Why had Lieutenant Dana ignored Dr. Mudd's report?

• A. The report was old and unimportant.
• B. He had other leads that led to dead ends.
• C. It was old and unimportant and he was pursuing other leads that led to dead ends.
• D. He doubted Dr. Mudd's credentials.

Answer: (C)

Investigations rely on timely, actionable information. Dr. Mudd’s report appeared old and didn’t point to an immediate or useful lead, so its value diminished as the case progressed. At the same time, Dana was chasing other leads that, for the moment, were not yielding results. With limited resources, he prioritized the newer, more current leads, even though those leads ultimately proved dead ends. That combination explains why the report was set aside.