Laura Callan

Laura Callen is the main villainess from "Dead Eye," episode 9.13 of Murder, She Wrote.

She was played by Linda Purl.

Laura Callen is a District Attorney and the daughter of private investigator Bernie Callan, who was killed on November 24, 1963--two days after the JFK assassination--when Laura was only seven. Bernie was murdered by Frank Hemet, who was in league with mobster Santo Angelini, and it was done due to Bernie having photographs and negatives that could link Angelini to Lee Harvey Oswald. Laura learned that her father's body had just been found, and she set to find out who killed Bernie. When she learned that Hemet committed the murder, Laura planned to kill him, as she figured that Hemet wouldn't be brought to trial due to developing an affluent life and being well loved.

Laura arranged a meeting with Hemet and informed him that she had the negatives and they could sell them, while convincing Hemet of her hatred of her father. The deal was made in Hemet's car, and at that moment, the evil Laura shot and killed Hemet; a direct single shot in his heart. As Jessica Fletcher pinpointed after she saved herself and Laura from Angelini, gun residue on Laura's blazer revealed her as Hemet's killer. Laura confessed to the murder, stating that Hemet deserved to be killed, and she was later arrested.