Did anyone else notice that Detective Colin Zabel in Mare of Easttown happens to have the same last name as Pa. Rep. Mike Zabel, who represents parts of Delaware County and comes from Havertown?

There could be a connection. Or not, writes Maria Panaritis for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Rep. Zabel laughed at the question.

The creator behind Mare of Easttown, Brad Ingelsby, is an Archbishop Carroll grad who knew his way around Delaware County. He could have borrowed the name from the Zabel family.

 “There are two theories,” [Rep.] Zabel says.

 “We are the only Zabels in Delco. Have been the only Zabels in Delco since Brad was there.”

The first theory is that the Mare creators were going through Delco Daily Times articles a few years back and picked out a story about him winning his Upper Darby legislative district.  

Det. Zabel in Mare is known as the guy who solved that murder in Upper Darby.

The second theory holds that Zabel’s brother, two years younger, played basketball with Ingelsby growing up.  Ingelsby was simply pulling names from his childhood.

HBO said the name was chosen at random.

Read more in The Philadelphia Inquirer about Pa. Rep. Mike Zabel and his Mare of Easttown namesake.

For your viewing pleasure, here are all the scenes with Detective Colin Zabel in 3 episodes of Mare of Easttown.

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