History Recap / LawAndOrderS15E8CryWolf

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Ruffino Sr. loves both his wife (based on his statement, which there is no reason to doubt after the TwistEnding) and his son.

* {{Matricide}}: Ruffino Jr. killed his father's wife, who's presumably his mother.

* ADeadlyAffair: The reason for Tina's death, although it's Ruffino Jr. who killed her for cheating on his father.

* FatBastard: The thugs Frank Turno and Angelo Simonetti who attacked Christoff were big, old, and fat.

* InnocentBystander: [=McCoy=] lampshades that Angelo Simonetti (the cousin not the thug) Tina Reese were "collateral damage".

* CryingWolf: The theme of the episode is how people, including Detectives Green and Fontana, are skeptical of Christoff being a victim of an attempted hit when he's staged various muggings for attention. However, the is later Christoff ''was'' telling the truth when one of the shooters is murdered for failing to kill Christoff.

* InnocentBystander: McCoy lampshades that Angelo Simonetti (the cousin not the thug) Tina Reese were "collateral damage".

* MurderByMistake: The Angelo Simonetti who was killed is the cousin of the Angelo Simonetti who shot Christoff. Since they share the same name, the wrong guy was killed.

* OnlyOneName: Christoff is only ever known by the one name.

* MurderByMistake: The Angelo Simonetti who was killed is actually the cousin of the Angelo Simonetti who shot Christoff. Since they share the same name, the wrong guy was killed.

Controversial radio host Christoff is shot and wounded. He is the former leader of a vigilante gang and has a history of being targeted in "muggings" that were apparently staged for publicity. Van Buren insists that Green and Fontana treat the case as a genuine attempted murder unless the evidence proves otherwise. Christoff insists the Mafia boss Michael Ruffino, who he's attacked on his show, put out a hit on him. Ruffino denies it, but then his associates Frank Torno and Angelo Simonetti are killed. The detectives believe the two were murdered over the unsuccessful hit.

Controversial radio host Christoff is shot and wounded. He is the former leader of a vigilante gang and has a history of being targeted in "muggings" that were apparently staged for publicity. Van Buren insists that Green and Fontana treat the case as a genuine attempted murder unless the evidence proves otherwise. Christoff insists the Mafia boss Michael Ruffino, who he's attacked on his show, put out a hit on him. Ruffino denies it, but then his associates Frank Torno and Angelo Simonetti are killed. The detectives believe the two were murdered for screwing up the hit.

But it turns out that the wrong Angelo Simonetti was killed - the deceased is his cousin of the same name. The real Simonetti has since disappeared. Meanwhile Green and Fontana discover that Christoff's in a long-term affair with Ruffino's girlfriend Tina Reese. They connect actor Jarret Whitestone, who appeared on Christoff's show the day of the shooting, with the Ruffino Family. Whitestone confesses to luring Christoff and says that the Ruffino Family forced him to do it because he owes them money. Michael Ruffino is charged with conspiracy to murder. Before the trial, Tina dies in an apparent suicide but the autopsy proves she was murdered.

But it turns out that the wrong Angelo Simonetti was killed - the deceased is his cousin of the same name. The real Simonetti has since disappeared. Meanwhile Green and Fontana discover that Christoff's in a long-term affair with Ruffino's girlfriend Tina Reese. They connect Jarret Whitestone, who appeared on Christoff's show the day of the shooting, with the Ruffino Family. Whitestone confesses to luring Christoff and says that the Ruffino Family forced him to do it because he owes them money. Michael Ruffino is charged with conspiracy to murder. Before the trial, Tina dies in an apparent suicide but the autopsy proves she was murdered.

* SmugSnake: Christoff is incredibly smug about the way he treats other people through his radio show.

The detectives find Simonetti, and he takes a plea in exchange for probation and witness protection. But it will be hard to convict Ruffino because he gave orders through a chain of command. Furthermore Christoff now denies Simonetti and Torno shot him. Christoff's show has now been picked up by a national radio station, and the prosecutors suspect the Ruffino Family made an agreement with him. Branch decides there's no choice but to offer Whitestone immunity to testify.

Whitestone is prepared to testify that Ruffino personally confessed to killing Tina. Ruffino insists he wouldn't hurt her, and ordered the hit because Christoff was slandering him on air - not because of the affair. He accepts an "Alfred plea" i.e. a plea bargain without admitting guilt. Subsequently, [=McCoy=] and Southerlyn find evidence that Tina's real killer is Ruffino's son who co-runs the Ruffino Family with him. They realize that Ruffino knew about it but loves his son enough to cover for him.