Dixie State University’s criminal justice program hosts “Masticate, Mystery, Murder” event

Dixie State University’s criminal justice program will host a “Masticate, Mystery, Murder” event from 6 to 9 p.m. on April 1 at the DSU Alumni House, located at 684 E 500 S in St. George. During the event, participants will be grouped together to solve a murder set in the 1920s. Dinner from Honolulu Grill is included.

Those participating will have the opportunity to view a crime scene and establish what crime was committed, who committed the crime, and the type of weapon used in the crime. Participants have the option of dressing for the era, although it is not required.

“It is incredibly useful anytime we can challenge students with unpredictable real-world scenarios,” said Dr. Gary Cantrell, assistant professor of digital forensics at DSU.

The event will raise funds for criminal justice and digital forensic students who are interested in attending and presenting at conferences both locally and nationally.

“This event will provide students with an opportunity to engage criminal justice curriculum in a student-centered learning environment,” said Dr. Robert C. Morris, assistant professor of criminal justice at DSU.

DSU’s criminal justice program offers two unique bachelor’s degree emphases: criminology and digital forensics. The program also hosts the Computer Crime Institute, which has filled a previously unmet need in the law enforcement community by developing cutting-edge digital chip-off forensic techniques. This high-tech method of extracting and analyzing data stored on flash memory chips often allows the extraction of data from devices even if the devices are damaged or the data has been deleted.

Tickets to the criminal justice programs’s Masticate, Mystery, Murder event are $10 each and are available from the Social and Behavioral Science administrative secretary in room 226 of the McDonald Building on the DSU campus. Tickets are also available at the door. More information about the Dixie State University’s criminal justice program is available at socialscience.dixie.edu/criminal-justice.