Da Vinci’s Inquest - Season 3 Episode 13

A pre-trial hearing is held in the suspected stabbing murder of Stacy Miller, a young female hiker, by Joel Hardy. Using Da Vinci's, Patricia's, and Homicide's notes from the initial investigation, Hardy's lawyer is trying to prove his client's innocence based on an alternative theory: that Miller was killed by a cougar attack–an alternative theory that had been considered during the coroner/pathologists exam. Da Vinci knows that is not the case, Patricia knows that is not the case, and Homicide knows that is not the case, but Hardy's lawyer is using the notes against their writers. To further support his case, Hardy's lawyer calls in an expert witness–a pathologist specializing in animal attacks–and subpoenas Sunny, who has to recall her discussions with Patricia and Da Vinci about the investigation. Elsewhere, Leary, Shannon and Da Vinci investigate the break-and-enter shooting death of Abigail Jefferson. A former cancer patient, Abigail was shot through the heart while in her bedroom, the murder weapon being her own gun. The murder occurred while her husband and two adult children were out shopping. The initial suspect is a neighborhood kid who does odd jobs for the Jeffersons. However, certain aspects of the Jeffersons' collective stories do not quite add up, including a delay between their finding the body and the call to 911. In addition, the investigators learn that Abigail's cancer was not in remission as she told her family. It isn't until Chick uncovers some evidence regarding the gun that the pieces of the story start to fall together. On other fronts, Morris Steadman continues his crusade to find evidence regarding foul play in his daughter's death, Da Vinci continues his relationship with Suzanne Reilly, and Shannon wrestles with the thought of putting his wife Lana into an extended care facility.