Bones/The Girl in the Fridge

The Girl in the Fridge
Season 1, Episode 8
Airdate	November 29, 2005
Production Number	1AKY07
Written by	Dana Coen
Directed by	Sanford Bookstaver
Stream
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Bones — Season One

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The Girl in the Fridge is the eighth episode of the first season of Bones.

Starring: Emily Deschanel (Dr. Temperance Brennan), David Boreanaz (FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth), Michaela Conlin (Angela Montenegro), Eric Millegan (Zack Addy), TJ Thyne (Dr. Jack Hodgins), Jonathan Adams (Dr. Daniel Goodman)

Guest Starring: Josh Hopkins (Michael Stires), Matt Ross (Neil Meredith), Alicia Coppola (Joy Deaver), Leonard Roberts (D.A. Andrew Levitt), Rachel Miner (Mary Costello), Ross McCall (Scott Costello), Kate McNeil (Audrey Schilling), Lou Richards (Dr. Barragan)

Co-Starring: Keith Sellon-Wright (Brian Schilling)

Plot Overview

The decomposed remains of a woman is brought in for investigation just as a former professor and colleague, Dr. Michael Stiers, comes to visit Bones. Their relationship was both as teacher/student and romantic so the lab sees a different side of Bones.

The woman in the refrigerator is identified via dental records as 19 year old Maggie Schilling, who was kidnapped nearly a year ago for ransom. Ransom negotiations broke down and the family hasn't heard from her since. The bones show stress fractures on the wrists and wearing on the bones and overall she shows signs of a Hyper-parathyroid Syndrome, which causes weakening of the muscles and bones. Tissue analysis suggests an overdose on Hydromorphone, which is medical heroin.

In speaking with her endocrinologist, he says that they never found a successful medical treatment for her condition but that they should speak with the recently fired office manager who treated her. Mary Costello, who says she was fired primarily because of sexual advances by her boss, tells Booth that Maggie was receiving drugs from someone. However, during the interview, Booth finds that a recently purchased refrigerator is concealing marks on the floor consistent with the old fridge. They arrest the Costellos on this basis and find that they're sadomasochists and that their padded cuffs could be consistent with the stress fractures they found. Mary would also have access to Hydromorphone. The conclusion is that the Costellos bound Maggie for an extended period of time and that her stuggles caused the fractures and long time in the same position caused advanced bone wear which was painful for her condition, and progressively medicating her lead to overdose.

In talks with their lawyer, the Costellos admit to having an open legal sexual relationship with Maggie and it is revealed that they have brought Dr. Stiers on as their professional expert. Stiers, who's been sleeping with Bones, has heard nearly every detail of the case so far and the processes used to arrive at them. The prosecution is worried because Stiers is far more charismatic and relatable than Bones and hires a jury consultant who insists that Bones will be a liability unless she can be more approachable.

During the trial, the factual testimony that Bones gives is quickly lost on the jury and Stier's testimony distorts several facts and makes disparaging remarks about Bones and her credibility. During recess, Booth tells the prosecutor, reluctant to recall Bones, personal details about her. During her second round of testimony the prosecutor begins a line of questioning that draws on why Bones hides behind facts to deal with the unsolved death of her parents. In her angry response to this, Bones unwittingly relates the facts of the case in a very personal way as well as establishing her factual methods of approaching her conclusion. In response, the Costellos attempt to broker a plea bargain but are instead found guilty on all counts.

Bones, who breaks off any relationship with Stiers as he compromised both his professionalism and their friendship, is initially angry at Booth but accepts his friendship over a new crime scene at the top of the Washington Memorial.

Notes

• Don't know what that means: Colleagues 'with benefits' and the clenched fist to clenched fist symbol of success.