Detective Stone investigates a break-in at a prop store. A suspect dressed in a skeleton suit claims he was locked inside an unheated outdoor storage shed all night from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. That night, outdoor temperatures dropped well below freezing, covering all shed surfaces in heavy frost. However, the inner door handle of the shed had dry, clear metal surfaces with no frost or condensation. Why does Stone arrest the suspect?
A person trapped inside for 10 hours in freezing cold would leave frost or condensation on the inner handle from their warm breath and hand contact.
Body heat and breath moisture in a cold enclosed space inevitably form frost or condensation on interior metal surfaces; a completely dry, frost-free handle proves no one was inside.
About this riddle
Detective riddles are tiny mysteries. Look for the detail in the story that does not fit; it is usually the clue that solves the case.
Difficulty: Hard. More like this: Detective riddles with answers or try Truth & Lie Island for a different kind of puzzle.
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