▁eng agement ▁to ▁Steve , ▁which ▁her ▁father ▁appro ves ▁of ; ▁Victor ▁is , ▁however , ▁unh appy ▁when ▁he ▁disco vers ▁his ▁contin ually ▁fra il ▁daughter ▁Mer ed ith ▁is ▁seeking ▁to ▁conce ive ▁a ▁child ▁with ▁Larry . ▁Mer rie ▁is ▁pres cribed ▁bed rest ▁and ▁later ▁gives ▁birth ▁to ▁Victor ' s ▁first ▁on screen ▁grand children , ▁tw ins ▁( one ▁which ▁dies ▁a ▁child b irth ▁and ▁the ▁other , ▁a ▁grand son ▁named ▁Daniel ). ▁In ▁the ▁summer ▁of ▁ 1 9 7 3 , ▁in ▁the ▁midst ▁of ▁Victor ' s ▁search ▁for ▁his ▁son , ▁Mer ed ith ▁is ▁held ▁host age ▁in ▁the ▁L lan f air ▁carriage ▁house ▁with ▁brother - in - law ▁Vin ny ▁when ▁burg l ars ▁try ▁to ▁ste al ▁Victor ' s ▁pri zed ▁art ▁collection . ▁A ▁dist ress ed ▁Victor ▁ple ads ▁with ▁the ▁ro bb ers ▁to ▁release ▁Mer ed ith ▁during ▁host age ▁negoti ations ▁with ▁L lan view ▁Police ▁Department ▁L t . ▁Ed ▁Hall ▁( Al ▁Fre eman , ▁Jr .). ▁Mer ed ith ▁is ▁v ici ously ▁assault ed ▁by ▁the ▁th ieves , ▁who ▁are ▁killed ▁by ▁the ▁police , ▁and ▁later ▁dies ▁at ▁L lan view ▁Hospital . ▁Victor ▁is ▁dev ast ated ▁by ▁her ▁death , ▁and ▁he ▁( G ra ves ) ▁leaves ▁L lan view ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 4 ▁in ▁search ▁for ▁his ▁he ir - pres um pt ive ▁son .