- Title: Jake and the Fatman – The Man That Got Away
- IMDb: link
Flashback Friday takes us back to 80s Las Angeles, a large and in charge district attorney, and his special investigator with a taste of the finer things in life. Robert Culp guest-stars as talent defense attorney Harrison Gregg who attempts the perfect murder in killing his ex-wife’s (Julie Cobb) lover and framing her for the crime. Then, agreeing to defend his ex-wife, Gregg attempts to get her to plead guilty as part of a plea-bargain sentencing her to several years in prison all while pretending his actions are in the best interests of his client.
Jake (Joe Penny) never likes Ellen for the murder, and after examining the house and determining it was possible for Gregg to have snuck in the house, committed the crime, and made it back to the office in time to create an alibi, he has a different suspect in mind. McCabe (William Conrad) agrees leading to a request to put opposing counsel on the stand and confront him with the second gun (whose shots helped to paint his ex-wife as the killer) and silencer used in the murder the defense attorney attempted to get rid of which had the exact opposite effect when his prints were found on the bullets inside.
For a pretty well thought out Columbo-style murder scheme, Gregg has a couple of notable pieces of bad luck. First, the extra steps he takes with the second gun to bring witnesses backfires on him, especially when he doesn’t take the time to remove the evidence left at the scene putting Jake on to the plot. And second, and crucial, our killer doesn’t attempt to get rid of either the gun or the silencer in the days since the crime (several days because the trial is already nearing its conclusion) allowing the police to find it and tie him to the murder. The episode is also notable for Jake’s early scene taking down a car theft ring and Derek (Alan Campbell) finding a fake witness (who isn’t really needed) which only further cements evidence of a frame.
