An elderly woman is found tied up and sexually assaulted in her apartment, and suspicion is initially on the young men that had broken into her home and robbed her, but once the detectives are surprised to learn that the rape was committed after the robbery – by someone else.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.