Murder, She Wrote – “Crossed Up”

Original Air Date: February 1, 1987

Directed by: David Hemmings

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: On a stormy night, a bedridden Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) overhears a murder plot on a crossed telephone connection.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Despite Jessica’s warnings, a rich man is killed and his sons are suspected of hiring the killer. Jessica only recognizes the guilty party on the phone as having a raspy voice. One of the sons is Gordon Rogers (Tony Dow) whose wife Dody (Colleen Camp) has recently acquired a pedigree white Persian cat named Muff Muff. Sheriff Amos Tupper (Tom Bosley) hears Gordon complaining to Dody about being allergic to the cat but thinks nothing of it.

Murder, She Wrote - Crossed Up - Dody Colleen Camp holding white Persian cat Muff Muff

It isn’t until Jessica sees a press conference on television given by the Rogers, including Gordon, Dody and Muff Muff, that she realizes it was Gordon’s raspy voice she heard when he was having an allergic reaction to the cat.

Murder, She Wrote - Crossed Up - Dody Colleen Camp holding white Persian cat Muff Muff before press conference
Murder, She Wrote - Crossed Up - Gordon Tony Down holding white Persian cat Muff Muff next to Dody Colleen Camp
Murder, She Wrote - Crossed Up - Gordon Tony Down handing white Persian cat Muff Muff to Dody Colleen Camp

Gordon is arrested but is that the end of the story? Muff Muff does not appear again.

Murder, She Wrote - Crossed Up - Gordon Tony Down being arrested with Dody Colleen Camp holding white Persian cat Muff Muff beside him
Murder, She Wrote - Crossed Up - Sheriff Amos Tupper Tom Bosley on phone with with Dody Colleen Camp holding white Persian cat Muff Muff in background
Murder, She Wrote - Crossed Up - Dody Colleen Camp holding white Persian cat Muff Muff
Murder, She Wrote - Crossed Up - Dody Colleen Camp holding white Persian cat Muff Muff

Final Mewsings: Cats can help catch killers!

Many thanks to Ted Davis for letting us know about the cat in this episode!

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