In Lois Duncan's novel Killing Mr. Griffin, Mark Kinney is responsible for the death of David Ruggles' grandmother.
Mark Kinney's Role in the Tragedy
Mark Kinney is the character who kills David's grandmother. This tragic event occurs as a direct consequence of the students' desperate attempts to cover up their initial, ill-fated prank that led to their teacher's death.
The Prank Gone Terribly Wrong
The central plot of Killing Mr. Griffin revolves around a group of high school students—Mark Kinney, Susan McConnell, Jeff Garrett, Betsy Cline, and David Ruggles—who conspire to kidnap their strict English teacher, Mr. Griffin, as a prank. Their intention is merely to scare him for his overly critical teaching methods. However, the situation quickly spirals out of control, leading to Mr. Griffin's accidental death from a heart attack while being held captive.
The Cover-Up and the Second Murder
Following Mr. Griffin's death, the students panic and decide to conceal his body, attempting to make it appear as though he simply left town. David's grandmother, who lives with him, inadvertently becomes a witness when she discovers Mr. Griffin's distinctive ring, which had been lost at the site where his body was buried. Realizing that her discovery could expose their involvement in Mr. Griffin's disappearance, Mark Kinney, the most manipulative and ruthless member of the group, decides to eliminate her as a potential witness. He goes to David's house and murders her, staging it to look like she died of natural causes, ensuring her silence about what she found.
Key Characters Involved
While multiple students were involved in the original kidnapping, Mark Kinney is singled out for committing the second murder. His actions underscore the escalating severity and moral decay as the group tries to evade responsibility.
| Character | Role in the Murders |
|---|---|
| Mark Kinney | The individual who murders David's grandmother to prevent her from revealing information about Mr. Griffin's death. He is also the primary instigator of the original prank. |
| David Ruggles | A participant in the prank; his grandmother is the victim of Mark's cover-up. |
| Mr. Griffin | The English teacher who dies during the initial kidnapping prank, setting off the chain of events. |
Impact on the Plot
The death of David's grandmother significantly raises the stakes in the novel. It transforms the narrative from a juvenile prank gone awry into a chilling account of murder and its desperate concealment. This event highlights Mark's sociopathic tendencies and illustrates the dire consequences that can result when small transgressions lead to larger, more sinister crimes.
