The Graveyard Shift extends our condolences to the families of the officers who sacrificed everything to keep us safe.
Agent Mayra Ramirez-Barreto, 52
Puerto Rico Department of Corrections
Eliezer Colon-Claussells
Puerto Rico Department Of Corrections
January 10, 2013 – Correctional Officers Mayra Rameriz-Barreto and Eliezer Colon-Claussells were both killed in an automobile crash while en route to extradite three prisoners. A vehicle crossed the center line and struck the officers’ van head on.
Officer Kevin A. Tonn, 35
Galt California Police Department
January 15, 2013 – Officer Kevin Tonn was shot and killed as he approached to question a suspect at the scene of a burglary. The shooter then fired at other officers before finally finally turning the gun on himself to commit suicide.
Rev. John Harth is pastor of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Jackson, MO. He has been a law enforcement/emergency services chaplain for over 25 years and currently serves several Missouri agencies: State Highway Patrol; Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, and Scott County Sheriff’s Offices; Jackson, Cape Girardeau, and Kelso Police Departments; Jackson Fire/Rescue; and the Cape Girardeau County Emergency Management Agency.
Recently, Judge Bill Hopkins interviewed Fr. Harth about his experiences as a chaplain.
Q: How and why did you become interested in being a chaplain for police, fire, and emergency personnel?
While serving in my first assignment at St. Mary Parish, Joplin, Missouri, I saw a newspaper article about the Joplin Police Department’s chaplain program. Having served as a police beat reporter and a special deputy sheriff, I thought, “I could to that.” I applied and was accepted in December of 1987.
A: The officer involved was taken aback by the cold-hearted nature of the crime and felt a need to be able to talk it through. He’s the one who suggested we go to the scene, both so that he could explain to me the circumstances of the death and give me a clearer picture of what he’d met and what reactions that prompted in him. I have since received training in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), which provides a means to walk through an event to assist the officer in meeting the situation and moving along in a proper fashion.
Q: Have you ever had unexpected confrontations with suspected criminals that turned out differently than you expected?
A: The bulk of my chaplaincy has been with officers and other department personnel. As a priest, I am occasionally called upon to visit someone in jail. Among those few visits the accused have for the most part admitted to their crimes and sought forgiveness. In one case, an accused murderer avoided talking with me about why he was incarcerated and spoke mostly of his family.
Q: What has been the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you as a chaplain?
A: That’s hard to answer. What some folks would find strange to me are part and parcel of chaplaincy. As those involved in emergency services would tell you, you come to expect the unexpected. Nothing comes immediately to mind.
A: The answer to that question would need to come from the front-line, first responder chaplains. Those men and women moved from the profound depth of conversations with police/fire/ambulance and rescue personnel describing the horror which they encountered and trying to move through it to simply passing out water and a kind word to those same workers. One chaplain was assigned to remain with a corpse for what turned out to be hours before removal and later did duty at the morgue. By the time of my arrival, operations were being reduced and only local chaplains remained. Part of my mission was to be there for them, hoping to accomplish a little stress management for them. It amused me that about the time I was to return home, they caught on to what I was up to.
Q: http://www.officer.com/article/10233366/chaplains-column-out-of-sight The article talks about the unsung heroes–dispatchers. Without excellent dispatchers, a department can quickly fall apart. You said, “I have been especially touched when dispatchers come to take part in Critical Incident Stress Management defusings and debriefings following traumatic incidents. It shows not only that they’re human but also that they care about officers and victims.” Tell us about how dispatchers can affect a situation and also about Critical Incident Stress Management.
A: If a dispatcher messes up, a situation can go south in a heartbeat. Their professionalism and skills are the lifeline for those sent to a scene, and sometimes they don’t end up hearing “the rest of the story.” They care, and so chaplains try to make it a point to visit with them after a critical incident, not only to hear about matters from their perspective, but also to fill them in if they aren’t sure how things ended.
CISM is a process designed to help those involved in these situations to clarify for themselves what went on, is going on with them, and offer suggestions to secure their proper balance. If circumstances such as nightmares, sleep deprivation, lack of appetite, or other symptoms continue, they are encouraged to move on to the next level of care and seek counseling/professional help.
