Columbo and Lust

 Lust isn’t always a reason for murder.  In Columbo it is often a subplot.  I enjoy watching the old episodes that were originally aired from 1971-1978 on NBC.  I’m not sure I have a favorite Columbo episode but I believe some episodes are better than others.  I like an episode best when the murderer is hated by Columbo.  

He always has a suspect in mind from the beginning.  And then the episode focuses more on the murderer than it might on Columbo.  But in a few episodes you might think Columbo has lost his sense so to speak.  But more often than not lust becomes a motive.  Lust can be dangerous.  Too often Columbo reflects real life when lust becomes a motive for murder.  

Too often affairs lead to murder.  Okay, maybe not too often but often enough.  Almost daily we’ll read a true account where lust is a motive for murder.  But then in watching Columbo one learns there are many motives for murder, but more often than not it’s money and not always lust.  I’ve watched at least one episode where Columbo is human enough to wish the murderer isn’t caught.

There are reasons why he let the murderer go.  But that is only one episode and the murderer was dying anyway.  I don’t want to give the plot away, but in my thinking murder is never excusable.  I always love to see the gotcha moment when he nails the murderer.  And then the clues all come together.  

But probably lust and money become the two greatest motives for murder.  Sometimes it’s about secrets the perpetrator wants no one to know.  There can be many reasons for murder but too often either lust, money, or both are involved.  The main reason I like Columbo is that he is very unassuming as a detective.  And almost always he’s about to leave and then turns around at the door and says, “…and one more thing…”. 

But in my thinking no one gets away with murder.  I can’t imagine getting away with murder and living a life knowing at any time one will be found out.  But often too murderers are found out while in prison for other crimes.  Murder is a very messy business.  Motives are very messy things for most murderers.  

But fortunately, lust is a motive for a relative very few.  It’s those few that make the headlines.  For most lust is very innocuous.  It’s just one reason out of many.  Any sin can lead to death.  But when death is involved many times it leads to an investigation.  Very few times does it involve murder.  It’s just that I’ve learned a lot by watching Columbo.  Not every person is as they seem.  But fortunately for the world very few commit murder because of sin.

And that is my point this morning.  Respect human life and you’ll keep the Comumbo’s of this world at bay.  Relax, take a deep breath, and in my case just smoke a pipe and you’ll have little to worry about.  My pipe this morning is my Peterson System pipe with some Bayou Night.  My coffee this morning is Stumptown Holler Mountain.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave