Chapter summaries The Girl from Devil's Lake J. A. Jance

Chapter 40: Stephen Roper’s Escape and the Disposal of Marliss Shackleford

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

In Naco, Arizona, on December 8, 2023, Stephen Roper ambushes Marliss Shackleford from behind, using a chloroform-soaked dish towel to subdue her. He zip-ties her limbs and gags her. Though the voices in his head urge him to strangle her, he chooses a quicker disposal. Unable to carry her body due to his gimpy arm, he drags her into the bathroom and shoves her headfirst through the trapdoor into the crawl space, hoping a seven-foot fall will kill her as it killed Grandma Lucille. He takes her car keys, packs his suitcase with money and a cigar box from the safe, and discards his cancer survivor shirts and hats. He stuffs her purse and laptop into a duffel bag. After locking the front door and throwing away the key, he drives off in Marliss's RAV4 without looking back.

Key Events

  1. Ambush and Capture – Stephen sneaks up on Marliss in the kitchen and chloroforms her.
  2. Restraint and Gagging – He zip-ties her arms and legs and gags her mouth.
  3. Decision to Dispose – Stephen chooses not to kill her instantly; he drags her to the bathroom.
  4. Drop into Crawl Space – He shoves her headfirst through the trapdoor, believing the fall will be fatal.
  5. Theft of Car Keys – Stephen finds Marliss’s key fob and decides to use her RAV4 instead of his own vehicle.
  6. Packing and Discarding – He packs his suitcase with money, a cigar box, and casual clothing; leaves behind pink cancer survivor shirts and golf hats.
  7. Gathering Marliss’s Belongings – He takes her purse and laptop, stuffing them into a duffel bag.
  8. Departure – Stephen locks the house, throws the key into a prickly pear thicket, and drives away in Marliss’s car without remorse.

Character Development

  • Stephen Roper – This chapter reveals Stephen’s cold, calculating nature. His physical limitations (gimpy arm and shoulder) force him to improvise a disposal method. He shows no emotional attachment to his home of fifty years; he discards personal items that might identify him (cancer survivor shirts, golf hats) and plans to shave his head. The “voices” still influence him, but he suppresses them to focus on escape. His decision to steal Marliss’s car demonstrates strategic thinking, anticipating police will look for his own vehicle.
  • Marliss Shackleford – Though she is a victim in this chapter, her off-screen presence is felt through her belongings. She is a journalist or writer (laptop, purse) who came to visit Stephen, likely unaware of his dangerous nature. Her car becomes a key asset for Stephen’s flight.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Flight and Erasure – Stephen systematically erases his identity: discarding hats, shirts, and even shaving his hair. The theft of Marliss’s car is a literal vehicle for his escape, while the thrown key symbolizes his permanent departure.
  • Physical Limitations vs. Deadly Intent – Stephen’s gimpy arm forces him to choose a drop over strangulation. The crawl space becomes a makeshift grave, echoing the earlier death of Grandma Lucille. The chapter emphasizes that even a disabled man can commit murder when driven by paranoia and voices.
  • The Voices as Inner Compulsion – The “voices” motivate Stephen but he learns to ignore their more impulsive commands (strangling) in favor of a pragmatic approach. This internal conflict hints at his deteriorating mental state.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 40 is a turning point where Stephen transitions from a hidden predator to a fugitive. He leaves behind his home of fifty years and commits to a new, anonymous identity. The disposal of Marliss creates a mystery that Sheriff Brady’s team will have to solve. By stealing Marliss’s RAV4 and destroying evidence, Stephen buys time. The chapter also deepens the parallel between Marliss’s fate and that of Grandma Lucille, reinforcing the motif of concealed violence in domestic spaces.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Stephen decide not to strangle Marliss, despite the voices urging him to?
He lacks time; the voices want an immediate kill, but Stephen realizes he needs a cleaner, faster method. Also, his gimpy arm would make carrying her body difficult, so he opts for the drop into the crawl space.

2. What specific steps does Stephen take to avoid detection after the murder?
He takes Marliss’s car to avoid police searching for his Mercedes. He packs only essential items (money, cigar box, casual clothes) and discards identifiable clothing. He locks the house and throws away the key to delay discovery. He plans to shave his head to change his appearance.

3. How does the crawl space reference back to an earlier event in the story?
Stephen recalls that a half-distance fall (about 3.5 feet) was enough to kill Grandma Lucille. He reasons that twice that height (seven feet) will certainly kill Marliss, showing his methodical, unemotional approach to murder.

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