Horatio Caine (
David Caruso), a former homicide detective, heads a group of investigators who work crimes amid the steamy, tropical surroundings and cultural crossroads of Miami. His team includes Calleigh Duquesne (
Emily Procter), a bilingual Southern beauty with a specialty in ballistics; Lieutenant Megan Donner (
Kim Delaney), Detective Eric Delko (
Adam Rodriguez), an underwater recovery expert; Walter Simmons (
Omar Benson Miller), a detective who forces the "CSIs to do more science and research instead of relying on databases", Los Angeles Police transfer Jesse Cardoza (
Eddie Cibrian), former FBI agent Natalia Boa Vista (
Eva LaRue), and Ryan Wolfe (
Jonathan Togo), a master of genetics recruited following the death of Detective Timothy Speedle (
Rory Cochrane). The team are assisted by Coroner Alexx Woods (
Khandi Alexander), who began her career as a medical Examiner in New York, and her replacement Tara Price (
Megalyn Echikunwoke) Miami Dade Police Sergeant Frank Tripp (
Rex Linn), and Horatio's sister-in-law, Detective Yelina Salas (
Sofia Milos) both of whom act as the team's legal muscle. During their investigations, the team cooperate with both allies and nemeses, including Internal Affairs Lieutenant Rick Stetler (
David Lee Smith), States Attorney Rebecca Nevins (
Christina Chang), Medical Examiner Tom Loman (
Christian Clemenson), and newly minted detective Sam Owens (
Taylor Cole). Together, these investigators collect and analyze the evidence to solve the crimes and to vindicate those who often cannot speak for themselves - the victims.