You have to ask the question: "who had the means, motive, and
opportunity?" in solving this mystery. Almost all suspects have a
strong motive for commiting the crime. Therefore, the focus should be
on who had the means and the opportunity. From Forensics tests , you
discover that Anna Elk Moon most likely knew her killer. Of all the
suspects, how many did Elk Moon know personally?
What was the victim doing the day of the murder that seemed unusual? She
was calling people urgently about something. She reached two people:
Joe Edeta and Vaughan Dresner. In both their interviews they talk about
Anna's having discovered something about the design on the pot.
Moreover, from Joe Edeta's interview, you discover that Sonny Two
Feathers, Joe's nephew, was there with Joe during Anna's phone call.
From several interviews (especially Joe Edeta, Astrid Ames, and Vaughan
Dresner), library articles, and Forensics you learn that the pot --
specifically, the design on the pot -- held some significance. Examining
the design on the pot as sketched in Elk Moon's journal, you notice
two peaks. Later, if you examine the pot found in the van and placed
in the Evidence Room at Police Headquarters, you will discover that
the design on the pot was changed. Why would someone go to the trouble
to change the pot design? What significance did the pot's design hold?
In the library, there are several mentions of the casino site being
located at the base of the "double-peaked" Sangre de Cristos mountains,
as well as a photo of the mountains. An article states that Ed is
working closely with the Pueblo Tribal Offices (Sonny Two Feathers) on
the casino development, which will be located at the base of the
double-peaked Sangre de Cristos mountains. Further, the caption under
the picture of the double-peaked mountains also calls out the
historic "double-peaks."
If you closely examined the pot drawing and the photograph, you would
realize Anna made some connection between the pot's design and the
Sangre de Cristos mountains. If the kiva pot design was indeed a
drawing of the Sangre de Cristos, could that possibly signify that
the kiva site was located somewhere in the vicinity? Being an arch
anti-casino activist, couldn't Anna use that information to stall
the casino development, which was just about to be approved -- per
the library article? Who would be most upset by this news? Ed and
Sonny. In an article, Joe Edeta states that his nephew (Sonny Two
Feathers)'s "vision has been clouded by the lure of the white man's
riches," implying that Sonny has "sold out" in some respect.
After McHorse's arrest it is clear he was framed. Who would have had
access to him? Who of the suspects would know McHorse to be able to
frame him? Additionally, McHorse was drinking at the Saguarro Bar the
night of the murder in Nambe. Sonny Two Feathers was at the
Bristlecone Bar in Nambe the same night. In a library article you
discover that the Saguarro Bar and Bristlecone Bars are owned by Ed
Snyder, Sonny Two Feather's associate in the casino project. Sonny
was there for Anna's phone call to Joe and in Nambe the night of the
murder. Sonny had the means or the ability to know McHorse, the
proximity to find him and drug him the night of the murder.
