The Investigation Turns on the False Witness

Dr. Death

This flow traces the crucial reversal in which a helpful witness is revealed as the person controlling the investigation's opening scene.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Ulrich Offers a Detail Ulrich Offers a Detail from "Dr. Death". A Dark BMW Report A Voluntary Memory Paul Ulrich tells Alex about a dark BMW parked down the road on the morning they found Mate.

Ulrich Offers a Detail from "Dr. Death". A Dark BMW Report A Voluntary Memory Paul Ulrich tells Alex about a dark BMW parked down the road on the morning they found Mate.

A Dark BMW Report A Voluntary Memory Paul Ulrich tells Alex about a dark BMW parked down the road on the morning they found Mate. A Distraction The detail initially suggests Richard or Eric may have been near the scene.

Fusco's File Is Reopened Fusco's File Is Reopened from "Dr. Death". Searching for a Pattern The Seattle Case Alex checks the police inventory from Marissa Bonpaine's murder.

Fusco's File Is Reopened from "Dr. Death". Searching for a Pattern The Seattle Case Alex checks the police inventory from Marissa Bonpaine's murder.

Searching for a Pattern The Seattle Case Alex checks the police inventory from Marissa Bonpaine's murder. A Toy Object A toy hypodermic near the body echoes the broken stethoscope at Mate's apartment.

Ferris Grant Identified Ferris Grant Identified from "Dr. Death". A Name Connects Two Scenes The Hiker's Record The Seattle report identifies the discoverer as Ferris Grant, whose dog description resembles Ulrich's account.

Ferris Grant Identified from "Dr. Death". A Name Connects Two Scenes The Hiker's Record The Seattle report identifies the discoverer as Ferris Grant, whose dog description resembles Ulrich's account.

A Name Connects Two Scenes The Hiker's Record The Seattle report identifies the discoverer as Ferris Grant, whose dog description resembles Ulrich's account. Identity Beneath the Alias Alex links the name to Michael Ferris Burke and recognizes the staged-witness pattern.

Milo Finds the Glare Milo Finds the Glare from "Dr. Death". A Second Confirmation Reconstructing Visibility Milo finds that sunrise glare makes it difficult to see into the van's rear window.

Milo Finds the Glare from "Dr. Death". A Second Confirmation Reconstructing Visibility Milo finds that sunrise glare makes it difficult to see into the van's rear window.

A Second Confirmation Reconstructing Visibility Milo finds that sunrise glare makes it difficult to see into the van's rear window. The Witness's Lie Ulrich's claim that he saw Mate inside becomes another clue against him.

The Witness Is Exposed The Witness Is Exposed from "Dr. Death". The Scene Repeats A Planned Encounter Ulrich returns to the remote setting where his relationship with Tanya and his medical bag can be hidden.

The Witness Is Exposed from "Dr. Death". The Scene Repeats A Planned Encounter Ulrich returns to the remote setting where his relationship with Tanya and his medical bag can be hidden.

The Scene Repeats A Planned Encounter Ulrich returns to the remote setting where his relationship with Tanya and his medical bag can be hidden. The Mask Falls The clues identify the apparent witness as the murderer, while Fusco's shot abruptly ends the confrontation.

One week after Mate's murder

Several days after Alex's late-night review

Before dawn on Saturday

That morning on Mulholland Drive

At the Malibu cabin