Original air date: February 9, 2005 Talk about this episode! Sign in or sign up and click EasyEdit to add to this page

Episode recap: Mac and Stella investigate the death of a young man that is found crammed into a small box that gets washed up onto the beach. Since the body shows no signs of a struggle, the CSIs determine that he is a contortionist with the circus that has recently come into town. His death turns out to be a 'Romeo and Juliet' style suicide. When a downstairs neighbor in an apartment building notices blood dripping through her ceiling, Danny and Flack are called in to investigate the murder of the missing tenant.

The crimes:

Victim(s): Crime #1: Lucas Nieman // Crime #2: Lita Cartey

Suspect(s): Crime #1: Bernardo Espargosa- trapeze artist // Kake Lydell- elephant handler at the circus // Rosie the Clown // Anasuya Espargoza- Lucas' girlfriend
Crime #2: Paige Worthy- Lita's friend and apartment tennant // Jason- Lita's husband // Eric Slovenski- grocery delivery boy

Witness(es):

Whodunit: Crime #1: Lucas committed suicide // Crime #2: Eric Slovenski- grocery delivery boy

From the field:
Crime #1

• sand in treads of dolly

Crime #2

• large pool of blood
• missing shower curtain
• fingerprints on doorknob
• loomi on floor
• grocery delivery receipt

From the morgue:
Crime #1

• pressed penny from Coney Island
• hook-shaped bruise on back
• bruise from large hand on arm
• skin under fingernails

Crime #2

• defense wounds
• evidence of battered spouse

From the lab:
Crime #1

• elephant hair
• 5-strand woven rope
• sweat stains on costume
• teardrop stains on costume
• wool fiber on dolly
• red make-up on box
• trapeze chalk

Crime #2

• blood on pocket knife

Turning point in the investigation:

Familiar locations in NY:

Personnel issues:

Guest stars:

Best episode quotes:

Mac: The stereotype is kids run away to join the circus. Where do kids already in the circus go?
Stella: Apparently the elephant enclosure.

Flack: Both the super and the downstairs neighbor say they haven't seen her in over a week.
Danny: Yeah, well that don't mean anything. I've lived in my apartment over three years now. My neighbors don't recognize me.
Flack: Better hope you don't go missing, pal.

Jason Cartey: I am not a criminal.
Flack: Yes, you are. We're just trying to figure out what kind.

[They lift out what they thought was a trunk from the sand.]
Stella: That's not a trunk. It's a box!
Mac: It's not a box. It's a coffin.

Episode Photos:

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