* * *
Bill Hopkins is retired after beginning his legal career in 1971 and serving as a private attorney, prosecuting attorney, an administrative law judge, and a trial court judge, all in Missouri. His poems, short stories, and non-fiction have appeared in many different publications. He’s had several short plays produced. A book of collected poetry, Moving Into Forever, is available on Amazon. Bill is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Dramatists Guild, Horror Writers Association, Missouri Writers Guild, and Sisters In Crime. Bill is also a photographer who has sold work in the United States, Canada, and Europe. He and his wife, Sharon (a mortgage banker who is also a published writer), live in Marble Hill, Missouri, with their dogs and cat. Besides writing, Bill and Sharon are involved in collecting and restoring Camaros. Courting Murder is his first mystery novel.
When Judge Rosswell Carew makes the gruesome discovery of two corpses on a riverbank in the Missouri Ozarks, he’s plunged into a storm of deadly secrets that threaten both him and his fiancée, Tina Parkmore. Unsatisfied with the way the authorities are conducting the investigation, Rosswell, who’s always nurtured a secret desire to be a detective, teams up with an ex-con, Ollie Groton, to solve the case before the killer can murder again. Rosswell uncovers a maze of crimes so tangled that he must fight his way to a solution or die trying.
https://leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/compressed-fr-john-harth-photo.jpg448299Lee Loflandhttps://leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-graveyard-shift-1.pngLee Lofland2013-01-17 08:39:542017-05-26 09:00:15Rev. John Harth, Police Chaplain: An Interview By Judge Bill Hopkins
Living on the islands near Savannah, Ga certainly has its perks. The weather is great. The scenery is spectacular. Seafood is wonderful. Kayaking beside dolphins and pelicans is out of this world. And bizarre murder, well, it’s as plentiful as the fried shrimp on the buffet at Uncle Bubba’s/Paula Deen’s seafood restaurant out on Hwy 80.
For example, there was the recent murder of pretty 18-year-old Amber DeLoatch. This young woman was assaulted, strangled, raped, and then killed by her attacker, who then placed DeLoatch’s body in the trunk of her car and set it on fire.
Next came Jonathan Courson, the man who contacted authorities to say he and his family had been the victims of a horrific home invasion. When police arrived, they found Courson tied up with only a few small nicks and scratches on his body. Courson’s wife was also tied up. However, she was dead. Murdered.
Courson explained to police that two black males had forced their way into the house, tied up the couple, and then ransacked the place. Oddly, during the course of pilfering and general destruction, the two bandits allowed Mr. Courson to go upstairs to tend to his 2-year-old daughter. Then, once Mr. Courson was safely back into his bindings, the robbers killed Mrs. Courson, and left. Needless to say, Jonathan Courson has since been charged with the death of his wife. In another strange twist in the case, Courson was permitted to leave jail to attend his wife’s visitation at the funeral home. He was accompanied by the county sheriff.
And this brings us to the latest bizarre murder—the killing of Charles “Charlie” Ray. The case began when Charles Ray’s family called police to say that he had been missing since New Year’s Eve.
Charles Ray III
Charlie, they said, had Tourette’s Syndrome and needed his medication. So, police started their search for the missing man, learning that Ray had been in the company of Chad Moretz on New Year’s Eve. So officers decided to visit Mr. Moretz.
Chad Moretz had an extensive criminal history that included domestic violence.
Officers knocked on Moretz’s front door and were greeted by Kevin Lambert, Chad Moretz’s brother-in-law. Lambert quickly told them that Chad was inside with his wife (Lambert’s sister, Kim) and that he had an assault rifle and was ready to shoot police. Officers promptly pulled Lambert to safety and an hours-long stand-off with Moretz began.
During the stand-off, Moretz held his wife hostage, at gunpoint, and threatened to kill officers.
Finally, Moretz ventured out onto the porch and pointed the AK-47 at SWAT team members (at this point, dozens of officers had responded to the scene). In response to the immediate threat, SWAT opened fire, killing Moretz.
