Quillsville Cold Case: From Retirement to Homicide Detective and Escape from Erasure: The Story of Albert W

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Quillsville Cold Case: From Retirement to Homicide Detective/Escape from Erasure: The Story of Albert W
Directed by Ava Zinn
Produced by Karly Jameson
Written by Ava Zinn
Based on
Starring see cast
Music by see article
Cinematography TBD
Edited by Aeverine Zinn Digial Media Group
Production
company
Aeverine Zinn Digital Media Group
Distributed by NoSirGifts Home Entertainment (DVD)
CBS Television Distribution (TV)
Release date
[N 1]
Running time
420 minutes[1]
264 minutes (TV)
Country United States
Language English


"Quillsville Cold Case: From Retirement to Homicide Detective" and "Escape from Erasure: The Story of Albert W" is the eight part season premiere episode of the twelfth season of the American animated television series Queen of the Willis as well as the back-door pilot of Quillsville Cold Case. The episode serves as a 2023 American television miniseries originally aired in broadcast syndication in the United States from August 18, 2023, depending on market as Aeverine Zinn Digial Media Group allowed stations to air one, two or three hour episodes for this episode only. In the episode, Ava becomes a homicide detective for the Quillsville Metropolitan Police Department ("QMPD") after retiring from Craven Gifts after 35 years in the previous episode.

Several stories mesh together in this six-part episode as Quillsville Police reopens the 2019 murder of Fox 11 news anchor Zach Mullins. They soon learn that Zach had just finished working on a big story involving an Fox 11's dangerous working conditions shortly before his death. They also uncover the fact the dog bites Mullins suffered in 2007 did not come from Tabby after all, but also bit Gene Cox in 2009, Ken Owen in 2010, Scott Swan in 2019, as well as killing four Port Melissa/Fort Wayne anchormen in 2020 and Chris Moollooly in 2023.

Meanwhile, Ava is skeptical when she hears that Mayor Pence is considering marrying Ava's brother Albert, due to the problems Albert had before with three abusive ex-girlfriends and an abusive ex-wife whom the Quill County coroner now says killed another man, Rick Cereack, in 2002.


The episode was written and directed by series creator Ava Zinn. The episode features the return of Ava's brother, Albert, who was thought to have been dead in the pilot episode as well as Finola's daughters, Wendy and Electa Atkinson; Angie's Stacie Berg; Connie Rose's daughters Kellie and Lisa; Quill County Coroner Anita Mowery; QMPD Lieutenant Courtney Allen; QMPD Detectives Hunter Arnold, Larisa Mack, Jill Turner and Amy Richards; QMPD Officers Jon Chapman and Cristi Lankenpeel; and Judge Samantha Turner.


Plot[edit]

Quillsville Cold Case: From Retirement to Homicide Detective[edit]

"Quillsville Cold Case: From Retirement to Homicide Detective and Escape from Erasure: The Story of Albert W"
Queen of the Willis episode
Episode no. Season 12
Episode 1/2/3/4/5/6
Directed by Ava Zinn
Written by Ava Zinn
Produced by Breeanna Sorensen
Featured music see article
Original air date
Guest actors
Episode chronology
<span />
← Previous
"Retired and Reeled In"
Next →
"Escape From Erasure: The Story of Albert W"

List of Queen of the Willis episodes

Part 1[edit]

The Quillsville Cold Case Squad investigates the 2009 attack of a television news anchor/reporter, Gene Cox, who was thought to have been paralysed after his legs were bitten off by Tabby and Shushu. Ten years after Gene's attack, Zach Mullins is gunned down after a gun is raised and fired.

In present time, Lilly Rush finds she has a new partner: it is none other than Ava Willis, who recently retired from Craven Gifts.


