Burglar (1987) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Bernice became the prime suspect because she was the one who broke into Christopher's home. Dr. Sheldrake and her lawyer Carson Verrill deliberately framed her for the murder to cover up their own involvement. Since Bernice was caught at the scene during the burglary, she had no alibi and was the easiest person to pin the crime on.

• framed
• murder suspect
• police investigation
• burglary

Carson Verrill, Dr. Sheldrake's lawyer, killed Christopher. Carson's motive was jealousy and betrayal, he was in love with Christopher, but Christopher had been involved with Dr. Sheldrake as well. When Christopher rejected Carson, the rejection led to a violent confrontation that ended in murder.

• carson verrill
• killer
• motive
• jealousy
• love triangle

Carson Verrill killed both the artist and the bartender to silence them as potential witnesses. Since both had known Christopher socially, they could have provided information that led to uncovering Carson's involvement. By eliminating them, Carson hoped to prevent anyone from connecting him to the murder.

• witnesses killed
• artist
• bartender
• silencing witnesses

Bernice connected Carson to the murder through two key clues. First, when watching a Tonight Show episode at Sheldrake's home, she noticed Johnny Carson hosting, which reminded her of the mysterious suspect nicknamed 'Heeeeeeere's Johnny!' that an old flame had mentioned. Second, she realized Carson had a personal connection to Christopher through his work as Sheldrake's lawyer, giving him access and motive.

Foreshadowing: The mention of 'Heeeeeeere's Johnny!' as a suspect earlier in the investigation foreshadows the Tonight Show clue.

• tonight show
• clue
• johnny carson
• investigation breakthrough

Dr. Sheldrake hired Bernice to steal her jewelry from Christopher's home, ostensibly to settle old scores over their divorce. However, the real reason was more complex, Sheldrake had slept with Christopher the night he was murdered and wanted to distance herself from the crime while also keeping her involvement hidden. Using a professional burglar gave her plausible deniability.

• cynthia sheldrake
• hired burglar
• jewelry
• divorce

Carson Verrill was Dr. Sheldrake's lawyer, which gave him legal access to Christopher through the divorce proceedings. Beyond that professional connection, Carson was secretly in a romantic relationship with Christopher. This hidden relationship is what ultimately motivated Carson to kill Christopher when he learned Christopher was also involved with Sheldrake.

• carson verrill
• lawyer
• romantic relationship
• motive

Ray Kirschman used his position as a police officer to blackmail Bernice into returning to burglary. He threatened to expose her criminal past unless she performed jobs for him. This coercion forced Bernice back into a life she had tried to leave, ultimately leading her directly into the murder case she got framed in.

• corrupt cop
• blackmail
• coercion
• ray kirschman

Bernice became the main suspect because she was literally caught at the scene of the crime during the burglary. When Christopher's body was discovered, Bernice was the only person present who had a clear reason to be there, she was in the middle of committing a break-in. This made her the obvious target for police suspicion, especially since the real killers deliberately pointed evidence toward her.

• suspect
• police
• crime scene
• evidence

Bernice cleared her name by gathering evidence against the real killer rather than running from the police. She used the stolen jewelry as bait to lure Carson Verrill into a meeting in the park, then worked with Carl and Ray Kirschman to capture him. During the confrontation, Carson's emotional reaction and the evidence they gathered exposed his involvement in Christopher's murder, proving Bernice's innocence.

• cleared name
• exoneration
• confession
• evidence

Bernice used the jewelry because it was the exact item she had been hired to steal, and she knew Carson would be interested in recovering it. By calling Carson to meet her in the park with the jewelry, she created a situation where his emotional attachment to both the jewelry and Christopher would cause him to reveal his involvement. The jewelry represented the connection between all the key players in the case.

• jewelry
• bait
• trap
• lure plan