When investigators entered the residence they immediately noticed a terrible odor. While searching the home they discovered a severely bloodstained kitchen. And, an officer located Charles Ray’s severed head and hands in the attic. Further investigation led detectives to a storage unit in South Carolina, where they found the rest of Ray’s dismembered body parts.
Yesterday, Kevin Lambert and his sister, Kim Moretz, were charged with concealing a body. They are currently in jail under a $25,000 bond.
*Police later learned that Moretz’s mother had been murdered. Her killer? Well, this apple certainly didn’t fall far from the tree. In 2009, Moretz’s father used a .380 caliber Ruger handgun to kill his wife, Chad Moretz’s mother. In earlier police reports, Chad Moretz accused his father of abuse and trying to kill him.
So, my writer friends, please feel free to stretch your creativity when writing those plot twists, because there are no limits to the human imagination. Especially when it comes to murder…
https://leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2010-11-20_17-27-38_9831.jpg253448Lee Loflandhttps://leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-graveyard-shift-1.pngLee Lofland2013-01-16 09:58:272017-05-27 12:41:35Murder In Paradise: No Limits To The Imagination
Last night was all about Esposito, a detective who wore many hats during the course of a murder investigation. And I have to tip my own hat to the writers for showcasing that aspect of police work. Yes, there is far more to being a real-life cop than writing traffic tickets and solving murders. Law enforcement professionals also serve as counselors, peacemakers, role models, coaches, stand-in parents, friends, etc. And Esposito certainly did what it took to fulfill each of those roles when a kid nicknamed “Monster” needed his guidance. That, my friends, is the side of police officers the public rarely sees.
Anyway, before I pick apart the police procedure, let’s see what Melanie thought of this episode.
This episode centered around the murder of a popular party DJ, and Esposito took center stage. After seeing the previews and the sneak peeks online late last week, I wondered if we’d get any interesting Caskett moments in this one… and we did not, except for at the very beginning.
The show opened with Rick teasing Kate about the movie she had apparently chosen for them to watch the night before. A cute, fun moment, but certainly nothing that affected the relationship. The two of them did work the case, with Ryan and Esposito’s help, but they weren’t the main focus for a change. Enter Esposito and his attempt to help a troubled teenaged hoodlum.
I did enjoy the show, albeit not as much as when we’re treated to dozens of little Caskett gems. I thought Lanie was right on target, and that Espo did a great job with the kid. Nice.
Still, I look forward to more Kate-Rick moments next week.
As always, the episode opened with a murder. This one, the homicide of a female DJ (DJ Beat). Lanie, of course, is called to the scene, and when Beckett and Castle show up she fills them in on what she’s learned since her arrival.
Lanie – “The cause of death is most likely a GSW (gunshot wound), and near as I can tell she was shot at close range. The lack of seepage and blood spatter indicate she was killed elsewhere and dumped here.”
Lanie is still on course. She has stopped (and I’m crossing my fingers that this continues) her wacky forensic predictions about things she couldn’t possibly know until autopsy.
You know, I’m really liking the new Lanie. Sure, there are still a few things that pop up up here and there. Like when she told Beckett about her discovery of the MSG-laden peanut oil on the tarp. To say that the oil indicated the victim was killed near a Chinese restaurant was totally ridiculous.
First of all, she wouldn’t have been the person to make that discovery and analysis. Second…the analysis was completed far too quickly. Next, well, it was just plain dumb. Why couldn’t the discovery also point to the murder taking place at a peanut oil factory? Or at the private residence of a peanut oil aficionado?
But I get it. The writers needed a quick way to get that information inserted into the story. What I did like about this was that Lanie pulled it off. She’s much more believable these days. I wonder what brought on the abrupt change? Hmm…
– Beckett is questioning a juvenile (sure, officers may question juveniles if department policy permits) when he says he needs his guardian’s permission to answer questions. That situation is the same as when an adult requests an attorney. Questioning should cease at that point.
The kid was absolutely right when he said, “Maybe you’re allowed to talk to me, but I don’t have to talk to you.”
