FORENSIC - M.E. Protocol Case 4: A Guide to All Clues & the Perfect S Rank

Achieving the perfect S Rank in Case 4, "The Neighborhood," of FORENSIC - M.E. Protocol requires finding all 22 clues scattered around the basketball court, correctly photographing every piece of evidence before interacting with it, and making zero errors in your final deduction. This guide provides the exact, step-by-step solution to ensure you miss nothing and secure the highest rating for the "Forensic master" achievement. [2, 4]

Unlike other cases that focus on clear foul play, Case 4 is a lesson in misdirection, presenting what looks like an accident. The key to the S Rank is proving, with irrefutable evidence, the precise sequence of events that led to the victim's death without jumping to conclusions. One missed photograph or incorrectly analyzed sample will lock you into an A or B rank. [3, 6]

What Exactly Does an S Rank in Case 4 Require?tag

To get the S Rank, you must complete a perfect run. There is no partial credit. The game's grading is weighted heavily towards meticulous observation and correct procedure. [2] Before you even step onto the court, internalize this checklist. Failing any one of these points will void your S Rank attempt.

• Find All 22 Pieces of Evidence: Every single clue must be identified, marked, and analyzed.
• Photograph All 22 Clues: You must take a successful photograph of each clue before collecting or analyzing it. A successful photo is confirmed by a distinct audio cue. [11]
• Use the Correct Tool for Each Clue: This includes using the UV light to reveal hidden stains and the ground robot for hard-to-reach areas. [5, 6]
• Perform Flawless Lab Analysis: All biological samples and fingerprints must be processed correctly at the van's analysis station.
• Make Zero Deduction Errors: In the final summary, you must select only the correct, crucial pieces of evidence that tell the true story and submit the correct conclusion.
• No Contamination: Do not walk over key evidence areas before they have been documented.

Phase 1: Securing the Court - The First 14 Cluestag

The basketball court is your primary crime scene. The key here is to work methodically from the outside in. Do not rush to the body. Secure your perimeter and document everything you find along the way. Remember to equip your camera and photograph every numbered marker you place.

The Entrance and Bleachers

Start at the gate to the court. This is where the story begins.

1. Scuff Marks on Gate (Clue 1/22): Immediately at the entrance, look down at the base of the chain-link gate. There are fresh scuff marks. Mark and photograph them.
2. Discarded Energy Drink (Clue 2/22): Just inside the gate, next to the bleachers. Before picking it up, dust it for prints using the Fingerprint Brush. You'll get a partial print. Then, collect the can itself as evidence.
3. Graffiti on Bleachers (Clue 3/22): A fresh tag is spray-painted on the top bench of the metal bleachers. It doesn't seem relevant, but it must be photographed for 100% completion.
4. Smartphone (Clue 4/22): Lying under the bleachers. You'll need to crouch to see it. Mark it, photograph it, then collect it. Its contents are inaccessible for now.
5. Overturned Backpack (Clue 5/22): At the far end of the bleachers. Mark and photograph the bag and its spilled contents.
6. School Textbook (Clue 6/22): One of the items spilled from the backpack. Photograph it to identify the victim's high school.

The Court Surface

Now, move onto the court itself. This is where the most critical evidence is found. Equip your UV light immediately.

1. Victim's Body (Clue 7/22): The focal point of the scene. Mark and photograph the body from a distance first.
2. Head Wound (Clue 8/22): Approach the body and interact to get a close-up view of the victim's head. The game will prompt you to document the visible trauma. This is a separate, mandatory photograph.
3. Basketball (Clue 9/22): Located a few feet from the body. Mark and photograph it. Do not touch it yet.
4. Scraped Knees (Clue 10/22): Interact with the victim's body again to focus on the legs. Photograph the abrasions on the knees.
5. Blood Sample (Clue 11/22): Use a sterile swab to collect a sample from the pool of blood near the victim's head.
6. Faint Shoeprints (Clue 12/22): With the UV light equipped, scan the area between the body and the basketball hoop. You'll find a faint set of shoeprints. Photograph them.
7. Hidden Crack in Asphalt (Clue 13/22): Follow the UV shoeprint trail. It leads to a barely-visible crack in the court's surface near the free-throw line. Mark and photograph this crack.
8. Unidentified Blue Fibers (Clue 14/22): Use the Blue Adhesive Tape for particle evidence on the edge of the asphalt crack. You'll collect microscopic blue fibers. [10]

Phase 2: The Perimeter and Hidden Details - The Final 8 Cluestag

Many players miss the S Rank because they fail to investigate the areas surrounding the court. The game expects you to use your high-tech tools to find clues that are not immediately visible. [6]

The Backboard and Fence

This is where you need to use your drone. The S Rank is impossible without it.

