ex girlfriend.

She still loves him.Jealous of Kelly for

having everything she can’t have

OpportunityShe was in the

studio at the time of the murder

Keith OxleyKelly’s ballet instructor

Known to have “feelings” for Kelly

Kelly was comfortable with him and could tell him anything

MotiveObsession

OpportunityDance instructorHad studio keys

Michael PropThe victims father

Divorced victim’s motherShort temperedKnown to stock the

victim’s houseWorks as a stable hand

MotiveHated the family but

favored herOpportunity

In town to visit his father who was in the hospital which is a block away from the studio

Kelly Prop (Victim)

Ballet DancerTakes lessons from

Keith OxleyDaughter of Michael

PropShe’s very intuitive

but passionateTalked to Keith

about anything

One night, Ryan Liam waited impatiently for his girlfriend Kelly to return home from ballet practice. When the night grew later and later, he began to wonder. He decided to go to the studio and see why she was taking so long. Walking through the studio, he finds Kelly laying lifelessly in a pool of shattered glass on the studio floor. He calls 911 and begins to ponder.

The Crime

Bloody shards of glass from a broken mirror

Strands of hair (possibly animal hair)

Tire tracks outside the studio

A purse left at the scene

Evindence

Clues Seen fleeing the

crime scenePurse found at

crime sceneFinger prints and

blood found on glass shards

Suspect 1: Kaylee

Suspect 2: Keith

Keys to studioMatching tire marksKnown to follow her

Clues

Suspect 3: MichaelCluesIn the area of the

crimeWork gloves found at

sceneHorse hairFavors Kelly

Who did it?

Ryan took his major in college in forensics. With his forensic skills, he had concluded

that: The blood on the shards of glass and the

purse belonged to Kaylee The tire marks matched Keiths The animal hair strands and work gloves

traced back to Michael

Keith knew Kelly was practicing late that night. He saw Michael’s truck at the hospital and stole his work gloves, which were covered in horse hair, out of the bed of the truck. He arrived at the studio at about 10:00, where he ran into Kaylee who was leaving. She made suggestive moves on him which angered him. He pushed her into a mirror which shattered and there she laid unconscious and bloody in a pool of shattered glass.

Keith

A couple minutes later, he finds Kelly in the studio and he reveals his love for her and forces himself on her. She reacts with anger and tries to leave. Out of anger, he strikes her. Frightened, she runs through a dark hallway towards the door and trips over Kaylee who is laying unconscious on the floor. Keith, filled with rage, strangles Kelly (wearing Michael’s gloves) and flees the scene leaving the gloves and tire marks on the pavement. Kaylee wakes minutes later to find Kelly laying dead only a couple feet away. In fear, she runs out of the studio, leaving her purse behind.

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