A woman claims that a Puerto Rican man kidnapped her infant daughter while she was in a church confessional. However, she later confesses to killing her baby and cremating her body.A woman claims that a Puerto Rican man kidnapped her infant daughter while she was in a church confessional. However, she later confesses to killing her baby and cremating her body.A woman claims that a Puerto Rican man kidnapped her infant daughter while she was in a church confessional. However, she later confesses to killing her baby and cremating her body.
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- Leah Coleman
- (as Elizabeth Hanly Rice)
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe episode appears to be based on two separate cases:
- The 1994-1995 Susan Smith case. In October 1994, she drowned her two toddlers by driving her car into a lake. She appeared on TV, sobbing, with her ex-husband, begging the African-American man who she claimed carjacked her at a stoplight to return her boys. She broke down about a week later and confessed her crime. She was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The Susan Smith case is even referenced in this episode, though not mentioned by name, when Curtis initially defends the mother in this case, saying: "You're not gonna find her baby in a car at the bottom of some lake".
- The 1968 Brewer v Williams case, in which a police officer "mentions" that he hopes the child's body is found so she can have a "Christian burial." This statement persuaded the murderer to lead the officer to where the victim's body was. This became a US Supreme Court case about Miranda warnings (of right to counsel and right to not incriminate oneself) and the validity of confessions outside of formal interrogation proceedings. A later landmark Supreme Court case, Rhode Island v Innis addressed similar issues and shares key facts with this episode.
- Quotes
Claire Kincaid: [to McCoy] Admit it, Jack, you were a little tough on that priest.
Jack McCoy: When you're raised by the Jesuits, you end up obedient or impertinent.
[the waiter sets a drink down in front of McCoy]
Jack McCoy: I didn't order this.
Waiter: It's on the gentleman at the bar.
[points to the bar and McCoy turns to see Fineman raising a glass to him]
Jack McCoy: [to the waiter] Take it back.
Claire Kincaid: Can't forgive anyone, eh?
Jack McCoy: No, I can't. Besides, that was bourbon. I'm drinking scotch.
- ConnectionsReferences The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986)
Leah Coleman (Connors) goes to church, attends confessional and then comes out to find her baby missing. Briscoe (Orbach) & Curtis (Bratt) go about tracking possible suspects but it doesn't go anywhere. In a race against time, Rey gets Leah to retrace her morning steps with him. They bond, talk and he gains her trust. Then she volunteers suffocating her baby and putting it in the building furnace to the shock of everyone. For trial she's given inexperienced public defender Fineman (Stevens) who's looks, actions are deceiving as he has a few tricks up his sleeve to play against McCoy (Waterston).
As someone who isn't very religious it's heavy reliance at the heart of the tale didn't do much for me. I was happy that never once did it seriously want viewers to eat up the silly excuses being presented meant to downplay the mother's guilt in her own child's death though. Curtis, McCoy have moments to shine and both guest stars are solid. However half the episode is a rather silly defense strategy. I enjoyed 'Angel' largely though and a funny moment at the end meant to lighten the mood didn't go unappreciated.
- refinedsugar
- Jun 11, 2024