Once again proving there is virtually no ripped-from-the-headlines crime they're unwilling to exploit in the name of easily-syndicated primetime procedural drama, the gang over at Law & Order are already planning an episode based on the tragic murder of Adrienne Shelly, the actress who was killed in November by a construction worker who then tried to make the crime look like a suicide by hanging her. A reader sent in this casting notice for the role of "Julio Contreras":

Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, 10:22 AM Pacific
Addendum to 1/8 2:49 PM
LAW & ORDER "Melting Pot" (LA release)
Episodic
UNIVERSAL NETWORKS TELEVISION
NBC EPISODIC
Episode "Melting Pot"
SEASON 17
DRAFT: 1/8/07

Exec. Producers: Dick Wolf, Nicholas Wootton, Matthew Penn, Peter Jankowski
Director: Jean DeSegonzac
Casting Director: Suzanne Ryan
Casting Associate: Claire Traeger
Shooting dates: 1/18 - 1/29/07

SEEKING:
[JULIO CONTRERAS] male, 19-24, Hispanic, illegal immigrant. Speaks English w/accent. He has been working as a day laborer/construction worker in this country for almost two years. He sends money back home to his family in So. America - he is the sole breadwinner for his mother and siblings. He is suspected of murdering Erin Garrett after they argued about his construction
crew turning off the electricity in her building. He admits to the argument and pushing her. She fell, hit her head, and was knocked unconscious. Julio swears he did not hang her. He is brought to trial. LEAD

We don't know if they've gotten around to filling the role of the victim yet, but it shouldn't be too hard for the L&O casting office to find an "Adrienne Shelly type"; according to IMDb, she was on the show back in 2000, so maybe they've still got a headshot on file that they can send out to agencies to help them pull together this sure-to-be-classy hourlong tribute to their onetime dayplayer.

• Adrienne Shelly [Wikipedia]

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