Veronica Mars/The Lilly Kane Murder

Veronica Mars and Lilly Kane in happier times

Lilly Kane was the eccentric daughter of Jake Kane, the richest man in Neptune. Although Lilly led a life of complete comfort, she always was a bit wilder than her peers. To her parents she was somewhat of an embarrassment, however loveable. When Lilly was murdered it sent shockwaves throughout the town. One of those most directly hit by the tragedy was Lilly's best friend, Veronica Mars and Veronica's father, Keith. After Keith accused Lilly's own father, and town hero, Jake Kane, of being involved in the murder, he was fired from his post as Sheriff. When Abel Koontz confessed to the crime it seemed to complete the Mars family's transition to becoming outcasts. Eventually this led to Lianne Mars leaving the family. Although the case seemed to be closed, Keith never stopped investigating.

The Suspects

Logan Echolls

Logan Echolls is the rich son of the movie star Aaron Echolls. Logan has always gotten whatever he wanted in life, including with women.

Motive

Logan was in deep love with Lilly. They were in an on-and-off relationship. Although he loved her very deeply, he could also be a jerk to her and to her friends. And it was rather obvious that whatever her feelings were for Logan, they weren't nearly as strong as his feelings for her.

Evidence

• Logan's alibi was that he was in Mexico with Beaver and Dick on the day of Lilly's murder. Beaver eventually confesses to Veronica that Logan had gotten angry because he knew that she was seeing someone new. Logan had gotten up early on the day of Lilly's murder and gone back to Neptune to see her. (1x22)
• Logan bought Lilly a shot glass, which she collected, while he was in Mexico. This shot glass was found in her car. (1x22)
• Logan's car crossed the border at 8:57 according to border patrol. This would have given him plenty of time to get back to Neptune and kill Lilly. (1x22)

Why He's Innocent

Logan did not talk to Lilly on the day of her murder. He parked across the street from the carwash and realized that their relationship was over. Logan wrote a letter to Lilly explaining his feelings and left it in her car (1x22). He loved Lilly and never would have hurt her.

Celeste Kane

Celeste Kane is the wife of Neptune millionaire Jake Kane.

Motive

Celeste is embarrassed by her daughter's behavior. Lilly is forced to hide personal items behind air conditioning vents so that her mother does not see them (1x22). Lilly left phone numbers on matchbooks to confuse and upset her mother. If Celeste knew about Lilly's relationship with Aaron Echolls, this would have been something she would want to remain quiet.

Why She's Innocent

Celeste had no intention of harming her daughter. Although she was embarrassed by Lilly's eccentricity, she also deeply loved her for that personality, as shown during Logan's video at the anniversary of Lilly's death. Celeste, with Jake, found Duncan gripping Lilly's body by the pool on the day of her death.

Duncan Kane

Duncan Kane is the son of Jake Kane and sister to Lilly. Duncan has been suffering from depression due to the pills he has been taking and of learning that Veronica Mars might be his sister.

Duncan Kane was the backup killer of Lilly Kane as envisioned by Rob Thomas had the killer being Aaron Echolls been spoiled by the public or the spoiler media.

Motive

Duncan and Lilly had common friends and therefore spent a lot of time together, but were not emotionally close to each other. At times they would fight. Duncan suffered from a type of epilepsy that can cause him to go into violent fits occupanied by periods of blackouts. It is possible that Duncan and Lilly could have been fighting when Duncan suffered one of his fits, and killed Lilly without remembering of the incident.

Abel Koontz

Abel Koontz is a former Kane Software software developer who helped develop the Streaming Video technology that made the company such a success.

Motive

• Abel left Kane Software on bad terms, and held a grudge against Jake Kane after the company made millions based on Abel's work. (1x01)
• Driven by his desire for success, Abel spent many months working long hours on new technology, which led to the breakup of his marriage. (1x17)

Why He's Innocent

• Veronica noticed that the shoes found on Abel's houseboat, which pinned the crime on him, were in crime scene photos of Lilly's room from the day of the murder. (1x06)
• While investigating Duncan's illness, Veronica also uncovered evidence that Abel was dying. She confronts him in prison with this knowledge, saying that he took the wrap for the crime because he had nothing to lose. (1x14)
• Later, Veronica uncovers the real reason Abel took the wrap. She dupes Clarence Wiedman into revealing that Abel has a daughter, Amelia DeLongpre, who is receiving a large payoff from the Kane Estate for Abel taking the blame for Lilly's murder. (1x16, 1x17)
• Eventually, Keith manages to track down Deborah Collins, a hooker who was with Abel at the time of the murder. After much hesitation, she agrees to come forward as an alibi for Abel, and they go to a newspaper about it. (1x21, 1x22)

Eli 'Weevil' Navarro

Weevil is the leader of the Neptune biker gang and friend of Veronica Mars. Although comes off as rough, Weevil actually has a good heart underneath and is a bit of a softy.

Motive

Weevil had a brief affair with Lilly. He grew to love her and wanted them to be together but she did not share the same feelings. Weevil had motive to kill Lilly out of sadness for his unrequited love.

Evidence

• When meeting with the counsellor after Lilly's death, Weevil was so angry that he threw the chair into the wall. (1x12)
• Weevil wrote emails to Lilly professing his love and telling her that he would always be around whereever she went. Lilly had to give these letters to the school to avoid having classes with him. (1x12)
• Lilly told Weevil that she would not go back to Logan, but eventually did. After her and Logan got back together Lilly started acting like she did not even know who Weevil was. This broke his heart. (1x12)
• Weevil broke into Lilly's room to try and retrieve a pen in which he and Lilly exchanged messages. When he gives it to Veronica it is empty, suggesting that he might have been going after the message. (1x19)

Why He's Innocent

Weevil has repeatedly said that he would have never hurt Lilly. Aside from his feelings for Lilly that would have prevented violence, Weevil had an alibi. He was on community service on the day of Lilly's death and could not have murdered her.