Sasha Alexander's character, Kate, was killed off early in the history of NCIS in order to lighten her workload. The decision to kill off Kate was made by co-creator Donald P. Bellisario, who wanted to create a shocking moment for viewers. This event set a precedent for characters leaving the show unexpectedly, as it was unexpected and there were no indications of danger for Kate's character. Sasha Alexander went on to star in Rizzoli & Isles, while NCIS continued to raise the stakes for its remaining characters.