A small time criminal, Ricky Sherman, comes forward with some information on Zach Mullins. That night, Ricky planned on robbing an auto shop he worked at, but saw the owner’s kid, Gabe Clark (was known as Gabbie Clark), washing blood off a car. Ricky mentions that the wife, Lenore Mullins, was convicted and serving a death penalty. With Zinn’s knowledge of cars, they theorize Chris’ car could have been at the scene given the tire tracks. He asks Lilly why she likes “old murders,” and she says that she “doesn’t like assholes getting away with murder.”

They track down Chris and ask him about Ricky, who Gabe said was a thief. They confront him about the blood and the fact he sold his car, a Pontiac Aztek, not long after. Ava gets in his face, and an irritated Gabe walks away. Officers Battishill and Dailey follow up on the woman who bought the car. She tells them the kid didn’t know what it was worth and bought it cheap, not bothering to ask why. When going to visit Lenore, Willis tells Rush he’s not sure if cold cases is her thing, and she jokes she’s not sure if she has a choice. Lenore maintains her innocence and explains that Zach “ran wild,” causing her to be jealous. She suspected there was another woman Zach liked, but she never found out if it was true.

Tabby and Shushu are in terrible pain from arthritis and cannot find comfort anywhere. Meanwhile, Ava tells Angie to drive their youngest daughter Brynn to her basketball match, then come right back to look after Tabby and Shushu. However, Ava's friends Karly, Alisan and Avril are there, and has brought beer, so Angie decides to ignore Ava and stay at the game. While there, another member of the crowd insults Brynn. Enraged, Angie punches this person in the face, only to discover that it is a pregnant transgendered man who looks and sounds like a woman.

Angie is put under house arrest for assault and soon begins to miss her friends. Angie has a vision of the Mississinewa Indiana, a fictional ale mascot, from her beer can label and on his advice opens a bar in her basement so that her friends can come to visit. The basement bar soon becomes a local hotspot. Ava is upset about this, until she, Karly, Avril, and Alisan gets a chance to sing on stage before an appreciative crowd. As she savors the spotlight over the next few days, Angie becomes increasingly uncomfortable with the attention she is getting, especially from the female and transmale patrons.

Part 2[edit]

Captain Hunter and Lietenant Jeffries impound the Aztek for evidence. The team sprays the car and finds blood. Rush and Willis confront Gabe who claims he hit a dog. The night of the murder, he went to see Raiders of the Lost Ark with Chris Light and his girlfriend (Anglea Stroup's daughter) Ainsley. Apparently, she still has the stub. Ainsley, now a surgeon, says kids used to party at the auto shop until Chris privately showed her a gun. Back at the shop, they tell Gabe the blood was Zach’s. Ava also finds the gun hidden away in the corner of the ceiling tiles. Gabe said Chris showed up covered in blood, saying he hit a dog and that the car needs cleaned. He asks Gabe to say they saw Zach and Ainsley together and to borrow his car. Gabe agrees to all of it, thinking they’re friends.

They bring Chris in for questioning and run into DA Pia Yoque, who demands that Gabe Clark is arrested before Lenore Mullins is released. Rush wants to be positive there’s no other angles so another innocent individual isn’t locked away. They speak to Ainsley who said she and Chris dated all four years until they went to separate colleges and drifted apart. On the night of the murder, Ainsley claims she and Chris had sex for the first time with each other. When going over data, Lieutenant Jeffries finds a photo of Zach’s memorial service with Gabe in frame. The investigation is interrupted by an earthquake.


Part 3[edit]

Back at his office, Ainsley confesses to having sex with Zach in his car one day after school. She says she felt guilty after he was murdered, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell Chris what happened. Nick Jeffries and Brad hunter find Kree, Zach’s friend, who says Zach was hung up on Ainsley. She also mentions that Chris found out about the affair and called Zach to tell him off. Rush goes back to Ainsley who admits that she knew and was told it “was a one time thing.” Rush hands over forged love notes detailing their affair. Shortly after, Lilly Rush and Ava Willis see Ainsley leave the house. They stake out Ainsley at a diner and watch her show Chris the supposed love letters, then leaves.