– Beckett states that many criminals use juveniles to do their dirty work. This is true, and they do so because they know juveniles receive very little time in detention, if any, for committing certain offenses.
– Someone said CSU discovered fibers at the crime scene, and they’d linked those fibers to a specific vehicle. Yes, this is possible. Although, fibers/carpet of this nature are usually found in various models within a certain auto manufacturer’s lineup of vehicles. Still, it is possible to narrow the search using carpet and rug fibers.
– Finally, Beckett and crew stopped saying “APB—all points bulletin,” and switched to BOLO (Be On The Lookout). I haven’t heard APB in many, many years. BOLO is the more common term used by today’s officers. “They issued a BOLO for a 2012 Lincoln MKZ.”
Again, I really liked the role played by Esposito this week. He was quite believable. The scene in the bar where he took out the biggest and baddest guy to get to the “boss…” well, if you haven’t already done so, please take a moment to read the brief anecdotal section called “Mountain Man” in my book on police procedure (page 107). I think you’ll understand Esposito’s mindset a little better after reading.
Esposito’s time with the kid… As they say, been there, done that. And so have most police officers at some point in their career.
Overall, this was a nice episode that showed the depth of the Castle actor/acting pool.
https://leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/New-Picture2.jpg298448Lee Loflandhttps://leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-graveyard-shift-1.pngLee Lofland2013-01-15 10:52:402017-05-26 07:46:00Castle: Under The Influence – A Good Cop/Bad Cop Review
Another week has passed and, although crime still marches on, everyone deserves a break once in a while. So it’s time for us to sign 10-7 ( out of service), pack the car, and head out of town for a little R&R. Our Weekend Road Trip this week takes us to Washington state in the Olympic Mountains overlooking the San Juan Islands. Take a deep breath. The hours-long hike up and over to the water is not for the weak. Enjoy the view.
Western hemlock trees are abundant along the coastline. Able to grow to heights over 100 feet, some western hemlocks have been known to live 1,200 years and beyond.
It was an exhausting trek through dense brush, but definitely worth the effort.
The waters just off the coast are the playground to orcas. And, interestingly, the islands, unlike nearby Seattle, get sunshine around 250 days a year.
After an hour of exploring and wildlife-watching, it was time to start the long arduous climb back. Seeing a couple of bald eagles soaring above, though, was a nice end to a great day.
https://leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/burl-00.jpg336448Lee Loflandhttps://leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-graveyard-shift-1.pngLee Lofland2013-01-12 10:52:552017-05-27 08:07:49A Hike In The Olympic Mountains: Heaven On Earth
I’m happy to report that no officers were killed in the line of duty this week. Actually, there have been no line of duty deaths to report in 2013. However, this good news does not mean the bad guys didn’t continue their efforts to kill police officers. For example:
January 1, 2013 – A Pueblo, Colorado police officer was shot while attempting to apprehend a suspect after a high-speed pursuit.
January 2, 2013 – Two Hawaii police officers were shot after responding to a “shots fired” call.
January 3, 2013 – Two NYC transit officers were shot while explaining to a man that moving between subway train cars is not allowed.
January 3, 2013 – A NYC police officer was shot while attempting to stop a robbery-in-progress.
January 6, 2013 – A Phoenix police officer was shot six times while in foot pursuit of a fleeing suspect.
January 6, 2013 – Two New Jersey police officers were injured during a traffic stop when a large group of teens surrounded them, attempting to interfere with the stop.
January 8, 2013 – A Norwich, Connecticut police officer was shot during a standoff with a suicidal man.
January 8, 2013 – An undercover Dallas police officer was shot while serving search warrant for drugs.
January 9, 2013 – Suspected drug dealer, Alycia Hoffman, used her vehicle to hit three Baltimore police officers during her attempt to escape arrest for a narcotics transaction. The three officers were injured. Hoffman was arrested after a high-speed chase involving several other officers.
January 10, 2013 – A fleeing felon has been charged with attempted murder for shooting at two CHP officers who attempted to stop his vehicle. The felon admitting to firing at the officers until his weapon was empty.
