ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Suspect Zero

Alright kiddo, let me try to explain what a "suspect zero" is in the simplest way possible for you.

Imagine you're playing a game of hide and seek with your friends. You know everyone playing the game and you know they are all hiding in different places. But suddenly, you hear about someone who's playing the game and you've never met them or even seen them before. This person is a "suspect zero" because you don't know anything about them, where they are hiding, or even if they're playing by the rules of the game.

In real life, a "suspect zero" is often used in reference to criminal investigations. It refers to someone who is being investigated as a suspect but the investigators have no knowledge about their identity, motive, or location. They're basically starting from scratch and have to gather clues to try and pinpoint who this person might be.

It's like trying to solve a puzzle without knowing what the finished picture looks like or even having all the pieces. Sometimes it can take a long time to solve, but eventually, investigators will gather enough clues to find the "suspect zero" and figure out if they are responsible for the crime.

So, in short, a "suspect zero" is someone who is being investigated as a suspect but the investigators don't have any information about them. It's like playing hide and seek with someone you don't know - you have to work hard to find out who they are and where they might be.