Murder at the library

Published 11:00 pm Friday, June 21, 2013

mystery3_web

Dallas Powell, 14, Ryan Smith, 12, and Sammuel Smith, 13, work to solve a murder mystery at the Troy Public Library Thursday night.

Troy Library hosts murder mystery ‘lock in’ for teens

Written by Trent Thompkins, intern with The Messenger

An original case of ‘who done it?’ took place at the Troy Public Library Thursday night when area teens role played in the popular cult classic game, ‘Murder Mystery.’

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Each teen had a chance at catching the elusive murderer plaguing the hallways of the city’s library.

Teresa Colvin, the children’s librarian and coordinator of all summer events, said she loves to find activities that allow children and teens to interact.

“I just want to give the kids something to look forward to for the summer, something that’s interesting and stimulating,” she said.

Although there are a wide variety of activities planned this summer for all ages, the Murder Mystery game was tailored for young adults and featured three fun interactive set pieces designed to make players feel as if a crime had just been committed.

The first scene – complete with crime scene tape – was where the actual “murder” happened. Next, there was an interrogation room where teens took turns questioning their “suspects.” The third area was a playful, yet somewhat authentic, forensics lab where the players used DNA to catch the culprit.

A total a 50 teens participated in the event. They had the choice to work alone, or to pair off into groups. Each child was give a solution sheet, and the first one who turned theirs in fully completed won a grand prize of $25 dollars.

Community businesses aided in the event a fun one for participants. Lowe’s, Hampton Inn, and Byrd Drugs all played a part in donating items to the cause.

“The community is always willing to help us out,” Colvin said.

Colvin’s next big event will be next Thursday at 2 p.m. when participants will play in a local version of the popular reality game show “Minute to Win It,” where contestants engage in wacky games and stunts to win the grand prize.

For more information on the library’s summer programs, contact Teresa Colvin at (334) 566-1314.