*The above list doesn’t include all the officers who were struck by drunk drivers, careless drivers, texting drivers, etc.
Still, everyone survived to live another day. And that’s a good thing.
Criminals are extremely mobile, and, unfortunately for local cops, they normally don’t hang around waiting for detectives to come and get them. Therefore, police officers are often faced with jurisdictional issues.
Jurisdiction (according to Blacks Law Dictionary) is a geographic area in which a court has power or types of cases it has power to hear. For law enforcement officers, that jurisdictional boundary covers the area where they are sworn to protect and serve as police officers.
City and town officers are sworn to protect and enforce the laws of the city where they’re employed. County officers are sworn to protect and enforce the laws of the counties where they’re employed. State officers are sworn to enforce laws in their state, and federal officers are sworn to enforce laws throughout the country. And, in most cases, police officers aren’t allowed to conduct an arrest in any area that’s outside their jurisdiction. In fact, some arrests conducted outside an officer’s jurisdiction are considered illegal.
Unfortunately, bad guys aren’t held to such standards. Why, they’ve even been known to kill somebody in Florida and flee all the way to Washington state. The nerve of those guys. They just don’t abide by the rules.
So, when bad guys do flee the scene of a crime, officers issue warrants for their arrest, and they issue a BOLO (Be On The Lookout). Now when the crooks are spotted in Washington state, the Northwestern cops can make a legal arrest based on the information/outstanding warrant they’ve received from the authorities in Florida.
There are exceptions to the jurisdictional restrictions for police officers.
When can they go outside their home territory to apprehend a criminal?
1) During a hot pursuit. Officers can legally pursue a fleeing felon across jurisdictional boundaries as long as they maintain visual contact with the suspect. However, if the officer ever loses sight of the suspect the pursuit is no longer considered fresh, and they must terminate the chase (There are always exceptions. Remember, we’re talking about the law).
2) An officer can make a legal arrest outside his jurisdiction if she was responding to a request for assistance from another agency.
3) In some areas, as long as an officer has possession of a legal arrest warrant, she can serve it on the suspect anywhere in her state. (again, check local laws).
4) Many jurisdictions have a specified allowance of distance their officers may travel to make an arrest. This provision in the law is because there is no physical line drawn on the ground to determine the actual city limits. Officers acting in good faith may make an arrest within these provisional boundaries.
However, in Limestone County, Alabama, this law is in effect:
In Limestone, no police jurisdiction of a municipality located wholly or partially within Limestone county shall extend beyond the corporate limits of the municipality. (Amendment 499; Proposed by Act 88-306, submitted at the Nov. 8, 1988, election, and proclaimed ratified Nov. 23, 1988, Proclamation Register No. 6, p. 56).
5) Officers can make a citizens arrest anywhere in the country, just like any other person in the same situation.
6) Interestingly, Ohio state patrol officers have no jurisdiction on private property. Their arrest powers cover only operation and use of vehicles on highways and other roadways, and criminal investigations on state-owned property.
And, I feel compelled to answer the question I see asked almost every single day. Here goes:
NO, the FBI does not ride into town and take over cases from local police departments. They have other things to do. Besides, as a rule, the FBI doesn’t work murder cases. Local police departments, sheriffs offices, and state police are more than capable of handling their own cases. And they do.
https://leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/New-Picture-11.jpg336448Lee Loflandhttps://leelofland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-graveyard-shift-1.pngLee Lofland2013-01-10 09:12:002017-05-29 09:56:31Jurisdiction: Go The Extra Mile…Or Not
Castle was back after a brief winter break, and the show returned with quite a bang. Well, it wasn’t exactly a bang, but there were a few “pops” of jealousy every now and then. But who wouldn’t experience a bit of the green-eyed monster when sharing a home with their significant other and a scantily-clad, flirtatious significant-other’s ex?