Part 4[edit]

Part 5[edit]

In interrogation, Chris flashes back to confessing his affair to Ainsley who doesn’t want to be with him. He begs for forgiveness, telling her it was meaningless. Chris says that he and Ainsley had true love for each other, but claims she’s the one who shot Zach and hid the gun. In another room, Ainsley claims Chris was the one who shot Zach after he said he would do anything to get Ainsley back. Chris explains that the love he and Ainsley had was rare.

They’re put together and lay out the details of what really happened that night. They convinced themselves that getting rid of Zach would “purify” them again, but instead they parted ways. Ainsley calls Zach one night to meet him in the park. After Zach gets in the car, Chris pops up from the back seat and yells for Chris to kill him. He begins to choke him as Ainsley hit him on the head with Josh Kaufman's trophy from winning The Voice. Zach manages to escape the car, but Chris catches up to him at the island and shoots him as Zach and Ava exit the mansion. Chris and Ainsley are processed as Lenore is released from prison.

Part 6[edit]

Escape from Erasure: The Story of Albert W[edit]

"Quillsville Cold Case: From Retirement to Homicide Detective and Escape from Erasure: The Story of Albert W"
Queen of the Willis episode
Episode no. Season 12
Episode 7/8
Directed by Ava Zinn
Written by Breeanna Sorensen
Produced by Ava Zinn
Featured music see article
Original air date
[N 2]
Guest actors
Episode chronology
<span />
← Previous
"Quillsville Cold Case: From Retirement to Homicide Detective"
Next →
"Heather & Bill"

List of Queen of the Willis episodes


On August 10, 2002 at the Quillsville Pool, an incidnet involving Ava, Albert, and Peggy Willis over steaks caused resentment after Ava came out as a transgender woman in 1996 making Albert the only remaining son of Harry and Peggy. Peggy and Albert had recently come to terms with Ava, respectively as a daughter and sister. Albert walked away from Ava and Peggy as Tina Craven and then-Quillsville Mayor Lee Kelso witnessed the altercation between Ava and Albert.

An extended flashback seen in "Quillsville Cold Case: Albert Willis" and "Quillsville Cold Case: Something About Loose Ava" shows how Albert and Julie met. At first, Julie was a charming person, until, over time, she started to display raging tempers. She took them out on Albert, telling him all about how her father sexually abused her as a child. Despite the violent outbursts, Albert agreed not to leave Julie. Despite being pregnant with Austen in 1990, she continued to punched Albert in the face and stomach. Albert then went to Quillsville to live closer with her then-brother Frank (now sister Ava) and sister-in-law Angie. Julie found Albert and seemingly humbly apologized for her behavior. In 1993She asked to marry her and promised to settle down in Quillsville. Albert was hesitant, but when Julie promised never to hit him again, Albert agreed, much to the chagrin of Ava and Angie. After they got married, Julie gave birth to Austen. One day in 1994, Julie brings Albert some flowers and a Quillsville Central High School prom tickets. The then 17-year old Albert shows up, but Julie arrives an hour late, angering, angering Albert and worrying Nicole Pence.

When Albert confronts Julie about it, she slaps him across the face, which begins a string of abusive episodes. Later, she shows up at Ava and Angie's house, where Albert had been staying, and apologizes to Albert. As confirmed in "Quillsville Cold Case: Battered Husbands", Peggy abused Harry when Albert and Ava were little boys. Meanwhile, Julie takes Albert to a house she bought, and also gives Albert a new puppy she bought for him named Baxter, and they kiss and make up.

After two years of a seemingly happy relationship in 1990, Albert and Julie have a son, whom they name Austen. However, unbeknownst to Albert, Julie had been stealing cars. When Albert goes to look for Julie at a local bowling alley, she abuses him again by yelling at him and grabbing him violently believing that he is seeing someone behind her back (revealed to be Nicole Pence). The next day, Karol, one of Julie's co-workers, informs Albert about Julie's theft and that Julie had also been abusing drugs; but Albert doesn't believe it.

