How can educators immerse high school students in a real murder case investigation that will require them to draw upon and practice the critical thinking, literacy, and reasoning skill sets so highly valued under the Common Core, the C3 Framework and the 21st Century skills rubric? As an attorney and former high school teacher, the author knew that our criminal justice system could provide several rich opportunities that could satisfy all these criteria. This paper outlines one such lesson, which is best suited for 11th and 12th graders.