Scattergories

Scattergories Game Linked to Double Homicide
Posted on February 3, 2012
Questionable Response to “Things Found in the Sky” Blamed for Bloodshed

Police in Yardley, Maine, have linked the town’s first double homicide in more than three decades to a game of Scattergories gone wrong, police chief Michael Gray announced at a press conference Friday morning.

The victims, Anne Pemberton, 30, and Jason Valley, 34, were found dead Tuesday night inside a residence on the 400 block of East Prairie Lane in the normally quiet community of Pebble Way. Police said the cause of death in both cases was a single gunshot wound to the head.

Pemberton’s fiancé, Craig Rhodes, was arrested late Thursday and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. “Based on evidence collected at the scene and statements from the defendant, we have established a clear motive for this heinous act of violence,” Chief Gray said Friday. “Rhodes shot both victims following a heated debate over a Scattergories response, marking Maine’s first case of board game violence for 2012.”

Billed as a “fast-paced word game,” Scattergories challenges players to name objects within a set of categories that begin with a certain letter. For example, a girl’s name, an article of clothing and a professional sports team each starting with the letter L. One point is awarded for each correct answer, unless duplicated by another player.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, the shooting took place at the Valleys’ home during their weekly board game night with their neighbors, Pemberton and Rhodes. What started as a friendly get-together turned sour as the players shared their responses for “things found in the sky” beginning with the letter M.

The affidavit states that Rhodes responded “moon,” and the Valleys each responded “Mars.” But it was Pemberton’s answer “monkeys” that sparked considerable debate. Court records state that Rhodes challenged his fiancée’s response. However, she insisted it should qualify, using the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz as the basis of her argument.

“Mrs. Valley agreed that the answer was valid, leaving Mr. Valley with the deciding vote,” Chief Gray said. “When he sided with both women, Mr. Rhodes became enraged.”

Already incensed that his fiancée had criticized his earlier answer of “Flavor Flav” in the “heroes” category, Rhodes reportedly hurled his answer board across the room and screamed “I quit,” an act which experts say normally precipitates board game violence. His anger escalated when he realized the other players planned to finish the game without him, meaning his fiancée would retain her point for “monkeys.”

Once taken into custody, Rhodes confessed to shooting his fiancée and Mr. Valley with a hunting rifle, Chief Gray said. Rhodes is being held at the Yardley Correctional Center and is expected to plead guilty at his preliminary hearing February 10. As police escorted him into jail Thursday night, Rhodes told reporters, “I never intended to hurt anyone. I loved my fiancée more than anything in this world. But monkeys in the sky? Come on.”

Keno 92 wrote: »

wtf is Scattergories.

Scattergories is a creative-thinking category-based party game produced by Hasbro through the Milton Bradley Company and published in 1988. The objective of the 2-to-6-player game is to score points by uniquely naming objects within a set of categories, given an initial letter, within a time limit.

Brutal Deluxe wrote: »

Anyway, OP no, it wouldn't count to me. Maybe under "F" for "Flying monkeys".