Wed, Nov 3, 1999
Da Vinci investigates two deaths. The first death is that of Marjorie Diggens, found at the bottom of her basement stairwell by her husband, Louis. Da Vinci believes the death to be an accidental fall down the stairs, but Patricia thinks it may be an from a fight between husband and wife. Leary and Kosmo, the Homicide investigators, discover the Diggens had a history of reported domestic problems. And because the determination of possible homicide was delayed, the accident scene has been contaminated, therefore there is no usable forensic evidence. When Chick discovers a blood stained hockey stick which could be the murder weapon, Leary and Kosmo uncover what happened, but it's not quite what they originally think. The second death is that of Alan Bush, a federal cabinet minister. He is reported and found dead in his bedroom, but Da Vinci, upon first look, knows that the body was moved there after death. Shannon, the homicide investigator, discovers that Bush may have died in a hotel room, the room registered to a Rita Morgan. Those who obviously know what happened aren't cooperating, those people being Rita Morgan, Bush's wife, his ministerial assistant and someone working in the hotel. It isn't until Rita Morgan decides to cooperate that the full story is revealed. Meanwhile, Leary receives an unexpected and unwanted visit from his estranged wife, Kim, a fact which he hides from Sunny. And Da Vinci receives some sad personal news.
Wed, Nov 17, 1999
The Coroner's Office and Homicide investigate the finding of dead body - Robert Magus - buried in the yard of a private home. Beyond the fact that the body was obviously buried, the initial findings do not seem to indicate foul play. When a second body is found on site, the investigation points to the previous owner of the home, Viola McKnight, who ran a bordering house for pensioners there and where Magus was living when it is assumed he dies. An elderly woman, Viola, with her mentally challenged adult son Bert, has run a series of boarding houses catering to pensioners with mental issues. She currently is doing so at another site. In reality, Viola, has been taking charge of her tenants' finances, systematically poisoning and burying them, and then committing fraud by taking on that identity and collecting on their personal incomes such as pension checks. With each move, she has taken on that as an assumed name, her current alias being Elizabeth Grass. When the authorities catch up with Viola/Elizabeth, they know that she is guilty, but she plays her caring but doddering little old lady routine to a T. Homicide admits they don't have enough concrete evidence for a conviction. Viola's son, Bert, may be of some assistance, especially after his dog, Plato, is found dead after a tenant feeds him her poisoned food. The balance the authorities face is placing all the guilt on Viola without implicating an obviously innocent Bert.
Top-rated
Wed, Nov 24, 1999
Adolescent Byron Mizlowski is found dead on the shores of Burrard Inlet. It looks as if he either jumped or was pushed off the Ironworker's Memorial Bridge. Byron was a bright and responsible child and his parents gave him much leeway. They think that his biological father may have something to do with the death as Byron was physically abused by him in the past. However Patricia discovers in the autopsy that Byron was also sexually abused, as recent as the night of his death. Det. Bobby Marlowe from Sex Crimes thinks this case is linked to his case involving alleged sexual molestation of children by Byron's band teacher, Richard Zeto. Marlowe has a victim, Ryner Paget, who is remembering the sexual molestation incidents after the fact. To appease the territorial issue between Homicide and Sex Crimes, Da Vinci suggests he seize Zeto's property under the Coroner's Act to share between the investigators. After formally talking to Zeto, the authorities have much evidence against him but not enough to convict on any of the supposed charges. Once news spreads within the community of the investigation against Zeto, other evidence surfaces. Tragic consequences occur before the authorities discover who killed Byron. Meanwhile, Leary investigates a blood spattered apartment but no body. And Winston has a hit and run dead body. They don't yet know that they two are related.
Wed, Dec 1, 1999
Simon Sloan, wielding a knife, is fatally shot by Constable Lyle Rook in what looks to be on the surface an attempted robbery at a retail store. The Coroner's Office decides to take the case to inquest to determine if there was any police misconduct in the shooting. Flynn wants Da Vinci to take a particularly hard stance against the police department as the inquest is heavily populated by individuals representing the police. In the words of one police officer on the scene, Sloan wanted to die. Most testify that the police took adequate and appropriate measures under the circumstances, except for the fact that a police dog was on the scene and although Constable Rook asked for the dog to be released, the dog master didn't do so. The inquest also brings to light that Sloan had a history of mental and violent issues. Who Da Vinci really wants on the stand is a Louis Holly, who was a former roommate of Sloan's. Da Vinci wants Holly's testimony to shed some light on Sloan as a human being and not just an anonymous knife wielding man. Da Vinci does eventually speak to Holly who provides important information, but it is ultimately Constable Rook who provides the most important piece of information while on the stand. A letter written by Sloan to Holly received after the inquest conclusion corroborates the inquest findings.
Top-rated
Wed, Dec 8, 1999
The dead body of Clarence O'Malley is found by his long time best friend, George. It looks like Clarence died of natural causes. What Da Vinci and Shannon also find in O'Malley's apartment is a series of lottery tickets. Although drunk at the time the winning numbers are announced, Shannon is lucid enough to know that Clarence owns a ticket worth $2 million. Da Vinci and Shannon contemplate what to do with this knowledge. They go through a series of options, including keeping the ticket for themselves, especially if Clarence had no living relatives. Their resolve to "do the right thing" strengthens when they meet who looks to be Clarence's only surviving relative, an opportunistic Rick O'Malley. Da Vinci and Shannon definitely do not want Rick, who cared nothing for Clarence, to get the money. Da Vinci and Shannon finally decide on an option they feel is equitable and humanistic. Meanwhile, Leary is involved in a high stakes poker game at a private gambling club on what looks to be his off time. The players are all pretty intense on the game except for chatty Greg Prentice. Prentice's chattiness gets Leary talking, which suits the two men's purposes just fine. But Leary gets the final say in the conversation.
Wed, Jan 5, 2000
Three year old Terrence Ellison is found dead by his eight year old sister, Julie, in their backyard from what looks to be a head injury sustained from a fall from the swing. Based on the autopsy, Patricia and Sunny surmise he died from being shaken. On first glance, neither the parents, Ben and Claire, or Julie are capable of committing such a violent act, but the authorities cannot see how it could not have been one of the three that caused the death. Upon a site visit, Family Services is unconcerned about Julie being also physically abused if it was one of the parents. After hearing the news of how Terrence died, Ben is in denial, while Claire questions every move in her childrearing. After Da Vinci takes drastic measures with Julie, the steadfast resolve of the collective Ellison family crumbles when one member admits to what happened. Meanwhile, Shannon and Winston investigate the death of Bobby Symes, who was shot twice in the head. The first leads they have are missed telephone calls on his cell phone from Ed, a photo of his girlfriend Ruby in his wallet, and small amount of dope stashed in his wallet. Both Ed and Ruby don't seem totally forthright in their statements. In fact, both provide misleading and intentionally wrong information. Called on their individual lies by Shannon, both Ed and Ruby tell conflicting stories of what really happened. It isn't until Ruby and Ed get face to face that the truth comes out.