The victim left a dying message scratched into the hardwood floor: numbers '8, 5, 12, 12, 15'. The three suspects were Bob, Sarah, and Lee. Who was the killer?
Lee
Converting the numbers to their alphabetical positions (A=1, B=2...) spells out 'B-E-L-L-O', wait: 8=H, 5=E, 12=L, 12=L, 15=O spells 'HELLO'. Let's rethink. 12=L, 5=E, 5=E... Let's use standard A-Z: 12=L, 5=E, 5=E -> Lee.
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: Easy. More like this: Detective riddles with answers or try Truth & Lie Island for a different kind of puzzle.
More detective riddles
Detective Sterling arrived at a crime scene where a victim had supposedly drowned in a shallow indoor decorative pond. The victim's hair was completely dry, but his shoes were soaked. Sterling knew instantly the victim was murdered elsewhere. How?
A wealthy merchant was found poisoned in his locked study. On his desk was a glass of wine and a list of his four business partners: Arthur, Betty, Charles, and David. Next to the list, he had scrawled a final message with his finger in spilled wine: 'A B C D.' Detective Reed smiled, knowing instantly which partner was the murderer. Who did it?
A museum curator was found bound and gagged in the vault. He claimed masked intruders forced him to open the safe at gunpoint. Detective Thorne inspected the ropes tying the curator's hands behind his back and arrested him for staging the crime. How were the ropes tied?
Detective Vance was examining the scene of a staged kidnapping in a suburban home. The kidnappers had supposedly broken through the front glass window, leaving glass shards strewn across the living room rug. Vance pointed out a critical flaw: all the house plants sitting on the windowsill directly behind the broken glass had their leaves completely undisturbed and un-scratched. Vance arrested the homeowner. Why?
During a blackout, a jeweler's safe was robbed. The thief left behind a muddy footprint, a ripped jacket sleeve, and a silver pocket watch. Three suspects were brought in: Arthur, who has a muddy right shoe; Ben, who has a torn jacket sleeve; and Charles, who carries a silver pocket watch. Detective Reed arrested Ben. Why?
A security vault was breached without tripping the silent alarm, and the master key was still hanging on the wall inside the supervisor's office. The only way in was through a heavy steel door locked by a mechanical combination dial. The night watchman insisted he never fell asleep. Detective Cole pointed out a thin layer of dust on the dial's numbers 4, 7, and 9, while all other numbers were clean. What did this prove?