Detective Karyl Character Analysis in Monster

Detective Karyl investigates the crime scene with his partner Detective Williams and arrests Steve after King claims that Steve shot the handgun that killed Mr. Nesbitt. Although Williams claims they don’t need to bother with Steve, since they already have King and Bobo and Steve doesn’t seem to be a criminal, Karyl automatically assumes that King’s story is true and says that he hopes Steve will get the death penalty, even though he’s only 16. This demonstrates the injustice of many of the justice system’s operators and the manner in which they dehumanize kids like Steve.

Detective Karyl Character Timeline in Monster

The timeline below shows where the character Detective Karyl appears in Monster. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Petrocelli questions Detective Karyl on the stand, who investigated Mr. Nesbitt’s murder. He describes the murder scene as gruesome.... (full context)

In the courtroom, Briggs presses Karyl on why they couldn’t find any fingerprints or actual clues. Karyl insists that they did... (full context)

...all parts of the city, not just the white parts. That evening, Detectives Williams and Karyl arrive and announce that they’re taking Steve to the precinct for questioning. Mrs. Harmon panics... (full context)

...chalk outline around the body and handed it off to the medical examiners. Williams and Karyl eventually got a call from Zinzi in Riker’s Island, which led them to Bobo Evans. (full context)