The Assignment: Below is a hypothetical scenario, split into three parts, plus a preamble for context. Each scenario is followed by an open-ended response question. A response is required for each scenario, demonstrating understanding and application of forensic anthropology. Preamble It's the beginning of September and for the Labour Day long weekend, you and your friend Kyle, have rented a cottage for a final vacation to mark the end of summer. On Friday morning, just before you leave, you're annoyed to learn that Kyle's cousin, Jeff, is tagging along. You never liked Jeff - he's rude, arrogant and has a list of personality flaws that you find abhorrent. You shoot Kyle a dirty look when they arrive at your house but he assures you that he'll act as a buffer between the two of you; after all, it's only a few nights. Reluctantly, you agree and the three of you start the long drive. The cottage is in a remote area of northern Ontario, and the nearest populated area is about two hours away by car. The two-room cottage is in a small, cleared, area of the woods, close to a large lake. It's a simple cottage with basic amenities, a small kitchen, an old root cellar and an old rowboat tied to a small dock nearby. There are no other cottages or campsites around. The three of you arrive at around noon on Friday and start to unload the car. Along with food and a lot of alcohol, you notice that Kyle brought his hunting rifle. You ask him about it and he says he was hoping to do some hunting over the weekend - maybe even catch something for dinner, and then points to his knife kit. Jeff gets a campfire going, puts on some terrible music and hands you a beer along with a snide comment about your appearance. The three of you spend the rest of Friday and Saturday, drinking, enjoying the cottage and being out in nature. You went on hikes in the woods and rowed the boat out onto the lake to fish. It would have been a great weekend if not for Jeff. For the entire weekend, he made rude and offensive comments about people you know, ruined some of your belongings and was his usual loathsome self.

Part 1 On your last night, the three of you are sitting around the campfire and finishing off the remaining alcohol. Jeff again says something extremely offensive and you can't take it anymore. You call him out on his behaviour and the two of you get into a heated argument. Kyle tries to calm you both down but you've become too angry to listen. You and Jeff keep arguing and start insulting each other. The argument becomes vicious. You're screaming at each other until suddenly, Jeff throws a punch at you and it lands squarely on your chin. Kyle tries to hold you back as you raise you try to fight back. You shake him off and walk into the cottage but Jeff calls after you. He keeps yelling offensive and derogatory insults at not only you, but also your friends and family. You had enough and fueled by alcohol and red-hot rage, you leave the cottage and rush toward Jeff. You stop thinking and everything goes dark. Soon after, your anger subsides and you start to think clearly again. You realize you hear Kyle screaming and recognize the panic in his voice. Then you see Jeff is laying on the ground in front of you, not moving. Kyle looks at you, "He's dead. You killed him!" Describe in detail how one could kill Jeff. Note the weapon used (if any) and discuss the potential skeletal trauma that was inflicted on him during your attack. Consider how one attacked him, if Jeff fought back, the types and mechanisms of trauma, and the cause, manner, and mode of death. Remember, give as much detail as possible.

Part 2 Jeff's dead body is lying on the ground next to you. Kyle is in shock and not saying anything. Panic runs through you and your mind starts racing. Even if it was an accident, you don't want the risk of a trial. It's the middle of the night and the owners of the cottage are due to arrive in the morning to collect the keys from you before you drive back to the city. You look at your phone and you're surprised that a couple of hours have already gone by since the incident. You look at Kyle, who's still quiet and staring into the campfire. Then you look past him to the woods, the lake, the cottage... it's a quiet, warm and clear night... there's no one else around. You know what you have to do. You look back at Kyle and after almost another hour you calm him down and manage to convince him to help you get rid of Jeff's body. He looks horrified, after all Jeff was his cousin, but he also doesn't want to be implicated in a murder. You both agree to say that Jeff was drunk, wandered off into the woods while you were both asleep and disappeared. The clock is ticking and you have to act fast. You have until the owners arrive in the morning to dispose of Jeff's body, without a trace. Describe in detail how an individual and Kyle disposed of Jeff's body. Remember, your goal is to dispose of the body in a way so that it will be extremely difficult for investigators to find his remains. Consider the taphonomic processes that will take place and how one may exploit or be hindered by them. Also note the influence of decomposition as one is disposing of Jeff's body. Remember, give as much detail as possible.

Part 3 It's been a couple of days since the cottage. Jeff was reported missing and you were questioned by the police. You stuck to your story about him wandering off into the woods. You claimed you looked for him, but you couldn't find him. You assumed Jeff came back after you left and got a ride back to the city from the cottage owners. Later, the police hold a press conference and ask the public for any leads on Jeff's possible whereabouts. A month passes and there are no updates about Jeff's disappearance. You've been monitoring the news and eventually Jeff's disappearance is replaced with a new political scandal. You breathe a sigh of relief and carry on with your life. A year passes and you're contacted by the police; human skeletal remains have been found and they're suspected to belong to Jeff. The police question you one more time and eventually say you're free to go. As you leave the police station, you think back to that night at the cottage and you recall the measures you took to impede any possible forensic investigation. You get into your car, curse Jeff under your breath one more time, and make your way out of the parking lot, smugly believing you got away with murder. Describe in detail the measures one could take to impede or complicate the forensic investigation. Consider the possible methods that would be used to establish a biological profile and a positive or presumptive identification. What could one do to ensure that the above could not be achieved? Remember, give as much detail as possible.