History Main / DestroyTheEvidence

** In the sequel ''Film/GlassOnion'', [[spoiler:Miles burns the cocktail napkin with Andi's plan on it, thus destroying the only physical evidence that he stole the idea for Alpha from Andi. While this foils Helen's initial plan of revenge, Blanc helps her realize there's another way she can ruin Miles' reputation.]]

* ''Theatre/LovesLaboursLost'': The King and three lords in his attendance take an oath not to woo any women for three years; then [[HilarityEnsues some women show up]]. The King and two of his lords are caught writing love notes by the fourth who berates them; then the love note that ''he'' wrote is brought forth by some rustics, so he tears it up before anyone else can read it.

* As portrayed on ''Series/ForensicFiles'', Air Force sergeant Joseph Snodgrass was being interrogated for his wife's death; he managed to sneak in a pair of pinking shears, and before anyone could stop him, he cut up a floppy disk containing incriminating information. After several agencies told the investigators it would take millions of dollars to repair, one man offered what would be a $100 solution: Scotch tape. ''It worked.''

* ''Literature/XWingSeries'': When Gara Petothel busts [[spoiler:Colonel Repness' blackmail operation, where he bumps up the marks of students who should be failing and then confronts them to demand that they help him steal equipment or he'll expose the tampering]], she decides to spare all the other candidates, and deletes the files implicating them.
--> ''Let them die as they choose. Let them die as pilots.''

* ''[[Literature/StarWarsVictorysPrice Victory's Price]]'': [[spoiler:Colonel Soran Keize of the Imperial Navy's 204th Imperial Fighter Wing gets into Coruscant to destroy [[BigBrotherIsWatching Emperor Palpatine's database of Imperial personnel]] used to [[JustFollowingOrders select personal for Operation Cinder]] so that [[KarmaHoudini former Imperials who didn't join up with the main Imperial Remnant in the Unknown Regions that would later become the First Order can disappear after the war and escape New Republic persecution]].]]

* In the infamous episode "In The Pale Moonlight" of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', Captain Sisko basically confesses to his personal log that he was an accessory to a murderous conspiracy to drag the Romulan Empire into the war against the Dominion that the Federation and Klingon Empire weren't doing too well in. The most self-damning thing to him is that [[ICanLiveWithThat he thinks he can live with it.]] He then tells the computer to delete the entire log entry.

* ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'': Mihoshi's superior destroys her ''incredibly detailed'' report on dealing with Kagato because of the information there, most importantly that not only is the long lost Prince Yosho on Earth, he has a grandson named Tenchi and that a number of other powerful people are on Earth connected in some way to Yosho with a ''lot'' of overlap. He lets the royal family of Jurai know, but there's no way he's letting the rest of the universe know the information.
* ''Manga/DeathNote'': Early in, Light sets up a system that will ensure the Death Note is destroyed in a fire should anyone try to search his room for it. The system never actually gets used, though, because Light judged it more trouble than it was worth and quietly defused it.

** In case 1-5, Lana Skye deliberately distorted evidence relating to the SL-9 incident partially in order to get Joe Darke convicted, but mainly to [[spoiler:prevent her sister from being charged with murder]]. Later, Phoenix doesn't want to present a certain piece of evidence for the same reason - it implicates someone he doesn't want to see get in trouble. [[spoiler:He does present it later when it becomes the key piece of evidence to implicate the guilty party, who is the only one who could have known about its significance and removed it]].

* In ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'', the first culprit ends up with bloody clothes after committing a murder with a knife, and has to dispose of them, so the incinerator seems like the best bet. Unfortunately, the incinerator is locked behind a steel grate. So what does the culprit do? [[spoiler:He pitches a glass crystal ball at the button to activate the incinerator, then balls up his shirt and throws it in, too. Unfortunately for him, the burned sleeve of his shirt falls off, leaving behind enough evidence to prove his guilt.]]

* In ''Fanfic/DirtySympathy'' Apollo disposes his gun and the bullets from [=LeTouse's=] murder into the sewer to hide that [[spoiler: Machi]] killed him because [[spoiler: Apollo used the death to frame Daryan.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnoldTheMovie'' provides the page quote[[spoiler:, mixed with an EngineeredPublicConfession]]. [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Scheck]] reveals to Arnold and Gerald his true motives for destroying their neighborhood. He's been planning to avenge his family who lost a significant event during the Revolutionary War by tearing down Arnold's neighborhood and replacing it with a hulking building carrying the Scheck name. He then burns the document to ensure that his plans will proceed. [[spoiler: However, this later [[DidntThinkThisThrough comes back to bite Scheck]] due to the whole thing being CaughtOnTape [[HoistByHisOwnPetard by his own surveillance cameras]], plus the document being shown as clear as possible before it was burned, and Arnold manages to retrieve the incriminating videotape from the building's security monitor room. Moments after Arnold shows the video to the angry townspeople, Scheck is ultimately [[PutOnAPrisonBus arrested]].]]

