Many changes come to Sparta. Virgil Tibbs has left the Sparta Police Department and he, Althea and their twins have moved to Jackson, MS so Virgil can complete his law school studies. Virgil will return to Sparta later in the season having divorced Althea with her moving back to Pennsylvania with the twins. Bill Gillespie has been voted out as chief and is replaced by FBI Agent Hampton Forbes from Memphis, TN. Forbes inherits the case of a reclusive man who is murdered as he is awaiting trial for manslaughter.
—JC