In the Heat of the Night

The six wives of an imprisoned polygamist bring him gifts of food, only to become murder suspects when the man dies of poisoning.

Gillespie and Tibbs track the killers of two drug dealers; Althea worries about the dangers Virgil faces and suggests he change careers.

A murderous escaped convict (Will Bledsoe) and his girlfriend take Althea (Anne-Marie Johnson) and a boy hostage.

Virgil narrowly escapes death at the hands of Richie Epson's henchmen, but Gillespie still hasn't garnered enough evidence to prove Epson is a major drug supplier.

As Tibbs and Gillespie fight for control of the department, a murderer re-creating an old voodoo case stalks Gillespie.

A woman (Susan Blakely) who is accused of patricide claims she was a victim of incest. With Carroll O'Connor, Howard Rollins.

A man prohibits his son from contacting the police after the boy witnesses a rape, fearing it will affect his future.

Bubba (Alan Autry) falls in love with a deceitful siren (Barbara Stock). With Carroll O'Connor and Howard Rollins.

Bubba and an insurance investigator (Debra Sandlund) search Los Angeles for a bail jumper from Sparta.

A young blind woman reports hearing what she thinks is a murder, but Gillespie and Tibbs cannot find a body.

Lonnie Jamison and Virgil show a despondent Eugene DeLong, whose father is facing the death penalty for murder, that life continues.

Virgil suspects the promoters of a crooked real estate deal in the murder of his friend, even though their alibi appears to be airtight.

Gillespie (Carroll O'Connor) suspects Sheriff Thompson (Ed Ames), an old friend, may be responsible for a man's death. With Howard Rollins and Geoffrey Thorne.

During Tibbs' old partner's (Michael Warren) visit, two FBI agents and a protected witness are murdered.

A condemned man asks Gillespie (Carroll O'Connor) to visit him the evening before his execution. With Howard Rollins.

While investigating the death of the woman he once loved, Gillespie meets his daughter for the first time.

Bubba (Alan Autry) is accused of the violent rape of a young black woman (Vanessa Bell Calloway). With Carroll O'Connor and Howard Rollins.

Joann (Lois Nettleton) makes a shocking confession to Gillespie (Carroll O'Connor) when her life is endangered by an escaped convict (Kevin Conway).

A friend of Bubba's, fearing the loss of his adopted son, is coerced by the boy's biological father into committing a fatal armed robbery.

Tibbs' niece and Bubba's nephew witness a crime and try to prove a dangerous parolee is not dead, as believed.

Filling in for Gillespie, a retired captain (Joe Don Baker) searches for a drunken driver who killed three teens.

Virgil (Howard Rollins) questions his abilities after he fatally shoots a robbery suspect. With Carroll O'Connor.

Tibbs' father-in-law creates friction; Gillespie placates a city council angry over attacks on senior citizens.

Capt. Dugan (Joe Don Baker) keeps close tabs on Tibbs (Howard Rollins), who is searching for a lethal arsonist.

Gillespie attempts to prove the innocence of a prostitute charged with murdering one of Sparta's wealthiest citizens.

When Chief Gillespie (Carroll O'Connor) is kidnapped, Virgil (Howard Rollins) suspects Capt. Dugan (Joe Don Baker) has inside information.

Gillespie and Tibbs meet legal resistance trying to protect a high-school teacher from a disturbed admirer.

Althea is raped by an acquaintance, and Tibbs is faced with the possibility that they do not have enough evidence to prosecute the man.

Virgil's Aunt Ruda observes the shooting of a black man who was resisting arrest, but her rage clouds her recollection of the incident.

Two feuding sisters become murder suspects when it is discovered that their father died from poisoning, not heart failure.

The murder of a young prostitute leads Gillespie and Tibbs (Carroll O'Connor, Howard Rollins) to different suspects. Guest stars: Eric Pierpoint, Renee Jones.

Tibbs (Howard Rollins) suspects racism played a part in the mysterious death of a progressive minister (J. Don Ferguson). With Carroll O'Connor.

Gillespie (Carroll O'Connor) believes an assault victim (guest star Caryn West) is lying about her attacker. With Howard Rollins.

After a beauty contestant suffers what appears to be an accidental death, Gillespie and Virgil discover otherwise and fight to uncover the perpetrators.

An odd character (Shirley Stoler) becomes a suspect when a skeleton is found on a wealthy eccentric's property. With Howard Rollins and Joe Don Baker.

Despite the evidence, Gillespie and Tibbs do not believe a teenage mother was responsible for the death of her abandoned infant.

While in Los Angeles to testify in an organized-crime case, Bubba tries to protect a boy who is the state's key witness.

An ambitious councilman (O.J. Simpson) won't support black workers who crossed an all-white picket line.

Sweet (Geoffrey Thorne) defies Chief Gillespie (Carroll O'Connor) when he takes a personal interest in saving a 13-year-old crack addict (Dana Barron).

Sparta's first black female cop is killed while on duty, and an angry Chief Gillespie assumes responsibility for tracking down her killer.

Chief Gillespie (Carroll O'Connor) attempts to trap a pair of lovers (Grainger Hines, Clare Wren) who have murdered the woman's husband. Guest star: Tim Griffin.