A jogger who died of a heart attack leads police to the unrelated murder of a woman who's been using the Social Security number of Marcella Celaya, who was killed ten years ago. Detectives Briscoe and Green learn that Rafael Berseño, the victim's husband, used to have the last name Celaya also. Before they question him further, they spot a jealous wife running over her husband with her car again and again. Then, Green discovers a note on a bathroom mirror from a pregnant woman saying she's been kidnapped. Meanwhile, they hear Rafael's brother Reynaldo just got out of prison for killing his wife Marcella, though her body was never found.
Reynaldo tells McCoy and Southerlyn he already served his sentence for killing Marcella, even though she wasn't dead, and they can't convict him twice for killing the same person. Still on the job, Briscoe and Green learn Rafael and Marcella set up Reynaldo so they could be together. When he got out of prison, he forced his brother to kill his (their) wife.
Briscoe gets a lead on the kidnapping. The mom-to-be was abducted by an infertile woman. They rescue her just as she goes into labor, forcing Lennie to deliver the baby himself. Before they can finally punch out for the night, Dr. Rogers calls to say that jogger didn't have a heart attack...he'd been poisoned!
We're talking about one crazy day for the detectives in Law & Order season 13 episode 23* "Couples." Our guest is Sarah Carradine from the Crime Seen podcast.
Among the many inspirations for this story include the case of Clara and David Lynn Harris.
*Note: Hulu incorrectly lists this as episode 24.
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