100%. Nearly every single suspect gets off scot-free if they whack Columbo. He works alone. He keeps his theories to himself until the end, and even if he tells someone, almost all the cases would require his own testimony given his "gotcha" technique. https://twitter.com/tbayw/status/1306297681350983684?s=20

Short of that, if any of these guys lawyer up, they all likely get off, as Columbo cannot make a case without their cooperation/indulging him. They don't because they're arrogant, but how these dudes never just clam up, tell Columbo to get a warrant, and skate is crazy.

Think of how easy it'd be to bump off Jessica Fletcher, too.

Or don't. I know that may be hard to take. I'm just saying what goes through my mind in every episode of these shows I've ever seen.

Of course, given that the people Jessica busts are actually innocent patsies -- she's clearly a serial killer whose kink is to set up other people for her craven crimes -- makes them ill-equipped to deal with the problem at hand.