The sprawling landscape of Los Santos hides many dark secrets beneath its glamorous exterior, waiting for intrepid investigators to uncover them. Among the most engrossing hidden activities in Grand Theft Auto 5 is the noir-style Murder Mystery side quest, exclusive to returning players on enhanced versions of the game. Solving this multi-layered puzzle requires tracking down obscure cryptographic clues carved into historical structures scattered across the city.
Deciphering the Four Hidden Wall Messages
Your investigation begins by controlling Michael De Santa and visiting four specific historical landmarks around Los Santos to locate cryptic text carved into stone walls. The first piece of the puzzle is found etched near the swimming pool at the Gentry Manor Hotel in West Vinewood. This ominous message hints at hidden corruption, reading that Old Fred acts nice but it is not actually the case.
To advance your progress, you must travel to the Galileo Observatory located in the scenic Vinewood Hills to find the second inscription. Hidden on an exterior wall, this clue directly implicates an industry insider named David Richards. Investigating these distinct landmarks reveals a tragic story of Hollywood greed and historical cover-ups that completely shifts how you view the city.
The remaining two messages are positioned at important civic structures within the urban sprawl. Head over to the City Hall in Alta to locate a rhyme detailing Fred's career making cartoons for children despite the grim secrets he hid. Finally, inspect the side walls near the Oriental Theater in Downtown Vinewood to discover the fourth message, which claims a woman was drowned because of what she knew.
Uncovering the Deep Sea Tragedy
With the four cryptic wall carvings successfully documented, your next objective moves away from the concrete streets toward the coastal boundaries of San Andreas. A hidden clue rests off the western coast near the Sonar Collections Dock, submerged deep beneath the ocean surface. Resourceful players will need to utilize a submersible craft or scuba gear to safely reach the ocean floor.
Resting on the seabed is a sunken vintage vehicle containing a tragic sight trapped inside the trunk. Finding this underwater crime scene provides the vital context linking the cryptic wall writings to a physical victim from the past. This discovery confirms the historical rumors and prepares Michael for the final confrontation with the past.
Infiltrating the Abandoned Mine Shaft
The final phase of this historic investigation directs you toward the rugged terrain of Great Chaparral. Hidden among the hills is an abandoned railroad mineshaft with its entrance heavily boarded up to prevent standard entry. To bypass this barrier, you must utilize heavy weaponry or a well-placed explosive to shatter the wooden planks blocking the dark tunnel.
Equip a weapon featuring a reliable flashlight attachment before venturing deep into the pitch-black subterranean cavern. Traverse to the very end of the rocky shaft to discover the preserved skeletal remains of Isaac, the final piece of the mystery. Discovering this body officially solves the decades-old case and unlocks a set of unique vintage film filters accessible via Michael's smartphone.
