Jessica’s Dossier – Page 2 – Murder, She Wrote, She Wrote

A Rap Sheet

Here is Jessica Fletcher’s arrest record, up to and including S1 E7. I’ve also included a history of the crimes she has committed, which is remarkably unrelated to her arrests.

Arrests

Suspicion of Murder: October, 1984; Universal Studios, Los Angeles, CA; S1 E4: “Hooray for Homicide”

Crimes and Misdemeanors

Obstruction of Justice and Concealing People from Arrest: November 1984; Boston, MA and Cabot Cove, ME; S1 E9: “Death Takes a Curtain Call”

Trespass: October 1984; Universal Studios, Los Angeles, CA; S1 E4: “Hooray for Homicide”

Trespass and Attempted Larceny: October 11, 1984; The Potts farm, Greenville, VA; S1 E5: “It’s a Dog’s Life”

Reckless Endangerment: September 1984; Les Champignons Night Club, San Francisco, CA; S1 E3: “Birds of a Feather”

Wire Fraud: May-August 1984; Cabot Cove, ME; S1 E7: “Hit, Run and Homicide”

Trespass: May/June 1984; Warehouse 33, Seattle, WA; S1 E6: “Lovers and Other Killers”

Trespass: April 1984; The Offices of Cap’n Caleb’s Chowder Houses, New York, NY; S1 E1: “The Murder of Sherlock Holmes”

Lieutenant C.J. Andrews

Lt. Andrews (Greg Morris) S1 E6: “Lovers and Other Killers”

Seattle’s Lt. Andrews, a competent officer of the law, experiences a relatively mild level of frustration when he crosses paths with Jessica Fletcher in S1 E6: “Lovers and Other Killers”.

David Tolliver is one of the most compelling characters in the MSW canon. He’s charming and handsome, but also habitually dishonest and creepily intense. Is his professed romantic interest in Jessica sincere, or is there something more sinister at play?

I Am All Astonishment

Edmund Gerard

Edmund Gerard is the Dean of Students at Sequoia University, a major university in Seattle, WA. Edmund was friends with Jessica and Frank before they were married. Both he and his secretary, Amelia, hint at the possibility of a pairing between Edmund and Jessica now that they are both widowed. Jessica wishes only to remain friends, which is fortunate, because it turns out that Edmund is the kind of man who has affairs with married subordinates.

Marty Strindberg

Strindberg is a contract attorney and partner with Carr, Strindberg and Roth in S1 E4: “Hooray for Homicide”.

Norman Lester

Norman is a junior contract attorney with Carr, Strindberg and Roth in S1 E4: “Hooray for Homicide”.

A Timeline

This is a timeline of all the events we’ve learned about so far on our Murder, She Wrote journey. It includes “present” events as portrayed in the episodes (1984 – 1996), as well as past events depicted or described in the series. Estimated publication dates for J.B. Fletcher’s books can be found in her Oeuvre.

November 1984

An afternoon at the ballet turns deadly in “Death Takes a Curtain Call.” (S1 E9)
Late October 1984

Jessica’s first movie deal is scuttled in “Hooray for Homicide.” (S1 E4)
October 6-13, 1984

Jessica visits her cousin in Virginia and saves the reputation of a very wealthy beagle in “It’s a Dog’s Life.” (S1 E5)
September 1984

Jessica visits her niece in San Francisco and clears her future nephew-in-law of murder charges in “Birds of a Feather.” (S1 E3)
July 21-26, 1984

Jessica visits her niece in Chicago and solves a spooky locked room mystery in “We’re Off to Kill the Wizard.” (S1 E8)
June – July 1984

A hurricane blows through Cabot Cove, and Jessica identifies a “Deadly Lady.” (S1 E2)
May – July 1984

At home in Cabot Cove, Jessica helps a friend steer clear of murder charges in “Hit, Run and Homicide.” (S1 E7)
May – June 1984

Jessica teaches a seminar in Seattle, and becomes entangled with “Lovers and Other Killers.” (S1 E6)
April 1984

Jessica travels to New York to promote her first book, and solves her first case, “The Murder of Sherlock Holmes.” (S1 E1)
1983

Jessica travels to Spain. She takes photographs. One of the rolls of film makes a cameo in “We’re Off to Kill the Wizard.” (S1 E8)
Mid 1940’s – Early 1950’s

Jessica, Frank, and their mutual friend, Edmund Gerard (S1 E6: “Lovers and Other Killers”) spend their Saturday nights at Kappa Gamma Chi. The only active chapter of the sorority during this timeframe appears to be at Emerson College in Boston, MA.