<P> Tibbs is able to clear Wood by finding the original murder scene, the site where Colbert's factory will be built, and pointing out that Sam would not have been able to drive his police patrol car and the victim's car at the same time . Tibbs also admits that he knew immediately that Wood changed his route not to hide being a murderer, but to hide being a peeping Tom (peeping on Delores Purdy, who herself is an exhibitionist), and declined to publicly reveal this in order to spare Wood embarrassment . </P> <P> Acting on a hunch, Tibbs tracks down the local back - room abortionist, who reveals that someone had paid for Delores to have an abortion . When Delores arrives, Tibbs pursues her outside, where he is confronted by the murderer, Henshaw . Purdy's mob has tracked down Tibbs and is holding him at gunpoint when he proves to Purdy that it was Henshaw, not Wood, who got Delores pregnant . </P> <P> Henshaw shoots Purdy dead before being disarmed by Tibbs . Henshaw is arrested and confesses to the murder of Colbert . He had robbed Colbert to gain money to pay for Delores's abortion but had accidentally killed him in the process . </P> <P> His job done, Tibbs finally boards the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio train out of town, after being bid farewell by a now respectful Gillespie, "Virgil,...you take care,...you hear ." </P>

Who killed mr colbert in the heat of the night