In the Heat of the Night

Earl "Holly" Colmer's son is killed in this episode.Colmer is eventually written in as a recurring character.He becomes a city councilman with an adversarial relationship to Harriet and Gillespie.

Jill Jane Clements who had a recurring role as Maude the pawn shop owner plays the bartender in this episode.

Hugh O'Connor was deathly affraid of horses. As a result, he had a difficult time doing his riding scene in this episode.

William J Royce was inspired to write this story based on the Medgar Evers story. This episode was written three years before the case was re-opened and Beckwith was finally tried for this murder, and five years before Rob Reiner's "Ghosts of the Mississippi."

William J Royce also wrote the music and lyrics to the song, "Sweet, Sweet, Blues" performed by Bobby Short in this episode

Although she is not seen in the episode (only her voice is heard during the fake travel agency phone call), Crystal Fox is still credited in the closing credits as Luann.

We learn that Virgil's birthday is May 10th.

Watch when Bubba walks past the truck on the left side. He bumps into the side-view mirror

This episode marked a shift in the relationship between Virgil and Bubba. In many of the earlier episodes the two pretty much had an antagonistic relationship. However, following this episode the two become close friends.

This was Carroll O'Connor's favorite episode of the entire series.

When everyone is congratulating Sweet on his first bust. Watch when Lonnie and Bubba go into the evidence room. No lights are ever seen going on as they are shutting the door.