Malcolm Carruthers

"I feel sorry for your wife and kids, Phelps, not for you. But you're a good case man, one of the best I ever met. I'll help in any way I can."

―Malcolm "Mal" Carruthers

Coroner Malcolm "Mal" Carruthers, M.D., is a minor but frequently recurring character in L.A. Noire.

Biography[]

Background[]

Sometime around 1924, Carruthers joined the LAPD and started work as a coroner, although exactly when he became lead coroner is unknown. Despite the morgue being in Downtown, Carruthers appears in Vice cases, which take place in Hollywood, and Arson, which take place in Wilshire, meaning he is one of few personnel whose area of operation covers the whole city.

Events of L.A. Noire[]

Carruthers is first seen, alongside Floyd Rose and Rusty Galloway, bagging the body of Scooter Peyton to be taken to the morgue. Carruthers is properly introduced to Detective Cole Phelps during his time in the Traffic department, appearing on the site of several incidents involving car-related deaths and injuries.

As Phelps moved up to Homicide, Carruthers and Phelps worked more closely and frequently as they investigated a series of gruesome and brutal murders. They ultimately deduced that the murders were all linked to one another by a single highly methodical and intelligent killer. Phelps later moved to the Vice squad and investigated several incidents involving the SS Coolridge's stolen surplus of morphine, during which Carruthers provided his knowledge on the bodily effects of the drug and performed autopsies on those who had fallen victim to overdose.

Carruthers also appeared on the site of the Sawyer and Morelli house fires after Phelps' demotion to Arson. He expressed some disdain for Phelps after his extramarital affair with Elsa Lichtmann, but chose to not let it affect their professional relationship in order to continue solving cases. Carruthers inspected the burnt bodies, but largely deferred to the expert on fires, Albert Lynch, for deeper insight.

Carruthers is last seen at Cole's funeral, along with his other colleagues, to pay his respects.

Personality[]

"I've been doing this job for 23 years, son, and no one has laughed at one of my jokes."

―Malcolm Carruthers, tacitly expressing disinterest in fooling around on the job.

Carruthers displays knowledge in a wide range of scientific fields, most prominently human biology and physics, and can deftly analyze almost any crime scene for forensic evidence, making him a proficient, reliable and highly valued member of the force. He generally provides on-scene insight to Phelps; he can give the time and plausible causes of death, and point out other small details which may help with the investigation. Often during cases, he calls for Phelps to visit the morgue to hear more detailed and comprehensive reports based on his autopsy results.

Malcolm and Phelps develop an ongoing working relationship, during which they develop a largely unspoken mutual respect for each other. Despite his lack of sympathy for Cole after his affair is exposed, he remains cooperative and openly regards him as an extremely effective investigator. Cole greatly appreciates this, calling his attitude "firm, but fair."

Although he infrequently displays some dry wit, Carruthers is a largely humorless and no-nonsense type of person. Ray Pinker plays a prank on Carruthers using the aluminum polishing patent experiment, and was present when the joke was later repeated on Phelps; on both occasions, he didn't seem amused. He has a palpably professional and sharp demeanor, and is only ever seen focused on his work, dismissing or expressing outright annoyance toward any distractions; he at one point chastises Cole and Roy for getting into an argument when arriving on a crime scene instead of investigating. Taking what many see as a morbid job very seriously, he is likely motivated not to waste time or make light of the situation, partly out of respect for the victims he looks over, as well as to expedite any investigations that may be time-sensitive. As a result, he is often distant and lacks much of any personal connection with his peers, but is nevertheless held in high regard by most of them, and casually referred to by many as "Mal."

Case Appearances[]

Patrol[]

"Upon Reflection" (Cutscene only)
"Warrants Outstanding" (Only if Wendell Bowers was killed)

Traffic[]

Homicide[]

Vice[]

Arson[]

Trivia[]

While playing "The Streets of L.A." (the "Free-Roam" mode), Mal can always be found at the Central Morgue.
Homicide is the only desk to feature him in all cases.
Mal is one of five characters to appear during every desk, along with Cole Phelps, Courtney Sheldon, Harlan Fontaine and Rusty Galloway.
Like many other characters in L.A. Noire, Carruthers' actor, Andy Umberger, also appeared as doctor Arnold Wayne on the television series Mad Men.
Andy Umberger has also played the doctor character of Ronald Meltzer on TV's Angel, which also features other actors who are portrayed in L.A. Noire.
His badge number is never outright stated, but his badge displays the number 27.
His badge is star-shaped, notably resembling that of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, and features a bear very similar to the one on the California flag.