 Mystery: January 14, 2026 Issue [#13547] |
This week: Weapon Disposal in Murder Mysteries Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Mystery Newsletter by Dawn
Clues are an important element in a mystery. Sometimes there is a weapon or something involved that will link to the villain or "suspect" in order to connect them to the crime. Often that is something hidden or attempted to be destroyed. How do they do it? Looking at some thoughts and concerns about what some criminals might do. |
Doesn't going to the local small lake sound like a nice day trip?
Or maybe a little fishing at a river nearby?
Some nights, it's just pleasant to take a little walk around the neighborhood.
However, these have a potential for being ruined or in having some not so treasure filled surprises get uncovered during such simple of an outing. After months of watching crime shows, I've become concerned that going for a random walk in the wooded areas or even out ice fishing (Minnesota is cold so that's a real thing they do) might produce a concerning event that involves finding evidence from a crime. It seems that people find bodies at random on excursions such as walking out in fields. And many criminals appear to abandon weapons, in particular guns, by throwing them in bodies of water... More than one episode, the person who supposedly had done it, tossed the gun away just outside in the neighborhood. Talk about concerning concepts. You never know when you might come across something or perhaps someone else will find it, like a ten year old....
Okay, it's not as likely as the shows might make it seems because well, it's still a show on television. However, people do commit crimes and there ends up being evidence whether that is a weapon, body or something else. And yes, the body is key because it's hard to prove that someone is even dead without such, If you are write about a crime of any type, you will need to think about what evidence will exist and who will find it.
People leave all kinds of evidence behind when doing anything and while someone can really try hard to clean up, there is almost always something there. Maybe a few missed hairs because people shed on a regular basis. If the victim fights back and they have nails, there is the possibility for skin cells types of evidence from fighting back. Some guns leave a shell casing or bullets could be found.
On that note, the absence of something could also be a note of evidence, which as a type of gun that doesn't leave casings or having a catchment system created to catch those things so that they don't get left behind. Those elements can also be used in the determination if a crime has even occurred. There is a show now that asks the very question: Accident, Murder or Suicide. And it's not always easy to tell. Who makes that determination will depend on the type of story that you are writing too because a procedural will be more factual with the coroner or someone of a similar post. However, if you are writing a fantasy or sci-fi type of murder, there might be someone different who takes the role of looking at the evidence of the deceased being to determine cause of death or manner.
Another thing that often gets mentioned in the shows that have courthouses and trials, there might be a big talk about the "smoking gun." This doesn't have to be an actual gun but could be one. It is a phrase basically used to be the major item that attaches the suspect to the crime. They will sometimes strike a deal to lower the punishment and tittle of the offense because they don't have that "smoking gun" element and are afraid that they might not get a conviction. The term has been used so often that it's bordering on overuse. Still, it's also something to consider in your story. Is there the weapon and is there a way to prove the person used that weapon? Many things to worry about or maybe use when creating a mystery that involves a crime happening or a mysterious circumstance that needs investigating.
This leaves us, as writers of these stories, with a list of possible questions or things to consider. This might be a factor when doing the first draft. I'd suggest focusing more on these details during rewrites and edits, however, if the worry over details might hinder the writing process.
Is there a weapon used to commit a crime that needs investigating?
What is the weapon?
How does the perpetrator dispose of the weapon?
What evidence exists at the scene of the crime?
What evidence is needed to find the person who done it?
Who finds each piece of evidence?
Is it the point of view character or someone else?
Are they a professional or just a random person?
All kinds of questions. You get to come up with the answers. So, let's give it a little try with the overused phrase "smoking gun" and actually have one. The gun is smoking. Why? How does someone dispose of the gun? How do they get caught? Have fun writing.
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How does the character (or someone else) find the murder weapon in your story?
In the last Mystery newsletter that I edited, I discussed the missing person and talked a little about these shows that I've been watching. A common thing as it helps inspire me for some of my stories. Here is the comment send back from that newsletter:
Comment by Quick-Quill  :
This is so good!! in the TV shows we see how technology works to solve cases, but in Cold Justice, you see how sometimes not even the best technology can prove a crime. You may know someone did it, but can't prove it. What would it take to prove it? There is the story. knowing isn't enough. I have heard there is no perfect crime. I don't agree. If someone gets away with murder it's the perfect crime.
- True. I have watched Cold Justice as well and the Death Investigator. Not often but a few episodes. Sometimes technology is helpful and other times, not so much.It also depends on when the crime occurred as they still show ones from the past. And when DNA stuff started, it took a long time. Also, haha, I know the ad for the TV show that uses the line "there is no perfect crime" as that's from Forensic Files. Some people do get away with it but there won't be shows about those other than "unsolved mystery" type ones because the other shows are about how they got caught.
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