CSI's Plagued By 'Crow's Feet'

See Also: 'Crow's Feet' Episode Guide

A fumigation to get rid of pesky insects is fairly routine, even if it isn't the kind of procedure that warms Gil Grissom's heart. So why did Preston Beckman die in his house when the poisonous Sulfuryl Fluoride gasses were flowing through it? The CSIs have to find out why in the fourth CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode of the fifth season, "Crow's Feet."

CSI Files sources that Beckman was found collapsed in his house by a neighbor, Zach, who pulled him out of the house, but it was too late. Beckman was dead. Brass talks with Ted Martin and Frank Allen from the fumigation company, but the men insist that they checked the house before they fumigated it, and there was no sign of Beckman. When Brass suggests the man might have snuck back into his house, Frank says the house was locked down with "clam shell" locks. Brass scoffs that houses being fumigated are often targets for burglars, so the locks couldn't be that good.

Meanwhile, Catherine and Nick are investigating the death of an elderly woman, Julie Stern. Markings on her body lead them to her dermatologist, Dr. Tony Malaga, who removed her liver spots three days before her death. Nick notes Malaga removed forty liver spots, which he thinks may have been excessive. Malaga inisists it was safe, but clams up when the pair ask for Julie's medical records. He says the records have information on other members of Julie's family, and he can't release them without a court order, which the CSIs vow to obtain.

Greg and Sara comb over the area around Preston Beckman's house. They examine the tent surrounding it, and are puzzled to discover a trail of sand leading away from the house. They follow it to Beckman's next door neighbor's house. Rory Kendall answers the door, coughing. He tells Greg and Sara he's been feeling under the weather lately, and denies ever being in Beckman's house, even though his symptoms mirror those of someone suffering from Sulfuryl Floride gas poisoning. Sara insists on a urine sample to determine just what is making Rory sick.

Catherine and Nick track down Julie Stern's son, Robbie. He doesn't seem too broken up about his mother's death. She was a stingy woman who would spend thousands on clothes and plastic surgery, but wouldn't loan her son the money he needed to keep his house. With her death, he's inherited enough money to keep the house. Catherine and Nick insist on searching his house.

Sara and Greg continue to examine the evidence, which keeps leading them back to Rory Kendall. He and Beckman were not on friendly terms. Rory kept complaining about Beckman playing his music too loud, while Beckman filed charges against Rory claiming the man assaulted him...

Please note that these plot details have not yet been confirmed by CBS, Alliance Atlantis or Bruckheimer Films and until such time you should treat this information as you would any other rumour. The information comes from an early draft of the script and aspects of the episode may change before it goes to air.

"Crow's Feet" will likely air in October, 2004.

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