NCIS recap: Can Kasie help send a murderer down after 30 years?

Kasie enters DNA evidence that solves a 30-year-old cold case. When the guy gets off on a technicality, can the team help put him away permanently? Here’s what happened in NCIS Season 16, Episode 21.

After a cold open of the 30-year-old cold case, we jump straight to the present day. After Kasie enters DNA evidence that solves the case, she gets her day in court. What could possibly go wrong in NCIS Season 16, Episode 21?

Well, it’s clear that this case isn’t going to happen as easily as anyone ways. The defendant immediately makes it clear that he has rights, wanting a private entrance to the court because of the media coverage. You’ve got to feel for the father of the victim, who is forcibly removed from the courtroom after shouting “murderer” at the defendant.

Not about the actual arrest

The court case is a special one. This isn’t about a murder trial but about getting old DNA entered into a modern day system. It’s not as easy as anyone would expect.

Interestingly, we also don’t get to see the collection of the evidence or the capturing of the suspect. This is about the court case afterward, seeing a different side of NCIS.

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When the defense receives a piece of evidence, all DNA evidence is removed from the trial. Even though Crum admitted to the crime, the only reason he was captured initially was because of DNA evidence so the guy gets a mistrial on a technicality.

It turns out the DNA match only happened because Crum’s DNA was in the system from a previous arrest. However, he was acquitted of that crime and the evidence should never have been in the system.

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Finding a way to prove Crum guilty

It’s a huge disappointment for the team and Gibbs is visibly angry at the whole situation, but he needs to play by the rules. He needs to play by the rules so the next time Crum is pulled in is a success.

Things go from bad to worse when Crum is attacked and killed in his car the night he’s released. The murder is made to look like an oxycodone overdose but Jimmy realizes that probably isn’t what happened. Think it couldn’t get worse than that? Well, it does when the reporters get a shot of the previous victim’s father threatening to kill Crum.

It all becomes a question of morals. Is it right to take justice into your own hands? Even though it doesn’t seem like the father did it, is it that bad a thing that a child killer is dead?

Gibbs goes on a mission to find out who killed Crum, which brings the sister of the previous victim comes into play. After 10 years, she finally spoke to her father on the phone and she’s sure her father didn’t do it.

McGee considers leaving NCIS…or does he?

While the court case takes place, McGee heads to Silicon Valley, looking at the job he’s being headhunted for. It certainly looks like he’s considering the workplace until Vance gets a visit from Officer Clarke. Remember the Cayman account storyline? Well, that’s back.

There’s still no information on the account, except that the Secretary of Defense is connected to it. Because of who it is, NCIS can’t use the usual information to pull information, so they need to go through the backdoor. That’s exactly what McGee is doing since the company that’s headhunting him has access to the information needed.

Unfortunately, McGee finds out the account is now closed and the money has been withdrawn. Before McGee can find out more information, he’s arrested.

The two cases join together

To be able to catch Crum’s killer, they need to get into his emails. They were deleted but are backed up on a server, which happens to be with the Silicon Valley company that is currently holding McGee.

Who could possibly help? How about the judge that presided over the original case.

With the info from the tech company, Bishop finds out that McGee’s privacy fears for “Mary Beth” (pretty much the company’s version of Alexa) catches the bailiff from court snooping around Crum’s house.

The case gets deeper and even more connected. The bailiff was paid $3m that happened to come from that Cayman account. Why would a government agency want a low-life criminal dead?

Leaving us on a cliffhanger, Gibbs and Vance head to Clarke’s house, where Mallory happens to be standing by Clarke’s dead body. It’s far too easy that she had something to do with this right?

Odds and ends:

• Kasie gets nervous about giving testimony and she’d also love to co-host a podcast with The Rock.
• Torres goes to confession before giving testimony in court.
• McGee’s job offer is off the table. Looks like he’s sticking with NCIS.

What did you think of NCIS Season 16, Episode 21? Who wanted Crum dead? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

NCIS Season 16 continues on Tuesdays at 8/7c on CBS.