Sure, there was a murder, as always, but the victim sort of took a seat in the wings while the relationship aspect of the series played out on center stage. And the lovey-dovey/goo-goo eyes portion of this recap and review is where the “good cop” comes in. So take it away, Melanie…
Talk about conflict! Writers, if you want to add relationship conflict to your manuscript, watch Significant Others. Rick Castle, his girlfriend Kate Beckett, and his ex-wife Meredith, not to mention Alexis and Martha, all together in the same apartment? Throw in a case to distract our dynamic duo, Kate’s determination to stay at the loft, and Meredith tossing out a little gem just as she leaves town, and you’ve got a recipe for hilarity topped by bubbling doubt. Poor Rick. He just can’t win for losing.
Alexis has mono, so instead of flying to Paris to meet Meredith after Christmas, she hunkers down at the loft to fight the bug. Then lo and behold, Meredith shows up at Rick’s door to take care of Alexis — the same day Kate comes to stay with Rick because her apartment is being fumigated. Yikes! That’s a recipe for disaster if I’ve ever heard one.
Kate gives her okay about Meredith joining them, albeit reluctantly, because what else is she supposed to do with everyone staring at her? Rick later promises to send Meredith packing, but his plan backfires when Meredith pulls her I’m so glad you and Kate are so secure in your relationship speech. Meredith stays, even after Ryan and Esposito learn what’s going on and rag Castle about it. Even after Lanie prods Kate to stand her ground and Meredith parades around the loft in her underwear. Kate is not amused. Still, however, she refuses to throw in the towel. Oh, no. She even turns down a chance to stay at a fancy hotel with Rick in order to share the loft with Meredith. No way is she backing down from his ex-wife.
Then Meredith asks Kate to dinner. Alone. Egged on by Ryan and Esposito, Rick freaks out and tries to dissuade Kate from going. She laughs at him and goes anyway. Later that night, Rick wears a path in the floor while he waits for them to get home and drives his mother stark raving mad. Did you see those pants Martha had on? Holy moly. What was she thinking? Sorry, but I digress. Kate and Meredith play on Rick’s fears and trick him when they finally arrive to make him think Meredith had filled Kate’s ears with all sorts of sordid secrets. Too funny. Apparently, the two of them bonded pretty well over Rick-talk. Still, that Kate-Meredith hug really surprised me. Kate later takes pity on Rick and tells him she likes him even more after talking to his ex all evening. Loved that scene, and the delicious kiss. Woohoo! If only Kate hadn’t answered the freaking phone. Really?
At the end of the show, Kate’s apartment is once again habitable, so she packs to leave the loft. Rick wants her to stay, and she tells him that if he wants to be with her he can come to her place for the night. That appeases him. Then Meredith surprises them both by coming downstairs all packed and ready to head to Paris after all… but not before sliding a splinter of doubt beneath Kate’s skin. After Rick heads upstairs to get Meredith’s purse, Kate asks his ex why she and Rick divorced. Meredith claims their relationship was like a soufflé that eventually collapse because it was one-sided. He knew everything about her, but never shared much of himself. Her revelation stunned Kate and sent her spiraling into introspection. Too much of that is never good. I sense more conflict on the horizon. Hopefully, conflict followed by Rick opening up to Kate.
I really didn’t pay too much attention to the case in this episode. Was there a case? I focused on the relationship scenes instead and found them to be way more interesting. Loved the episode, but I am apprehensive about the bumps in the road up ahead. Still, I’m trusting Andrew Marlowe to give us a happy ending.
You know, last night’s episode reminded me (sort of) of the earlier shows, where Castle was fun to watch. Remember? We never had to take the murder cases too seriously because the characters delivered cute and funny lines at a pace that was almost, but not quite, too quick to absorb. Anyway, I enjoyed watching last night, even though I wasn’t crazy about the dual/matching plot lines, where the murder involved a sea of ex-husbands and wives while Castle and Beckett dealt with his ex-wife. I found that to be a bit too convenient—a cheap way for the writers to insert jokes and one-liners. But my job is to discuss the police procedure and forensics, not to pick apart other aspects of the show. So here goes. First up…Lanie.
