A "Jack the Ripper" type murderer, who justifies his crimes with paranoid religious motivation set on by a rapidly deteriorating medical condition, is on the loose. After a citywide manhunt, Detectives Benson and Stabler are tasked with finding the killer.
Observed by an FBI psychiatrist, the detectives uncover a horrifying motive for the slaying of a software company employee by a fired colleague when they learn of the suspect's bizarre relationship with his overbearing mother and a strange sexual fetish called piquerism.
The remains of a Romanian woman are found three years after her death, buried in an apartment courtyard with a collar and leash. The detectives have a tough time finding the killer until a composite photo leads them to the victim's identical twin sister.
The details of a kidnapping are similar to a series of rapes and murders that may link the crime to a serial killer.
Male escorts are assaulted and one is murdered, and the police have a tough time finding the bizarre couple whose sexual fantasy has turned violent. The investigation uncovers a dangerous male escort service where the boss may have reasons for sending her staff on potentially deadly dates.
The search for an out-of-state police officer's runaway daughter leads the detectives through an underground rave culture that caters to wayward teens. They use an Internet journalist to track her and their search is seen through the eyes of the squad room personnel as told in their interviews with the Internal Affairs division.
The detectives become a little edgy after working around the clock to find an abducted girl when clues point to a serial murderer and rapist who kills his victims on the third day. After trapping the killer, they are prepared to give him the death penalty until they find out that one of his victims was never found and he offers her location as a plea bargain.
The mysterious rape of a veteran police officer, who trained Benson, is first linked to her ex-husband's gambling debts, and then to her fellow officers. It turns into a nightmare investigation as the IAB tries to thwart the SVU squad's efforts.
A former police officer, now a community activist, is a suspect in the murders of known sex offenders, all of whom share a certain characteristic that scars their victims for life. The detectives find it's difficult to protect potential victims when they used to be perps as they investigate the murders of two convicted rapists.
An exceptional teacher, who helped inner city kids get into college, led a dangerous double life as a sex addict. When she is murdered, there is a long list of suspects but the case hits a snag after the woman's illicit sexual history is exposed.
Parental neglect may have led to the tragic death of the son of two famous singers, leading them to fear for his sister. Benson develops a strong attachment to the girl who has a history of serious injuries.
A college co-ed is found raped and dazed after a frat party, but can't remember anything that happened. The detectives then find that she had a date rape drug in her system, leaving them with many suspects and accomplices, tho the victim is reluctant to press charges.
The investigation of a young gymnast's murder involves her strict trainer, a wealthy benefactor and a competitor. Detectives must look into her pressured lifestyle to find out who did it.
The case of a seventeen-year-old rape victim during a gala for the opening of a luxury hotel takes a strange turn when her immediate family tries to keep the scandal quiet. Detectives soon discover that the girl isn't the innocent that she pretends to be. Benson struggles to deal with her mother's death and she learns about her past.
It’s a classic case of “he said, she said” when a cop’s wife charges him with rape. The truth behind the alleged rape comes to light when a history of domestic abuse is uncovered.
The question of patients' rights surfaces when a schizophrenic man refusing to take his medication is suspected in the rape and stabbing death of an aspiring psychologist, whose body is found in a convenience store.
The tragic shooting death of a young girl leads investigators to a little boy, and they soon realize that the gun used has been used in another crime scene and a drug ring using young kids as pawns.
An abused 7-year-old girl lays comatose as the detectives investigate members of her dysfunctional family to determine the source of the abuse, in a case that hits close to home for Munch.
Stabler and Benson investigate a sexual assault very similar to one they worked six months ago whose victim follows her alleged attacked and reports his activities to the police.
The vicious sexual assault and brutal beating of an Afghan diplomat's daughter uncovers clues that may suggest Taliban traditions justify 'honor killings' when the child defies the wishes of their parents or their culture; the trail leads close to home.
Stabler's daughter bears witness to a horrific crime scene: a rocket scientist found dead with his crotch on fire. The scientist had strong ties to government security and detectives must determine if that had something to do with his demise. The internal investigation into the psyches of the SVU detectives yields interesting results.