** In the sequel ''Film/GlassOnion'', [[spoiler: Miles burns the cocktail napkin with Andi's plan on it, thus destroying the only physical evidence that he stole the idea for Alpha from Andi. While this foils Helen's initial plan of revenge, Blanc helps her realize there's another way she can ruin Miles' reputation.]]

* ''Film/MurderByDecree'': When an inscription ''The Juwes are the ones who will not be blamed for nothing'' turns up on an alley wall near the murders, Sir Warren orders the message destroyed. He claims the message will blame the Jews for the crime and start a race riot in the neighborhood. In truth, [[spoiler: the message is implicating the Freemasons, and Warren is protecting his fellow members.]][[note]]As Holmes later says, the 'Juwes' are Jubela, Jubelo and Jubelum, three villains from Masonic lore[[/note]]

* ''Literature/DeadSilence'' has several {{Mega Corp}}s, Verux has done quite a lot of this to hide their coprorate malfeasance with their Mars colony Ferris. Claire only finds out about the details thanks to working for them. Later on [[spoiler: they try it again by scuttling the space ship Aurora, to hide their use of a sonic weapon that drove everyone aboard insane.]]
* In the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'', Kodiak destroys tapes of [[spoiler: the Don (and probably more of the Alphas) abusing and raping Skybolt and Cavalier, who were MindRaped into being obedient slaves]] because he knows that should the tapes get out, sooner or later the entire school would see them -- and any chance of [[spoiler: Skybolt and Cavalier]] having a normal life once they get released from the psych ward would be ruined.
* ''Literature/XWingSeries'': When Gara Petothel busts [[spoiler: Colonel Repness' blackmail operation, where he bumps up the marks of students who should be failing and then confronts them to demand that they help him steal equipment or he'll expose the tampering]], she decides to spare all the other candidates, and deletes the files implicating them.

* There's an accidental case in ''[[Literature/PhryneFisher Dead Man's Chest]]'' by Kerry Greenwood. At a wake held for a dead woman, Phryne steals a pillowcase dropped by a maid that she finds to be suspicious -- it [[spoiler: has teeth imprints and a stiff patch, indicating that the old woman was murdered by being smothered with the pillow.]] At the end of the novel, Phryne's maid Dot washes the pillowcase and returns it, not realising that it was important.

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Literature/MenAtArms'', Captain Carrot destroys the evidence that [[spoiler: he's the rightful king of Ankh-Morpork,]] because he doesn't think it needs a king anymore.

* In ''Series/VeronicaMars'', Logan comes into possession of [[spoiler: the sex tapes of his girlfriend and his father]], and he destroys them so [[spoiler: they wouldn't be seen in court and ruin Lilly's memory]].
* In one episode of ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', Gibbs [[spoiler: switches tissue samples so that it will appear that a body they're trying to identify was that of a dead Marine- the Marine (who is dead) had had a kidney transplant from a friend, who was still alive. Because you can't be a Marine if at some point in your life you donated an organ]], the Marine, if this became known, would have to quit- which he ''really'' didn't want to do.

* At the end of at least one episode of ''Series/JonathanCreek'', ("[[spoiler: The Scented Room]]" is the one I'm thinking of, although it ''may'' also have happened in "[[spoiler: Devil's Chimney]]") the title character lets the culprit go, on the grounds that they're not really that bad.

* ''VideoGame/HeavyRain'': [[spoiler: Scott Shelby burns the evidence he finds relating to the Origami Killer...because he ''is'' the Origami Killer]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'': [[spoiler: Adachi, who is both the murderer and a detective working on the case, admits to destroying certain bits of evidence.]] And in the EnhancedRemake the player character can choose not to pursue [[spoiler:Adachi, given his Social Link has been maxed out. If the player confronts him after it's too late, he can choose to destroy the remaining evidence and form an alliance with Adachi. Doing so will get you the Accomplice ending, which is right up there with killing Namatame when it comes to Downer Endings.]]

** In case 1-5, Lana Skye deliberately distorted evidence relating to the SL-9 incident partially in order to get Joe Darke convicted, but mainly to [[spoiler: prevent her sister from being charged with murder]]. Later, Phoenix doesn't want to present a certain piece of evidence for the same reason - it implicates someone he doesn't want to see get in trouble. [[spoiler:He does present it later when it becomes the key piece of evidence to implicate the guilty party, who is the only one who could have known about its significance and removed it]].
** [[spoiler: Phoenix Wright]] himself does this in 3-1 by [[spoiler: eating Dahlia's locket.]]
** Special mention to [[spoiler: Detective Badd]] in ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigations'' who destroyed evidence relating to [[spoiler: the Yatagarasu. As head of the investigation he was in a perfect position to make sure no traces were ever found at the crime scene.]] Why? [[spoiler: He ''was'' a member of the Yatagarasu.]]

** When the government starts cracking down on [[SleazyPolitician Huey Long]] and other Commonwealth Party hardliners, Gerald L. K. Smith takes pains to eliminate all proof of financial ties between himself and Long's less than legal acts. [[spoiler: In the rush to do this, however, he fails to properly dispose of evidence connecting himself to a white supremacist terror group.]]

