Emma is one of Amos’ deputies in Cabot Cove. She is very conscientious about cleaning her firearms, but perhaps too lax when it comes to confidential information and PB&J’s, which might be why we do not see her again.
Emma
Category: Jessica’s Dossier
Stephen Earl
Dossier
Stephen is the patriarch of the Earl family and has strained relationships with most of his daughters. He is lately, and possibly regretfully, retired from his cosmetics empire.
As a widower, Stephen can relate to Jessica’s grief over the loss of her husband. He shows an interest that might have grown into more than friendship if he hadn’t met with an untimely end.
Appearances
Abigail Benton Freestone
Jessica’s cousin Abby is a professional horse trainer. She was a suspect in a 1984 murder in rural Virginia in S1 E5: “It’s a Dog’s Life.” After the trial, she returned to her home in Kent.
Chief of Police Roy Gunderson
Dossier
Roy Gunderson is Chief of Police in New Holvang, NY. He is a church goer, a football watcher, and dislikes working on Sundays. Roy initially negs Jessica on her book, but he quickly warms up to her assistance with the case. Their subsequent rapport is such that he later accepts her offer of lobster stew if ever he’s in Cabot Cove.
Appearances
Kitt Donovan
Dossier
Kitt Donovan is employed by Coventry House publishing company. She is instrumental in the publication and promotion of Jessica’s first book, The Corpse Danced at Midnight.
Romantic Interests
Grady Fletcher, fiancé, 1984
Appearances
A Portrait of a Lady
Here’s the freeze frame from the end of each episode of Murder, She Wrote so far.
Some of the earliest episodes do not necessarily conform to what I’ll call the “Jessica’s goofy mug” freeze frame trope that becomes a notable feature of the series. It will be interesting to see how the pattern develops.
Victoria Griffin
Dossier
Victoria Griffin née Brandon (Genie Francis) is Jessica’s niece. As of S1 E3, she lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Howard Griffin.
Victoria is allergic to flowers.
Romantic Interests
Howard Griffin, married 1984
Appearances
Howard Griffin
Dossier
Howard Griffin (Jeff Conaway) is Jessica’s nephew by marriage. As of S1 E3, he lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Victoria Griffin née Brandon. Howard is an actor.
Resume
- Female Impersonator, Les Champignons, San Francisco, CA, 1984; S1 E3: “Birds of a Feather”
Arrest Record
- Murder of Al Drake, San Francisco, CA, 1984; S1 E3: “Birds of a Feather”
Romantic Interests
Victoria Brandon, married 1984
Appearances
Preston Giles
Dossier
Preston Giles (Arthur Hill) is the founder of Coventry House, the publisher of Jessica’s first novel, The Corpse Danced at Midnight. Preston has a shady past. He claims to have been framed for crimes he didn’t commit, after which he escaped prison and assumed his current identity. In April, 1984, he murdered Dexter Baxendale and Caleb McCallum to protect this secret. He is in love with Jessica Fletcher.
Appearances
Grady Fletcher
Dossier
Grady Fletcher (Michael Horton) is Jessica’s nephew by marriage. As of S1 E1, he lives in New York and is unmarried. Grady is an accountant.
Resume
- Accountant, Cap’n Caleb’s Chowder Houses, New York, NY, 1984; S1 E1: “The Murder of Sherlock Holmes”
Crimes and Misdemeanors
- Trespass: April, 1984; The Offices of Cap’n Caleb’s Chowder Houses, New York, NY; S1 E1: “The Murder of Sherlock Holmes”
Arrest Record
- Murder of Dexter Baxendale, New Holvang, NY, April, 1984; S1 E1: “The Murder of Sherlock Holmes”
Romantic Interests
Kitt Donovan, fiancée, 1984
Murder, She Wrote, She Wrote 