Later that night, Albert takes Julie to a bar, believing that she is just tired from working. While at the bar, Albert sneaks into the women's bathroom, and catches Julie injecting herself with meth. She hits him violently and leaves. Albert is found by Nicole Pence, who takes him to the hospital. At the hospital, Sheriff Bill Walden advises Albert to get a restraining order against Julie, which states that if Julie bothers Albert again, she will be jailed.

The next day with Ava's help, Albert hires an attorney and files for divorce. She obtains a restraining order against Julie, and the attorney gives Albert a tape recorder to record any potentially abusive phone calls from Julie. Later that night, when Julie calls Albert, threatening to kill him if he divorces her, he records the call. In court, Julie lies and says that she never threatened to kill Albert and that she loved him, but Albert's attorney proves her wrong by playing the tape. The judge then grants Albert a restraining order against Julie and orders her to stay away from him or else she will be arrested.

After the divorce in 1996, Albert begins a relationship with Nicole that would last until 2002 and resume in 2024. One night, as they are driving home, they are pulled over by a car that they think is the police, but it is Julie, posing as a police officer and stalking Albert. Julie knocks Nicole with a blunt object and kidnaps Albert. Julie holds Albert hostage until the next day, when he manages to escape from her at a diner and he hurries to a nearby establishment, and calls 9-1-1. The police then catch Julie, who attempts to escape on a bus, and arrest her. Albert is returned home to Ava, Angie, Baxter, Austen, Tom, Deanna, Heather, learning that Nicole survived the shooting.

Albert's escape from Julie is unsuccessful, as she finds the family there and leaves Albert flowers. Sheriff Walden tries to capture Julie at the hotel room, but the capture is also unsuccessful.

In 2000, on Austen's tenth birthday at Harry's house in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Julie calls Albert and tells him to wish her daughter a happy birthday for her. Albert tells Julie to leave him and Austen alone. Albert reports this incident to Sheriff Walden and he decides to put Julie's picture on the TV show America's Most Wanted. People begin to call in about a woman supposedly named Gloria Stamp, who resembles Julie and who is a truck driver. "Stamp" lives in Clearwater, Florida and had kidnapped a man, threatening to kill him if he didn't marry her.


Walden calls the Clearwater Police and asks them to do surveillance of Gloria Stamp's house, where it is revealed that "Gloria Stamp" is in fact Julie Crawford. She had married a man with two children of his own from a previous marriage, and she is pregnant with their first child together.

At the Quillsville Pool in 2002, four people riding on the zip line died at the crash scene: Moica Smith, Elizabeth Erb, Bradley Felver, and a young black-hair man the coroner identified as Albert Willis. A similar looking man who survived but was unable to communicate was identified as Rick Cerack.[2] For 22 years, the Cereack family kept a bedside vigil over the patient they believed to be their son.[2] However, in 2024, the identity of the surviving man began to be questioned. He was found to be Albert Willis, not Rick Cereack.[3]

Some physical similarities existed between the two men but the severity of the injuries, which included severe head trauma and the immediate inability to communicate led local government officials to mis-identify the casualties, the hospital to carry through with the unfortunate action and caused both families to respond in a manner appropriate to the situation of each casualty: Willis was taken care of by the Cereack family in the belief that he was their son. Meanwhile, Albert was interred in a marked grave at a funeral with 1400 people in attendance. Twenty-two years passed before incidents arose that caused suspicion about identity: he made comments about things and people that were inconsistent with facts pertaining to Rick; and a classmate also reported some physical discrepancies. "Rick" confirmed that it was 'Albert Willis' that had survived when asked by hospital staff to write down the patient's name, which was then confirmed by dental records. The tragic mix-up appeared to have been caused by the similarities of appearance of Albert Willis and Rick Cereak, and the confusion at the crime scene.