1. Dent on Basketball Hoop (Clue 15/22): Equip the aerial drone and fly it up to the hoop. There's a small but distinct dent on the metal rim. Scan and document it.
2. Torn Fabric on Fence (Clue 16/22): Fly the drone along the top of the chain-link fence behind the hoop. A small piece of fabric is snagged on the wire. Document it.
3. Security Camera (Clue 17/22): Pan the drone up and to the left of the hoop. A residential security camera is mounted on a nearby utility pole, aimed at the court. This is a crucial, easily missed clue.

The Drainage Grate Puzzle

This multi-step puzzle is a common failure point. One wrong move and you can't get the S Rank.

1. Chewing Gum on Grate (Clue 18/22): Near the edge of the court is a storm drain. On the grate is a piece of chewing gum. Mark it, then collect it with sterile tweezers.
2. Car Keys (Clue 19/22): The actual prize. Use your ground robot to go into the storm drain. Navigate it to the corner to find a set of car keys. Mark their location with the robot's beacon, then retrieve them.
3. Luminol Reaction (Clue 20/22): This is the clue many players report as bugged. [9] It is not. After collecting the keys, equip the Luminol spray. Spray it on the patch of asphalt directly in front of the drain. A faint blood reaction will appear from a previous injury. Photograph the glow.
4. Fingerprint on Basketball (Clue 21/22): Return to the basketball (Clue 9). Now, use the Fingerprint Brush. A clear print will be revealed on the worn leather. Lift it with the Red Adhesive Tape.
5. Second Fingerprint on Phone (Clue 22/22): Finally, process the smartphone (Clue 4) for prints. You'll find another, different print on the screen.

Phase 3: Analysis and Final Deductiontag

With all 22 clues collected, return to the van. This is where you connect the dots. The process is straightforward but requires precision.

1. Analyze Samples: Place the Blood Sample, Blue Fibers, Chewing Gum, and both Fingerprints into the analysis machine. [10]
2. Run Fingerprint Database Check: Open your tablet and go to the fingerprint section. Run the print from the basketball (Clue 21) against the database; it will match the victim. Run the second print from the phone (Clue 22); it will match a known associate from the victim's high school.
3. Review Evidence: The lab results will confirm the blood is the victim's, the blue fibers match the victim's jeans, and the gum contains the associate's DNA. The smartphone, once unlocked with the victim's print, contains texts arranging a one-on-one basketball game.

The Correct Conclusion for S Rank

Open the Summary/Resolve folder on your tablet. You must now select ONLY the key pieces of evidence that reconstruct the accident. Selecting irrelevant clues (like the graffiti) or misinterpreting the evidence will lower your score. [11]

Select these 5 key clues:

• Hidden Crack in Asphalt (Clue 13)
• Scraped Knees (Clue 10)
• Head Wound (Clue 8)
• Dent on Basketball Hoop (Clue 15)
• Texts on Smartphone (Clue 4)

Submit the following conclusion: The victim tripped on a crack in the court while playing basketball, causing the fall. The head wound was sustained from the impact with the ground, not from an assault. The case is a tragic accident.

Case 4 FAQ: Quick Answers for S Rank Hunterstag

• Can you miss any clues and still get an S Rank? No. All 22 clues are mandatory. Missing even one, like the security camera, will cap your rank at A.

• Is the Luminol spray bugged in Case 4? No, it is not bugged. Players often spray the wrong area. It must be used on the ground directly in front of the drainage grate after the keys have been retrieved, not on the main blood pool.

• Why did I get an A Rank after finding everything? You most likely missed a photograph. The most commonly missed photos are the close-ups of the head wound and scraped knees, the dent on the hoop (via drone), or you may have selected the wrong evidence in the final deduction.

• Does the order of finding clues matter? Generally, no. However, it is best practice to photograph everything before touching it and to follow a methodical pattern (perimeter first, then the body) to avoid scene contamination.

Following this guide precisely will demystify Case 4 and add that coveted S Rank to your record. The key isn't just finding the evidence, but understanding the story it tells. Good luck, investigator.