In the middle of the night, Sheriff Marcus Hudson receives a call from Deputy Morrow reporting that Ryan Stevens is dead. Hudson wakes Pam Olson and they rush to the hospital, where Morrow stands outside a taped-off room. Inside, Dr. Boyd greets them, and Hudson views Stevens’s body under a blood-soaked sheet, revealing a deep, ear-to-ear gash beneath the chin and eyes fixed open in shock.

Hudson initially considers whether Stevens might have died by suicide, given his recent condition, but begins a methodical check for a weapon or signs suggesting self-harm. With Olson’s help, Hudson examines under the bed, pillow, shoulders, and Steven’s hands, finding no weapon or evidence that Stevens cut his own throat. Dr. Boyd explains that the curved, consistently deep incision would be extremely difficult for a person to execute on themselves due to shock and loss of motor control.

Concluding homicide is likely, Hudson confronts Deputy Morrow for dereliction of duty. Morrow admits he left the post around 1:15 a.m. to use the bathroom and returned around 1:40 a.m., a gap during which the killer could have entered, unplugged monitoring, and killed Stevens. Hudson orders Morrow to canvass the floor, the front desk, and all recent entrants for witnesses.

Hudson asks Dr. Boyd about surveillance. The hospital has cameras in hallways, elevators, floor stations, exits, the front desk, waiting areas, and parking lots. Hudson requests all footage from the evening and has security/IT summoned to pull it.

Olson argues the murder appears personal and professionally executed, not a spontaneous act by an enraged member of the public. Hudson notes the intense public anger at his press conference but acknowledges Olson’s assessment is more dangerous, as it implies a targeted attack by someone willing to risk everything.

They consider possible suspects, including the family of Jackie Clarke, the woman killed by Stevens’s DUI, especially anyone with military or criminal backgrounds given the skill involved. Hudson reflects that Stevens’s history likely created many enemies, and the key question is whose grievance was strongest.