CI: Who blew up the car? Mom or dad?

Three young boys are killed by a car bomb, their mother Doreen and older brother in the front seat are the only survivors. Detectives Goren and Eames learn Paul Whitlock developed a new kind of land mine and his wife had spotted some threatening-looking Middle Eastern men before the blast. But there are indications the pipe bomb was built in their garage and someone swept it up. Bobby and Alex suspect the depressed Doreen blew up the car in a murder/suicide attempt.

ADA Ron Carver insists the overbearing husband is their best suspect. The detectives find a space heater Doreen tampered with to leak carbon monoxide. The overwhelmed mother confesses she wanted to take the children to heaven with her, where she could be a better parent. But Goren and Eames discover the cold-blooded Whitlock knew Doreen wanted to die and was fine if she did - he just didn’t know the children would get hurt. Enraged at his cruelty, the detectives insist Carver hold him legally responsible, but he says there’s no crime in not stopping your wife from killing herself and her family.

We’re talking about Law & Order: Criminal Intent season 4 episode 7 “Magnificat.” Our returning guest is Katie from the A Date with Dateline podcast.

Plot points in this episode are inspired by the 2001 case of Andrea Yates.

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This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more.

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