CSI: Miami

Season 3 - Episode 23 - Whacked

Story by Ildy Modrovich
Teleplay by Ann Donahue & Elizabeth Devine
Directed by Scott Lautanen

Miami West Prison’s death row is the final home to inmate Ken Kramer, convicted and sentenced to die for the brutal ax murder of a young couple, Mike Lewis and Sheri Vanover. There, Horatio Caine is informed by Asst. State Attorney Don Haffman a stay of execution has been ordered for Kramer because CSI lab tech Valera’s work has come under question and since she worked Kramer’s case, the state doesn’t want to take any chances in carrying out a false execution. Certain that Kramer was guilty, Horatio is not happy.

Horatio, determined to vindicate his team’s work, makes the case an internal priority. Calleigh and Ryan begin with non-biological evidence; Delko soon becomes defensive with Ryan because the Kramer case was originally Speedle’s. Ryan notices “drag” marks through the pool of blood that surrounded Sheri, who was raped and stabbed 17 times. Both victims’ hands and mouths were bound with duct tape; Mike was strangled by a rope. Calleigh and Delko notice high concentrations of cobalt on both victims’ clothing, but none on Kramer’s, indicating he was not alone at the murder site.

Horatio tells Kramer he knows there was a partner in the murders. Kramer’s court-appointed lawyer points out that a partner in the crime could commute Kramer’s death sentence. Horatio remains more than skeptical. A search of Kramer’s cell reveals an odd assortment of newspaper articles, recipes and “fluff” news items. Ryan is convinced there is some sort of clue hidden in the newspaper articles and takes them to the lab.

Horatio gets a frantic call from Ray Jr. saying his mom has been in a fight with her boyfriend, Rick Stetler. Ray Jr. also confesses to Horatio that he misses his dad and regrets not opening the casket on the day of his funeral. Horatio assures him everyone was afraid to open it. Horatio arrives at Yelina and Ray Jr.’s house as Stetler is leaving, warning Stetler to stay away from his family.

Calleigh and Ryan discover a series of “messages” sent to Kramer through the newspaper clippings – touting a string of violent crimes. They look into each of the cases cited, each more violent than the one preceding it. Horatio approaches Kramer with the discovery; Kramer plays dumb, but admits to having a “weight lifted from his shoulders” when he kills. Horatio knows what’s coming next and heads for the door, a man on a mission.

Horatio arrives at the beach house where the Kramer murder took place five years ago, minutes too late. There are already two victims, Trevor and Chloe Grand, although Chloe is still barely alive. She tells Horatio her husband let a man into the house to use the phone and the next thing she knew Trevor was bound in duct tape and the man was hacking at him with an ax. She says the killer tried to strangle her with his bare hands but when she begged for her life, he relented and fled.

Alexx and Horatio review the photos of Mike Lewis; Horatio ascertains that someone tried strangling Lewis manually before the rope was used. The rope used on Lewis reveals DNA -- not Kramer’s, but definitely a relative’s. Tripp and Delko bring in Kramer’s brother, Jesse, for questioning. The DNA is not a match, but Jesse says he has a cousin named Larry Hargrove living in the Miami area.

Ryan discovers traces of cobalt and slate on the ax used in the Grand murder. Calleigh and Delko’s investigation reveals pool tables in both ax-murder locations, as well as the murders cited in the newspapers articles. Pool tables are made from cobalt and slate; this is their common denominator.

Horatio finds Larry Hargrove at his employer’s, a custom maker and installer of pool tables. Hargrove tries to escape is soon captured; during interrogation he admits to Horatio he failed to strangle Lewis manually during his first murder attempt and Kramer had to finish Lewis off with the rope. Hargrove continued to send Kramer news articles in prison about his murderous exploits in order to exonerate himself in the eyes of his “hero.”

Horatio confronts Kramer with Hargrove’s story; Kramer admits disgust with Hargrove’s inability to carry out a simple strangulation. Horatio tells Kramer his execution is rescheduled for noon; Kramer assures Horatio he has a surprise in store.

Horatio is present to witness Kramer’s execution, along with Lewis’ mother. Kramer slowly eats his last meal before the lethal injection – a peanut butter and jelly sandwich – then lies on his cot. Without warning, he convulses wildly, his eyes roll back in his head and he falls limp and lifeless – dead from the peanut allergy only he knew he had.