My Accusation I accuse Claire Blackwood of causing the events that led to Evelyn’s death. Confidence: 75% I do not think Claire necessarily intended to kill her mother. I think Evelyn’s death resulted from everything that happened to her that night. Motive Claire recently asked Evelyn for $25,000 and was refused. She also expected to inherit Blackwood House, but Evelyn was changing her estate plan so the house would be placed into a historical trust. Saturday night, Evelyn planned to reveal the estate changes, the problems with the business accounts, and the fact that Richard was not Claire’s biological father. Claire stood to lose the house she always believed would eventually belong to her. Drugging I think Marcus may have drugged Evelyn, although there is no proof showing where the zolpidem came from. Any of the five people could have had access to the medication. Marcus knew Evelyn was investigating suspicious transfers, duplicate billing, and materials charged to projects where they never arrived. He may have drugged her so he could remove, replace, or return financial documents without her stopping him. Marcus went to Evelyn’s window around 10:12–10:15 and saw her alive with her head down at the desk. I think he may have been checking whether the medication was working before attempting to handle the financial records. I do not think the drugger and the person responsible for the later confrontation had to be the same person. First Injury and Fatal Injury I think Claire entered the study and confronted Evelyn about the family secret and estate changes. Claire burned the revised will and Evelyn’s handwritten notes because those documents showed that Blackwood House would no longer pass to her. During the confrontation, Claire struck Evelyn with the bronze horse. That caused the first bleeding injury but did not kill her. Claire left Evelyn alive. Because Evelyn had zolpidem and alcohol in her system and had already suffered a head injury, she later became unsteady and fell backward into the stone hearth. I think the crash around 10:30 was probably Evelyn’s fatal fall, although nobody actually saw what caused the sound.

Okay, after Tuesday’s evidence, my ranking is: 1. Claire 2. Marcus 3. Thomas 4. Daniel 5. Lillian I think Claire drugged Evelyn because she found out Evelyn was changing the will and leaving something to Lillian. I also think Claire hit her with the bronze horse, but that wasn’t what killed her. My theory is Claire left while Evelyn was still alive, and Evelyn locked the study door herself. Then, because she was drugged, had been drinking, and was already injured, she lost her balance and fell into the hearth. I think that was probably the crash everyone heard around 10:30. Daniel’s pen only proves that his pen was in the study, not that he was there that night or hurt Evelyn. He was her attorney and probably helped prepare the new will, so it makes sense that his pen could be there. I think Claire burned the documents because they showed Evelyn was changing the will after realizing Lillian had been right about something involving Claire. I also think Marcus may have been outside the window spying because Evelyn was investigating the business finances. He may have seen something without ever going inside. The drugger and the person responsible do not have to be the same person, but right now I think Claire started everything that led to Evelyn’s death.

Most suspicious: Marcus Hale - Gone from 9:44 - 10:42 and nobody could vouch for them Least suspicious: Thomas Reed - Eleven years of unsupervised access. Why pick the one night with four witnesses? Strangest evidence: the burned paper - Everyone's staring at the bronze horse. Loud evidence is usually a distraction Locked-room theory: she locked it after they left - Her glass on the desk, a second glass on the floor. That's a conversation, not a break-in

So change in thoughts...Daniel drugs her because he wants her dead but the drug doesnt become the cause of death. Lillian potentially struck her with the statue during their argument over the papers to which Evelyn burns them during the same argument. When Lillian leaves to go upstairs it might be to talk to Claire about their argument. When the crash happens at 1030 it could be Evelyn alone passing out from blood loss and the drowsiness from the meds, upon which she strikes her head on the fireplace ultimately becoming the fatal injury. Daniel Mercer Lillian Vale Thomas Reed Marcus Hale Claire Blackwood

I figured she was drugged. I have to read more later. I think her sister Drugged her. I have not read everything yet but that is my gut feeling.