History Recap / LawAndOrderS11E1Endurance

A fire breaks out at the home of the Parnell family; Megan Parnell escapes but her severely disabled son Ian is trapped in the blaze and dies. It is soon apparent that the fire wasn't accidental. Mrs. Parnell suggests that Ian, who had a history of starting fires, could have done the same thing again. But her account doesn't make sense; the detectives learn Ian was far more severely disabled than she suggests, and wouldn't be physically capable of burning down the apartment in the way it happened. The evidence shows Mrs. Parnell must have started the fire herself, and she is charged with murder. However her lawyer, Peck, makes things difficult for all involved in the case.

[=McCoy=] and Carmichael welcome the new [=DA=], Nora Lewin. Their investigation shows that Mrs. Parnell was in denial about Ian's condition; she'd always believed he would grow out of his disability, but he was severely deteriorating with no hope of improvement. An effort to put him in private care had already failed and a doctor testifies that Mrs. Parnell said she would rather her son die than be placed in a state institution. Peck changes the defence plea to not guilty by reason of insanity, and the trial is adjourned while both sides gather evidence. Skoda concludes that Mrs. Parnell is not insane, but suffered severe fatigue and anxiety as a result of caring for Ian. On the stand she describes the extent of her difficulties with Ian. He was now a teenager and she could no longer care for him herself, yet couldn't bear to let him go to a state institution.

Under pressure from [=McCoy=], Mrs. Parnell says Ian actually died before the fire when he had a seizure, and she didn't give him his medicine, unable to watch him suffer any longer. Then she started the fire in an effort to kill herself, but couldn't go through with it and leave her surviving child without a mother. She breaks down when [=McCoy=] reveals the autopsy shows Ian died from smoke inhalation and was still alive when the fire began. Against the wishes of Lewin and Carmichael, [=McCoy=] refuses to pursue additional manslaughter charges against Mrs. Parnell. She is found not guilty, and committed to hospital. Carmichael says that Mrs. Parnell deserves to be punished, and Lewin thinks she's already been punished enough; it's a good thing that [=McCoy=] was the one trying the case.

A fire breaks out at the home of the Parnell family; Megan Parnell escapes but her severely disabled son Ian is trapped in the blaze and dies. It is soon apparent that the fire wasn't accidental. Mrs. Parnell suggests that Ian, who had a history of starting fires, could have done the same thing again. But her account doesn't make sense; the detectives learn Ian was far more severely disabled than she suggests, and wouldn't be physically capable of burning down the apartment in the way it happened. The evidence shows Mrs. Parnell must have started the fire herself, and she is charged with murder.

Under pressure from [=McCoy=], Mrs. Parnell admits the truth. Ian actually died before the fire when he had a seizure, and she didn't give him his medicine, unable to watch him suffer any longer. Then she started the fire in an effort to kill herself, but couldn't go through with it and leave her surviving child without a mother. She breaks down when [=McCoy=] reveals the autopsy shows Ian died from smoke inhalation and was still alive when the fire began. Against the wishes of Lewin and Carmichael, [=McCoy=] refuses to pursue additional manslaughter charges against Mrs. Parnell. She is found not guilty, and committed to hospital. Carmichael says that Mrs. Parnell deserves to be punished, and Lewin thinks she's already been punished enough; it's a good thing that [=McCoy=] was the one trying the case.

[=McCoy=] and Carmichael welcome the new [=DA=], Nora Lewin. Their investigation shows that Mrs. Parnell was in denial about Ian's condition; she'd always believed he would grow out of his disability, but he was severely deteriorating with no hope of improvement. She could not afford private care for him, and a doctor testifies that Mrs. Parnell said she would rather her son die than be placed in a state institution. Peck changes the defence plea to not guilty by reason of insanity, and the trial is adjourned while both sides gather evidence. Skoda concludes that Mrs. Parnell is not insane, but suffered severe fatigue and anxiety as a result of caring for Ian. On the stand she describes the extent of her difficulties with Ian. He was now a teenager and she could no longer care for him herself, yet couldn't bear to let him go to a state institution.

[=McCoy=] and Carmichael welcome the new [=DA=], Nora Lewin. Their investigation shows that Mrs. Parnell was in denial about Ian's condition; she'd always believed he would grow out of his disability, but he was severely deteriorating with no hope of improvement. She could not afford private care for him, and a doctor testifies that Mrs. Parnell said she would rather her son die than be placed in a state institution. Peck changes the defence plea to not guilty by reason of insanity, and the trial is adjourned while both sides gather evidence. Skoda concludes that Mrs. Parnell is not insane, but suffered severe fatigue and anxiety as a result of caring for Ian. On the stand she describes the extent of her difficulties with Ian. He was now a teenager and she could no longer care for him himself, yet couldn't bear to let him go to a state institution.

[=McCoy=] and Carmichael welcome the new [=DA=], Nora Lewin. Their investigation shows that Mrs. Parnell was in denial about Ian's condition; she'd always believed he would grow out of his disability, but he was severely deteriorating with no hope of improvement. She could not afford private care for him, and a doctor testifies that Mrs. Parnell said she would rather her son die than be placed in a state institution. Peck changes the defence plea to not guilty by reason of insanity, and the trial is adjourned while both sides gather evidence. Skoda concludes that Mrs. Parnell is not insane, but suffered severe fatigue and anxiety as a result of caring for Ian. On the stand Mrs. Parnell describes the extent of her difficulties with Ian. He was now a teenager and she could no longer care for him himself, yet couldn't bear to let him go to a state institution.

* TheDanza: Megan Parnell is portrayed by Megan Follows.

* MercyKill: Mrs. Parnell's actions amount to this.