CSI Writer Elizabeth Devine Wrote Her First Episode Under A Pen Name To Avoid Interfering With A Real-Life Case – Looper

Elizabeth Devine initially joined the “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” production as a consultant after working as a criminalist for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (via Los Angeles Times). It seems the incredibly disturbing “Blood Drops” episode of “CSI” was loosely based on one of her cases. That episode finds the CSI crew investigating multiple homicides involving the killing of an entire family, save for the two daughters Tina (Allison Lange) and Brenda Collins (Dakota Fanning). As the case unfolds, Dr. Gil Grissom (William Peters) and his CSI pals eventually uncover the unsettling truths that led to the murders.

While Devine didn’t divulge the details of the case “Blood Drops” was based on, she told CSI Files in a 2011 interview she still had good reason to keep her name out of the credits when it went to air. “My first writing credit on ‘CSI’ was listed as Tish McCarthy,” Devine said, adding “primarily because the episode was based on an actual case of mine that had just happened and hadn’t been to court yet.” Devine apparently insisted on using the pen name to ensure her affiliation with the episode in no way affected the outcome of the case, telling CSI Files, “I didn’t want to interfere with any aspect of putting away a murderer of a whole family by having my name pop up in a crime scene that might seem familiar.”

As for that pen name, Devine claimed Tish McCarthy is a combination of her childhood nickname and her original surname. But any detective worth a salt probably could’ve figured that out.