The plot of this episode bears a striking resemblance to a real-life murder case in Omaha, Nebraska. On March 13, 2008, Omaha Police say Anthony Garcia entered the home of William and Claire Hunter and stabbed two people to death: the couple's 11-year-old son, Thomas, and the family's housekeeper, Shirlee Sherman, 57. Roger Brumback (who was found murdered along with his wife five years later) and William Hunter had been instrumental in firing Garcia from Creighton University's pathology department in 2001. Garcia was tried for the four murders in October of 2016.
This story takes part of its inspiration from the life of Dr. Bruce Ivans the presumed perpetrator behind the 2001 anthrax attacks.
Madison Arnold has played five different roles over the course of the series:
- Episode 19.10 Pledge (2009) - Saul Lasky
- Episode 15.14 Fluency (2005) - Reimer
- Episode 10.11 Collision (2000) - Patrick Clarke
- Episode 9.17 Shield (1999) - Mr. Pelham
- Episode 6.23 Aftershock (1996) - Leonard Jensen
- Episode 1.13 A Death in the Family (1991) - Bridges
David Beach (Bill Hogan) previously played the part of Gemprint Tech in episode 11.9, Hubris (2001).