S1E5: Lady in Waiting

Brief Summary:

In Lady in Waiting (Season 1, Episode 5), Beth Chadwick (played by Susan Clark), a repressed and emotionally stunted heiress, murders her domineering brother Bryce to gain independence and control over her life—and their family's company. After years of being overshadowed and controlled by Bryce, Beth stages the killing as an act of self-defense during a supposed break-in. At first, her story seems plausible, and even the police seem to buy it. But Columbo’s instincts kick in, and through his methodical, unassuming investigation, he starts to unravel the truth behind Beth’s motives, the staging of the crime, and the calculated steps she took to build her freedom—on murder.

Clues and Analysis of the Investigation

Key Clue 1: The Premeditation Behind the Security System

Beth disables the security alarm system before the murder, allegedly because her fiancé Peter Hamilton might stop by late and she didn’t want to wake her brother. However, this action directly enables her to later claim Bryce was an intruder when she shoots him.

Columbo sees this as suspicious: if Beth was genuinely concerned about safety, why disable the alarm? It’s the first indication of a premeditated crime.

Key Clue 2: The Sequence of Shots

Columbo learns that Beth fired multiple shots—one to “warn” and several more to kill. The order of shots doesn't line up with someone reacting in panic. Moreover, she shoots her brother in the back, which undercuts her claim of self-defense.

The physical evidence begins to contradict the emotional narrative Beth tries to sell.

Key Clue 3: Timing of the Call to Police

After the shooting, Beth takes time to compose herself and even changes her clothes before calling the police. She claims it was due to shock, but Columbo suspects she was taking time to ensure her story and the scene were consistent.

Columbo subtly questions why she waited. In real self-defense shootings, victims don’t pause for wardrobe changes.

Key Clue 4: Peter’s Doubts

Beth’s fiancé, Peter, initially supports her. But as Beth’s personality changes—becoming cold, controlling, and ruthless—Peter begins to doubt her story. His change of heart gives Columbo an ally in cracking the case.

Peter’s emotional detachment allows Columbo to push Beth harder, especially once her motive becomes clearer.

The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Case

Strengths:

• Motive and Opportunity: Beth has both a strong motive (freedom and power) and the opportunity. The case isn’t just about evidence—it’s about why she’d commit the crime, and how her behavior afterward supports the theory.

• Behavioral Shift: Post-murder, Beth becomes emboldened, arrogant, and erratic. This drastic shift undermines her victim narrative and reveals her deeper intentions.

• Inconsistencies in Her Story: Columbo is excellent at using tiny cracks in a suspect’s version of events—like the number of gunshots or the paused call to police—to expose a lie.

Weaknesses:

• No Direct Witness: There's no eyewitness to the murder. Beth's story is initially believed by the police due to lack of contrary evidence.

• Initial Credibility: Her composed demeanor and support from Peter early on make her appear credible. The fact that she is a woman in distress plays into how others initially treat her—with sympathy.

Overlooked Clues

• Beth’s Control Issues: What’s often missed is how much Beth’s crime isn’t just about escape—it’s about dominance. Her transformation into a ruthless businesswoman echoes her brother’s traits, suggesting that she didn’t want to be free from power, she wanted it for herself.

• Columbo’s Psychology: Columbo rarely challenges Beth directly—he lets her hang herself with her own arrogance. He plays patient and confused, and in doing so, catches her off guard.

• Use of Peter as Leverage: Columbo doesn’t break Beth alone—he uses Peter’s growing discomfort to shake her confidence. When Peter withdraws his support, she loses her only shield.

Conviction Analysis

While the case might initially look like a justifiable homicide, Columbo’s doggedness turns it into a murder charge. The timing of events, the gunshot patterns, and Beth’s increasingly suspicious behavior paint a clear picture of premeditation.

The strongest legal strike against her is her manipulation of the crime scene and the sequence of shots. A self-defense case crumbles when the victim is shot in the back and the shooter calmly changes outfits before calling police.

Her motive is as compelling as her methods are damning. In a courtroom, Columbo’s step-by-step dismantling of her story, combined with forensic inconsistencies, would likely result in a conviction—especially once Peter testifies about her transformation and controlling behavior.

Conclusion

Lady in Waiting is a psychological slow burn. It’s less about intricate plotting and more about emotional unraveling. Beth Chadwick is one of the more tragic killers in Columbo—not because she’s sympathetic, but because she believes freedom and happiness can only come through murder. Her fatal flaw is mistaking control for liberation.

This episode stands out for showing how Columbo doesn’t just work with physical clues—he understands human nature. He reads Beth’s insecurities, her delusions of grandeur, and ultimately brings her back down to earth… in handcuffs.