Production and development[edit]

Cultural references[edit]

Cast[edit]

  • Ava Zinn as Ava Willis, Brittany Willis, Rhonda Willis, Albert Willis, Bianca Willis, Austen Willis, Mandy Willis, Shushu Willis, Tabby Willis, Heather Willis, Kendra Kendall, Anna Pamhouser, Angelika Mullins, Caleb Mullins, Zach Mullins, QMPD Captain Brad Hunter, Dr. Mario Coxson, Helen Turner
  • Karly Jameson as herself, Angie Willis, Brynn Willis, Electa Atkinson, Wendy Atkinson, Kellie Rose, Judge Samantha Turner, QMPD Officer Kymberly Millspaugh
  • Rachael Passalt as Deanna Willis, Gretty, Basketball Parent,
  • Alexandra Moffitt as Suzanne Willis, Phoebe Willis, Alaina Willis, Katherine Willis, Stephanie Rose, Angela Stroup, QMPD Officer Elaine Reed
  • Andrea Coolranch as Hillary Willis,
  • Cathryn Everman as Luanne Willis, Marla Pence, Sarah Donaldson, QMPD Officer Kayla Burnside, Genavive Ferguson
  • Jacqui Fountaine as Emilie Willis, Elisa Llewelyn, QMPD Detective Jill Tucker
  • Kendra Ray as Melissa Rose, QMPD Officer Ramona Battishill,
  • Luka Runecraft as Miles Kendall,
  • Alisan Porter as herself
  • Avril Lavigne as herself
  • Kassie DePaiva as Brandi Souza
  • Eboni Hill as Sharane Hamilton, QMPD Lieutenant Courtney Allen, Makayla Light
  • Donna Doogan as Maribel Sabo, ADA Kristy Ellis, QMPD Officer Amber Connoway, Natalia Lightner
  • Maribel Mort as Addison Koldike, Ainsley Stroup
  • Sophia Blanca as QMPD Commissioner Jane Chelsea Wolf, Trina Waterman
  • Melvin Runecraft as QMPD Lieutenant Nick Jeffries, Joseph Caine, Dennis Duke, Hal Valens
  • Marti McDaniel as DA Pia Yoque, Vanessa at Broken Boilermaker
  • Frank Davidson as QMPD Officer Jarett Dailey, Eric Ferguson,
  • Ann Dwyar as Julian Teekerman, Jordana Wilkerson
  • Kylie Dwyar as Kaity Kendall, ME Anita Mowery
  • Louis Durant as QMPD Officer Jon Chapman, Louie at Burger Chef Red Robyn
  • Bryant Cortos as QMPD Detective Hunter Arnold, Cody Ferguson
  • Lanise McClannahan as QMPD Detective Amy Richards, Stacie Berg, Kree Walters
  • Breeanna Sorensen as Adrienne Fansler, QMPD Detective Larisa Mack, Gabe Clark (2019)
  • Clark Jones as Gabe Clark (2024)
  • Finola Hughes as Finola Willis
  • David Caruso as Harry Willis
  • Eric Halvorson as Superintendent Halvorson
  • Ann Ryder as Principal Ryder
  • Normani as Normani Hamilton
  • Kathryn Morris as QMPD Sergant Lilly Rush
  • Judith Light as Tony Hamilton (thought)
  • Mark Patrick as Reverend Mark
  • Cheryl Parker as herself
  • Bob Donaldson as himself
  • Gene Cox as himself
  • Rafael Sanchez as himself
  • Drew Blair as herself
  • David MacAnnaly as himself
  • Rich Van Wyk as himself
  • Dan Spheeler as himself
  • Fanchon Stinger as herself
  • Ken Owen as himself
  • Tony Danza as Lou O'Brien
  • Ray Cortopassi as himself
  • Laura Donaldson as herself
  • Jessica Hayes as herself
  • Lindy Thackston as herself
  • Diane Willis as herself
  • Zach Myers as himself
  • Brian Wilkes as himself
  • Nicole Pence as Mayor Pence
  • Doug Llewelyn as himself (archive footage)
  • Maury Povich as himself
  • Catt Saddler as herslef
  • Steve Rappaport as himself
  • Chris Mollooly as himself

