Christine Rutherford (Janine Theriault) is the main villainess from "Mr. Monk and the Earthquake," the antepenultimate episode of Monk's first season (airdate October 4, 2002). She is the wife of wealthy deacon Henry Rutherford, who was unaware that Christine was twice divorced. In fact, Christine and her second husband were both indicted (but not convicted) of mail fraud five years prior to the episode's events.
Christine was also having an affair with reporter Darryl Walker, who was every bit as greedy as Christine was; he fell in love with her after seeing her husband's bank account ($42.5 million). She had planned on killing her husband, and when an earthquake hit in the beginning of the episode, the evil Christine saw her opportunity. After the quake stopped, the villainess grabbed a marble statue and bludgeoned Henry to death, and later used a crowbar to send a display case falling on top of Henry's body, making it appear that the quake killed him.
Christine's murderous plan hit a snag: Henry was on the phone with Sharona Fleming just minutes before the murder, and audio of Henry's murder was recorded on Sharona's answering machine. Knowing that the recording would be their downfall, Christine sent Darryl to befriend and flirt with Sharona to get to the recording. Darryl killed a gas company technician during his mission, and after Sharona heard the message during her date with Darryl, she ended up held at knifepoint by Darryl and forced to go to her apartment, where they met Christine. Christine held Sharona at gunpoint while Darryl attempted to get the recording, but after being informed that there was no tape due to the machine being digital, Christine handed the gun to Darryl and ordered him to kill Sharona. Sharona used her fractured ceiling to bring dowh the villainous couple, only for Darryl to escape and capture her. At that moment, Stottlemeyer arrived at the apartment and arrested Christine and Darryl.
Trivia[]
- Janine Theriault later played villainess Simone Colgate on Private Eyes.
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