Summary

• Real-life LAPD detective Mitzi Roberts inspired the character of Renee Ballard in the new Bosch spinoff series.
• Roberts, a dedicated homicide detective, consulted on Bosch and has had a cameo appearance in the show.
• Understanding the connection between Roberts and Ballard adds to the enjoyment of the new spinoff series and its anticipated plots.

The titular character on the not-yet-named Renee Ballard spinoff of Bosch: Legacy is inspired by a real person. The Ballard spinoff will be the third show in the Bosch franchise, which began as adaptations of the books by Michael Connelly. In the original Bosch, the title character was an LAPD detective, while in the revival series, he is retired while his daughter is a cop. Bosch: Legacy has been renewed for season 3 and will run concurrently with the new Ballard series, rather than the new spinoff being intended as a continuation of its parent show.

Bosch: Legacy explained who Renee Ballard was in a season 3 crossover episode prior to the character getting her own series, which will star Maggie Q. Ballard appears in six of Connelly's Harry Bosch novels, including Waiting, which has not been published yet. In the novels, she has a tragic background that has triggered her dedication to solving cold cases long after everyone else has given up. The character of Renee Ballard is fictional, but Connelly was inspired by an actual LAPD detective when he created her.

Bosch's Renée Ballard Is Based On The Real-Life Cop Mitzi Roberts

Roberts Retired In 2024 After 29 Years of Service

Mitzi Roberts was well known in the LAPD as a dedicated homicide detective who specialized in cold cases and was particularly interested in serial killers. Before becoming a cop, Roberts was a true crime fanatic who used to speak with police officers about their cases while waiting on them in a Los Angeles diner, prompting them to suggest she change careers (via The Los Angeles Times). She worked her way up the ranks to become a homicide detective, despite the misogyny she experienced. This is a compelling story in its own right, so it is unsurprising that Michael Connelly decided to base a character on her.

Ballard's description in the novels resembles Roberts and they also share a quick wit and a love of surfing.

Roberts' career contains many colorful stories that could easily become plots in the new series. Two of her most famous cases include a 2018 serial killer who claimed the lives of over 90 victims before Roberts caught up with him and a 2014 case in which she caught a man, Samuel Little, who had strangled three women in the 1980s. Although she was not able to prove it, Roberts believed Little was involved in other unsolved killings from the time period, making this story a potentially interesting one to adapt for the new Renee Ballard series.

Mitzi Roberts Has Appeared In Bosch As A Cameo

She Consulted With Bosch In "Blue Religion"

Mitzi Roberts is not only aware of the connection to Michael Connelly's books, but has also appeared as herself in an episode of the show. In "Blue Religion," Bosch meets Roberts at the home of a victim, where she informs him that evidence collection is almost complete. It isn't necessarily important to watch this episode of Bosch before the new series begins, but doing so would provide a basis for comparison between the real-life Roberts and the fictional Renee Ballard.

Understanding the connection between Ballard and real-life homicide detective Mitzi Roberts helps add to the enjoyment of her first appearance and the anticipation of Ballard's not-yet-titled spinoff.

Renee Ballard is an interesting character who is likely to become a protagonist in the Bosch series of books eventually and is already becoming one on TV, with an untitled spinoff coming soon. Bosch: Legacy has introduced her. Understanding the connection between Ballard and real-life homicide detective Mitzi Roberts helps add to the enjoyment of her first appearance and the anticipation of Ballard's not-yet-titled spinoff.