– Beckett and Castle approach Lanie, who’s at the scene of the crime/murder. She says (paraphrasing here), “The victim took an ice pick to the neck.” And you know what? That’s basically all she said. And that was enough. No wacky predictions. No voodoo medicine. Nothing. Just a simple observation. And it was believable. I tell you, she’s a different woman, and she’s delivering her lines in a way that’s totally believable. And, she successfully morphed into BFF mode a bit later when she lectured Beckett about Castle’s ex-wife.
Sure, there was an iffy moment when Lanie told Beckett she processed the victim’s clothing, and that she was personally running the DNA test on the blood she’d found on a jacket button (we all know the lab/scientists would perform these tasks). But Lanie pulled it off. So, my hat’s off to her for delivering believable make believe again this episode. My fingers are crossed for the future.
– I’m a bit curious as to why the high-profile woman attorney/murder victim hired a guy who’d been arrested for attempted murder several times, as well as numerous other crimes, to take photos and run other errands. Why didn’t she hire a legitimate PI? After all, the guy may have been asked to testify in court at some point, and his credibility would have been questionable to say the least. Also, the victim was supposed to be a real “bulldog” type of attorney. A real take charge person. Yet, she appeared quite “mousey” on the video. I can’t imagine for one second that attorney Gloria Allred would ever appear as anything other than “in charge” at all times.
– Beckett stands by while the wife of one of the red herrings damaged and broke a ton of expensive things. Or, was the vase-throwing woman the wife of the killer? Who knows. There were so many red herrings in this episode it was difficult to keep up with who was married to which character. Let’s see…there was Walter, Billy, Billy’s dead wife who wasn’t really dead, the forensic accountant, vase-smashing lady, R. Garrison, Noah, the photographer, and, well, you get the idea. So many characters. However, it was quite easy to pinpoint the killer, as always—-the man or woman who has the smallest part in the show.
So there you have it… Wait a minute. I forgot about the murder investigation. There was one, right? Maybe I was too busy watching Castle squirm during the entire episode to notice. And squirm he did. I would not have wanted to be in those shoes. No sir. Not me.
What’d you think? Was this episode a hit? Or was it a miss?
Oh, one last thing…the opening song in last night’s show, Secret, is a great tune by Missy Higgins.
The Hearst Castle, built by William Randolph Hearst and architect Julia Morgan, is perched high above the Pacific Ocean at San Simeon, California. The project began in 1919 and lasted thirty years.
The main house consists of 115 spectacular rooms. I can’t even begin to describe the awe-inspiring detail in each of the rooms.
The estate is also home to the largest private zoo in the country. Exotic animals still wander throughout the hilltop property.
The castle was built to serve as a weekend retreat for Hearst.
Looking out toward the Pacific Ocean from the castle.
Stairs to the main house.
Outdoor pool
Marble statues surround the outdoor pool.
Each tiny mosaic tile on the walls and in the indoor pool is made from 23 carat gold. Famous guests, such as Winston Churchill, Joan Crawford, Charles Lindbergh, and Cary Grant often enjoyed a weekend swim. In fact, Johnny Weissmuller (Tarzan) made a few dives into the water from the balcony.
The Graveyard Shift extends our condolences to the families of the officers who sacrificed everything to keep us safe.
Detective Randall “Shane” Thomas, 47
Henderson County North Carolina Sheriff’s Office
December 28, 2012 – Detective Shane Thomas succumbed to injuries received in 2009 while participating in a mounted patrol training exercise. During the training, his horse reared and then fell on top of him, breaking his neck. His injuries rendered him a quadriplegic, however, with the assistance of voice-activated technology he was able to return to work entering computer data entry and other similar tasks. Detective Thomas worked at the sheriff’s office until complications from the accident finally took his life.
Officer Edrees Mukhtar, 28
San Antonio Texas Police Department
December 29, 2012 – Officer Edrees Mukhtar succumbed to injuries received three weeks earlier when his patrol car collided with an oncoming vehicle.
Officer Chris Yung, 35
Prince William County Virginia Police Department
December 31, 2012 – Officer Chris Yung was killed in a motorcycle crash while responding to an accident scene. He is survived by his wife and three children.
