A realtor and her client go to a warehouse to discuss its sale, and find the corpse of a murdered runaway, Danny Ashburn. His well-to-do mother Allison and stepfather John claim they haven't seen him in months. But Danny's girlfriend Tina says that she and Danny recently contacted Allison upon discovering Tina was pregnant. Tina went to visit the Ashburns to ask for money, and when she got back, she found Danny dead. The murder weapon is found in the Ashburns' home.
Allison confesses to killing Danny. He had a history of violence, including beating Tina; Allison says she believed if she didn't do something, Danny would kill Tina and the baby. A jury will be very sympathetic to Allison, as she is a well-off suburban mom with young children. In fact, Allison is so confident of being acquitted that she refuses a lenient plea. The defence argues that Danny had a genetic propensity to violence because his father is a serial killer. Their case is further boosted when it is discovered that Danny killed a store owner during an armed robbery.
But McCoy pushes Allison to admit that John threatened to leave her and take their other children if she brought Danny back into their lives. She tried to keep John from finding out about the baby, but then Tina told him - so Allison panicked and killed Danny. The jury finds her guilty of murder. Borgia tells McCoy that the cycle of violence may continue, since Tina's doctor has informed her the baby is a boy.
This episode contains examples of:
- Asshole Victim: Danny, to the point where Branch says the jury will be questioning why his mother didn't kill him sooner.
- Bad People Abuse Animals: Allison claims that Danny did this.
- Domestic Abuse: Danny frequently beat Tina.
- Here We Go Again!: Implied by the ending where it is revealed Tina's baby is a boy.
- In the Blood: The defence argues that this was the reason for Danny's violence.
- Offing the Offspring: Allison doing this forms the basis of the plot.
- Serial Killer: Danny's biological father is one.
- Serial Rapist: Danny's biological father is one.
- Stigmatic Pregnancy Euphemism: Tina's mother planned to send her to Miami to hide her pregnancy.
- Taking the Kids: John was so intimidated by Danny that he threatened to leave Allison and take their younger children with him, which is seemingly what really drove her to kill Danny.
- Teen Pregnancy: Tina and Danny had one.
