In the pilot episode of the CBS show Tracker, fans learned that Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) has an older brother named Russell. After receiving a call from Russell, Colter decides to visit their father’s grave, hinting at the complicated history that the family has. It isn’t until Episode 12 that Russell Shaw makes his first appearance, played by Jensen Ackles. It is revealed that Colter thinks that Russell killed their father, though Russell claims he is innocent. He also implies a connection between their father’s prospective killer and their mother.
Here is what you need to know about what happened to Russell and Colter’s father and whether Russell or his and Colter’s mother killed him.
Did Russell Shaw kill his and Colter’s father in Tracker?
While Colter believes that his brother Russell killed their father, Russell claims he didn’t. Russell further suggests the potential presence of a fourth person at the incident site.
In the early part of Episode 12, Russell comes to visit Colter. Seeing a gun in his younger brother’s hand, he asks whether Colter will shoot him or share a few drinks.
As they begin speaking, Russell denies his involvement in the death of their father, Ashton Shaw (Lee Tergesen), who fell off a cliff. When Colter interjects by saying that he saw Russell there that night, Russell reasserts his innocence. He then proceeds to claim that there was a fourth person on that cliff besides the three members of the Shaw family. Russell isn’t entirely sure whether Ashton fell or if this mystery person had something to do with his father’s death.
Russell states, and Colter seems to agree, that their father had enemies. So, it’s possible that Russell is telling the truth, and that this man killed Ashton. For the rest of the episode, Russell doesn’t give Colter any reason to doubt him. Working together, they find a friend of Russell’s and bring him home.
Did Colter’s mother kill his father Ashton Shaw?
Although Russell doesn’t accuse his and Colter’s mother of killing their father, he claims that he had seen her speaking to the mystery man at the cliff. After Ashton’s death, Mary Dove Shaw (Wendy Crewson) told Russell to run away, assuring him that it was the best thing to do for the safety of the family.
We know that the relationship that Colter and Russell had with their father was complicated. Ashton’s relationship with his wife was also equally complex, so it’s possible that she decided to orchestrate her husband’s murder.
Alternatively, it’s possible that Mary knew the enemies Ashton had and made certain decisions after his death to keep her family safe. So, she sent Russell away and let Colter believe that Russell had killed Ashton.
