Brenda Thomas Denmark

When a series of increasingly violent rapes occurs in an African-American community, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) are quick to suspect a known sex-offender recently released from prison. But as their leads grow cold, the case becomes personal for Detective Tutuola (Ice-T) when the daughter of friends he grew up with becomes a fatal victim, and her distraught brother Rodney Thompson (guest star Todd Williams) accuses the squad of putting insufficient resources into tracking the killer.

Two young engaged scientists die in a fire and a mentally challenged neighbor Charlie Headlind (Guest Star Christian Anderson) is badly burned trying to save the couple. Detectives Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson) discover that both of the victims were stabbed before they burned in the fire, leading them to a mentally disturbed woman, Wendy Teal (Guest Star Gretchen Hall), Charlie'’s former girl. Also stars S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Waterston, Linus Roache and Alana de la Garza.

A suicide prompts detectives to look at the victim's husband as a possible suspect in a series of racially motivated murders.