See Also: 'Jackpot' Episode Guide

A severed head will provide the catalyst for a full criminal investigation in an upcoming fourth-season episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

The episode is reportedly entitled "Jackpot", after the small town of Jackpot, Nevada, where the head is discovered by a dog. When the head is sent to Las Vegas for an autopsy, Gil Grissom spots a cut on the jaw, and becomes convinced this was more than just a dog digging up a corpse: it was murder.

Grissom takes the case and heads out to Jackpot alone, leaving Catherine in the lab to investigate some plant material found in the head. As one does when entering a town for the first time, Grissom pays a visit to the local bar, where every man and his dog seems to have an opinion on what exactly happened to "the head". In the bar, the CSI meets Deputy Sheriff Brooks, who's about as unhelpful as they come, stating that he doesn't have the back-up for a full criminal investigation.

Using botanical information gleaned from Catherine's investigation of the plant material, Grissom is able to pinpoint the area where the head was buried and discovers the rest of the body. He provides Catherine with a full description of the victim, and she discovers a match: Ross Emory, a college student at West Las Vegas University.

Ross's roommate, Eric, says he hasn't seen him in a week, but doesn't seem to think too much of it. Apparently he often went AWOL, sometimes sleeping at friends' places. Catherine looks in Ross's cupboard and finds more of the same plant material on his clothes and shoes: he was a regular visitor to Jackpot.

But things aren't going well for Grissom back in the town. The sheriff isn't co-operating, the car Ross drove to Jackpot has disappeared and, worst of all, Grissom's car has been broken into and his evidence kit stolen...

Please note that the above plot details have not been confirmed by CBS, Alliance Atlantis or Bruckheimer Films, and until such time you should treat this information as you would any other rumour. The above information comes from an early draft of the script and details may change before the episode goes to air.

"Jackpot" will likely air in late 2003.

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