Marian Simpson

Marian Simpson is the main villainess from "Old Habits Die Hard," episode 4.04 of Murder, She Wrote.

She was played by the late Eileen Brennan.

Marian Simpson is the wife of mayor Albert Simpson, but her backstory reveals that she was bounced from foster home to foster home before being raised at the Immaculate Heart nunnery. Marian's marriage to Mayor Simpson gave her the good life she wanted, but when Linda Stone, a woman from her husband's past, came forward regarding his illegitimate child, Marian resorted to murderous means, believing that the scandal was a threat to her status.

Marian learned that Sister Emily had met Linda at the convent, and with the knowledge that she was the only one who knew the truth, Marian snuck into the convent through a secret tunnel and killed Sister Emily. She injected a lethal drug into her victim, and then emptied her pill bottle to make the death look like a suicide.

Marian was revealed as the villainess when she entered through the tunnel once again, dressed as a nun. With syringe in hand, the evil Marian planned to kill her next victim, only to find Jessica Fletcher, who set the trap to catch her. Marian confessed everything, stating she had to kill Sister Emily to protect herself and her husband. She later attempted to kill Jessica, but she was stopped by Bishop Patrick Shea.