To determine who murdered Maggie Renttib, we need to look at means, motive and opportunity.
Motive: Each wine trail member had many reasons for disliking Maggie. The common theme among all of them was her knowledge and use of secrets. She reveled in knowing the gossip, and truth never seemed to matter. The Wine Trail outing was supposed to be a fun day out, a social happening, but Maggie couldn’t resist poking at everyone’s sore spot.
Means: The Newspaper revealed that there were a number of attempts on Maggie’s like. Just like Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, everyone wanted to have a turn at attack instead of being a victim. Drugs in her system, choke marks, and the wound on her head all indicate people made various attempts. However, she did die by drowning. So who actually threw her overboard? That brings us to…..
Opportunity:
Everyone did take a turn at checking on Maggie. Although party was in full swing with music playing, each of the wine trail members did want to know what was really happening to Maggie. In a way it was a reverse of Maggie’s behavior.
Why did Maggie feel ill? She remembers her last glass of wine being sparkling. Manfred and Darryl had been pouring all the wine. Darryl slipped a narcotic in her last glass of wine. His hope was that she would consume the wine, fall asleep and he wouldn’t have to put up with her for the rest of the event. When Maggie decided to go outside, he figured she’d doze off somewhere.
While leaning along the railing, Maggie remembers seeing people in hoodies visiting her. Honey and Sherry were first, followed by Manfred. When Honey returned inside, she took off her hoodie. After all, she wouldn’t need it when the music and dancing were going on. Rose borrowed it when she checked on Maggie after Manfred. She poked at Maggie. Blanche went out next, hoping to give Maggie a piece of her mind. Bleary-eyed Maggie couldn’t register on a single word. Regina came out next, followed by the hoodie wearing Della. Realizing Maggie was almost unconscious, she went for the necklace, another trophy for her collection. Dustin was next, armed with an oar. As he went to hit Maggie, something startled him. The light blow wounded her then he dropped the oar overboard. His baseball skills should have given him the ability to finish her off, but being startled ruined his game. Merry, in her hoodie was next. She was Maggie half over the edge. Was she the last person to see Maggie?
Between being drugged by Darryl, almost choked by Della and wounded by Dustin, the only reason Maggie was on her feet was that the railing was holding her up. At that point, one more person wearing a hoodie came out. With the hood up just in case, this person snuck out. Realizing Maggie was unconscious, this person lifted her up and over the railing, letting the water finish his work for him.
You did it Darryl Dunbar and you are under arrest!