** Candace ends up doing this in the climax of "Phineas' Birthday Clip-O-Rama!", when Phineas' RousingSpeech causes Candace to burst into tears, finding herself unable to bring herself to bust her brother on her birthday, and destroys the DVD with the footage of their adventures with the wrench she found.

* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnoldTheMovie'' provides the page quote[[spoiler:, mixed with an EngineeredPublicConfession]]. [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Scheck]] reveals to Arnold and Gerald his true motives for destroying their neighborhood. He's been planning to avenge his family who lost a significant event during the Revolutionary War by tearing down Arnold's neighborhood and replacing it with a hulking building carrying the Scheck name. He then burns the document to ensure that his plans will proceed. [[spoiler: However, this later [[DidntThinkThisThrough comes back to bite Scheck]] due to the whole thing being CaughtOnTape [[HoistByHisOwnPetard by his own surveillance cameras]], and Arnold manages to retrieve the incriminating videotape from the building's security monitor room. Moments after Arnold shows the video to the angry townspeople, Scheck is ultimately [[PutOnAPrisonBus arrested]].]]

* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnoldTheMovie'' provides the page quote[[spoiler:, mixed with an EngineeredPublicConfession]]. [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Scheck]] reveals to Arnold and Gerald his true motives for destroying their neighborhood. He's been planning to avenge his family who lost a significant event during the Revolutionary War by tearing down Arnold's neighborhood and replacing it with a hulking building carrying the Scheck name. He then burns the document to ensure that his plans will proceed. [[spoiler: However, this later [[DidntThinkThisThrough comes back to bite Scheck]] due to the whole thing being CaughtOnTape [[HoistByHisOwnPetard by his own surveillance cameras]], and Arnold manages to retrieve the incriminating videotape. Moments after Arnold shows the video to the angry townspeople, Scheck is ultimately [[PutOnAPrisonBus arrested]].]]

* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnoldTheMovie'' provides the page quote[[spoiler:, mixed with an EngineeredPublicConfession]]. Scheck reveals to Arnold and Gerald his true motives for destroying their neighborhood. He's been planning to avenge his family by tearing down Arnold's neighborhood and replacing it with a hulking building carrying the Scheck name. He then burns the document to ensure that his plans will proceed. [[spoiler: However, this later [[HoistByHisOwnPetard comes back to bite Scheck when Arnold manages to get a video of him burning the document from the security camera footage]]. Moments after Arnold shows the video to the angry townspeople, Scheck is ultimately [[PutOnAPrisonBus arrested]].]]

[[folder:FanWorks]]

* ''Film/ManInTheAttic'': After learning that the police believe Jack the Ripper is carrying a black bag, Slade burns his black Gladstone bag in his laboratory, where Mrs Harley discovers its remains and becomes suspicious.

* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnoldTheMovie'' provides the page quote, mixed with an EngineeredPublicConfession. Scheck reveals to Arnold and Gerald his true motives for destroying their neighborhood. He's been planning to avenge his family by tearing down Arnold's neighborhood and replacing it with a hulking building carrying the Scheck name. He then burns the document to ensure that his plans will proceed. [[spoiler: However, this later [[HoistByHisOwnPetard comes back to bite Scheck when Arnold manages to get a video of him burning the document from the security camera footage]]. Moments after Arnold shows the video to the angry townspeople, Scheck is ultimately [[PutOnAPrisonBus arrested]].]]

* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnoldTheMovie'' provides the page quote. Scheck reveals to Arnold and Gerald his true motives for destroying their neighborhood. He's been planning to avenge his family by tearing down Arnold's neighborhood and replacing it with a hulking building carrying the Scheck name. He then burns the document to ensure that his plans will proceed. [[spoiler: However, this later [[HoistByHisOwnPetard comes back to bite Scheck when Arnold manages to get a video of him burning the document from the security camera footage]]. Moments after Arnold shows the video to the angry townspeople, Scheck is ultimately [[PutOnAPrisonBus arrested]].]]

* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnoldTheMovie'' provides the page quote. Scheck reveals to Arnold and Gerald his true motives for destroying their neighborhood. He's been planning to avenge his family by tearing down Arnold's neighborhood and replacing it with a hulking building carrying the Scheck name. He then burns the document to ensure that his plans will proceed. [[spoiler: However, this later [[HoistByHisOwnPetard comes back to bite Scheck when Arnold manages to get a video of him burning the document from the security camera footage]]. Moments after Arnold shows the video to the townspeople, Scheck is ultimately [[PutOnAPrisonBus arrested]].]]

* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnoldTheMovie'' provides the page quote. Scheck reveals to Arnold and Gerald his true motives for destroying their neighborhood. He's been planning to avenge his family by tearing down Arnold's neighborhood and replacing it with a hulking building carrying the Scheck name. He then burns the document to ensure that his plans will proceed. [[spoiler: However, this later [[HoistByHisOwnPetard comes back to bite Scheck when Arnold manages to get a video of him burning the document from the security camera footage]]. Moments after Arnold shows it to the townspeople, Scheck is ultimately [[PutOnAPrisonBus arrested]].]]