Mary Courtney, PhD, is a woman who was Donald Mallard's former girlfriend and also a murderer.
Biography[]
Pre-Series[]
Little is know about Courtney's earlier life, except by her account, she had a "sweet talker" father. She put her work into outreach programs where she held administrative positions, specifically for military couples with marital problems.
She began dating Ducky, and they made each other happy. However, because of her unnoticed mental problems, Courtney was obsessed with Ducky and wanted to keep him from leaving her. To try and impress him, she arranged killings involving men who partook in her programs, specifically unfaithful husbands, in manners that were unique enough she'd hoped would get Ducky's attention.
NCIS Season 9[]
Jason Simms, a soldier, stumbled out of the woods and died from drowning. Around this time, Dr. Courtney was introduced to the team by Ducky, and everyone who met her adored her and were delighted Ducky was happy with a companion.
Later on in the investigation, military husband Samuel Alcott was found dead and decomposing, tied to a tree. Both men were with the same M.O.: a jug at the scene being used to force-feed them stream water until they drowned.
Ducky discusses the case with Courtney, but when he insults her crimes, her expression turns bitter. She tensely tried to say she was responsible, and when Ducky got confused, she smashed her wine glass on a coffee table.
Cutting her fingertips with tailor shears she was threatening Ducky with, she stated how furious she was from her crimes not being appreciated, with how hard it was to execute them. She then stated it was for Ducky, needing to get his attention with military crimes and saying she wasn't guilty because the men deserved to be murdered with how they followed her out of a bar she seduced them from.
She gets apprehensive when assumes Ducky wants to leave, not believing when he tries to empathize with her. When Ducky insists she didnt have a place to kill them just for their infidelity alone, she started to stammer. Talking her down, Ducky pleaded her to give him the scissors. When the agents barged in and announced themselves, Ducky snatched the scissors and tried to placate Courtney by saying he wasn't upset.
Courtney ran into her powder room, locked the door, and refused to come out. When Ducky wanted Courtney to return, glass shattered from inside and Courtney screamed. When the door was kicked down, Courtney was on the floor, her arm bleeding where she smashed a mirror and used a shard to try and slash her wrist.
Confused and dazed, Courtney was consoled by Ducky on how she just wasn't thinking right. He acknowledged all she wanted was him and held her, while an ambulance was being called by the agents. Ziva David later stated Couetney was to be placed in psychiatric correctional custody.
Personality[]
Courtney seemed perfect for Ducky, loving, affectionate, mild-mannered, empathetic, and brilliant. However, she was unhealthy, fixated on Ducky, and spiteful towards disrespect. She was desperate for a connection in her relationship, either an anger toward unfaithful men she hoped she could channel into receiving Ducky's pity. She'd become more unstable and even harm herself blindly when she lost her hopes and fantasies, and she would need more intensive treatment than just being convinced to stay in the right.
Physical Appearance[]
Courtney is Caucasian, middle-aged, with brunette wavy hair, and a modest eye color. She dresses herself gormally and casually with professional and even so much as adequate clothing even when she's at home.
Victims[]
- Samuel Alcott - (drugged with MDMA, tied up, forced to drink water, resulting in his death).
- Jason Simms - (also drugged with MDMA, tied up, forced to drink water, resulting in his death).
- Donald Mallard - (threatened with scissors).