The Dragnet radio episode “A Rifle for Christmas” is a dramatic story about two young boys, Stanley Johnstone and Stephen Morheim. Stanley, who is nine years old, goes missing, leading to a police investigation. His mother reveals that a .22 caliber rifle that was meant to be Stanley’s Christmas present is also missing.

Later, another boy, Stephen Morheim, is reported missing. The police find blood stains and an empty cartridge in Stanley’s backyard, leading to fears of foul play. Stanley eventually returns home and confesses that he accidentally shot and killed Stephen while they were playing with the rifle. He had hidden Stephen’s body in a cave on a hill.