Uncredited[edit]

  • as Travis Alter
  • as Chris Light
  • as April McCall
  • as Ricky Sherman
  • as Paul Sherman
  • as Luke Harris
  • as Charlotte
  • as Mississinewa Indian
  • as Danny Cox
  • as Elanore Marlin
  • as Danrick Cerack
  • as Anthony Galvan
  • as Katie Hunt
  • as Ellen Eddie
  • as Ellie (Albert's dream)

Music[edit]

All music composed by Mike Post & Christian Gari.
No. TitleArtist Length
1. "I Gotta Feeling"  The Black Eyed Peas 4:50
2. "Going Going Gone"  Maddie Poppe 3:26
3. "Pink Cloud"  Alisan Porter 4:20
4. "Hot N Cold"  Katy Perry 3:40
5. "Girlfriend"  Avril Lavigne 3:36
6. "Dumb Blonde" (Performed by Ava Willis (Ava Zinn), Avril Lavigne (herself), Karly Jameson (herself), and Alisan Porter (herself))Avril Lavigne (featuring Nicki Minaj) 3:34
7. "Walk My Way"  Brynn Cartelli 3:39
8. "Wild One"  Alisan Porter 3:43
9. "If Ever You're In My Arms Again" (Performed by Ava Willis (Ava Zinn) & Karly Jameson (herself))Peabo Bryson 4:27
10. "My Only"  Alisan Porter 4:33
11. "C'mon"  Alisan Porter 2:55
12. "Never Easy"  Alisan Porter 3:31
13. "Birdie"  Avril Lavigne 3:35
14. "Boom Boom Pow"  The Black Eyed Peas 4:12
15. "The Way You Roll"  Alisan Porter 4:25
16. "Invisible Touch" (Used in a flashback with Angie and Stacie)Genesis 3:29
17. "Never Be the Same"  Camila Cabello 3:46
18. "You Say"  Lauren Daigle 4:34
19. "Keep Holding On"  Avril Lavigne 3:59
20. "Tell Me It's Over"  Avril Lavigne 3:08
Total length:
77:22

Notes[edit]

  1. Aeverine Zinn Digital Media Group allowed stations airing Queen of the Willis the option of airing six one-hour episoodes, three two-hour episodes, and two three-hour epiosdes.
    The one hour epiosdes aired from August 18, August 25, Septmber 1, September 8, September 15 and September 22, 2023; two hour episodes aired on September 8, 15 and 22, 2023; three hour episodes aired on September 15 and 22, 2023.
    WEVI (News 4) in Indianapolis and WGOM ("CW 27") in Fort Wayne aired the three hour episodes from 7:00 to 10:00 PM on August 18 and August 25, 2023.
  2. Aeverine Zinn Digital Media Group allowed stations airing Queen of the Willis the option of airing six one-hour episoodes, three two-hour episodes, and two three-hour epiosdes.
    The one hour epiosdes aired from August 18, August 25, Septmber 1, September 8, September 15 and September 22, 2023; two hour episodes aired on September 8, 15 and 22, 2023; three hour episodes aired on September 15 and 22, 2023.
    WEVI (News 4) in Indianapolis and WGOM ("CW 27") in Fort Wayne aired the three hour episodes from 7:00 to 10:00 PM on August 18 and August 25, 2023.

References[edit]

  1. ??
  2. 2.0 2.1 Queen of the Willis takes on Taylor University Crash survivor mistaken for dead victim - and cared for by the wrong family.
  3. 'Mistaken Identity: Two Families One Survivor, Unwavering Hope' Gaylord Herald Times. March 1, 2008.

External links[edit]