...These Are Their Stories: The Law & Order Podcast

Benson and Stabler investigate the murder of a pregnant woman found in a burning apartment. A shameless golddigger, she worked for wealthy coffee importer Pierson Bartlett (played by Stephen Collins) and was his son PJ's fiancée.  But those paternal bonds are strained when Warner says the baby belonged to Pierson, not PJ. Novak charges them both with conspiracy to commit murder, but someone bribed a juror to get a mistrial. Father and son are ready to flip on each other. That's when Elliot and Olivia find a hidden camera in the victim's bedroom. It shows the killer is Avery, PJ's lawyer who has secretly loved him since college. After she races to the roof, everyone tries to talk Avery off the ledge. But in an effort to protect him from Pierson, Avery grabs PJ and pulls him over the side, where they both fall to their deaths.We are talking about Special Victims Unit season 9 episode 18 "Trade." Our guest is Arielle Nissenblatt from the EarBuds Podcast Collective.While the plot of this episode appears to be largely fictional, the inspiration for the victim of the crime may be Kitty Pappas. For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The squad searches for a rapist who has been targeting lesbians. Their suspect is a heavy metal vampire, but a blood bank employee gives him a solid alibi. Frustrated by the pace of the investigation, a radical lesbian group pickets SVU. Leader Babs Duffy (Kathy Griffin) has a way of insulting everybody, then becomes a target herself. She's placed in protective custody where she makes a move to kiss Benson, who says "That's not on the menu." Olivia might not be gay, but she lets their lesbian-hating prime suspect think she is. The perp's motive: he thinks he can turn his victims straight because he's so good at making the sex.We're going back to our September 23, 2019 podcast, about SVU season 11 episode 13 “P.C.” Our guest is Haley Manrique from the "We're Not Together" podcast.This episode takes cues from the political movement known as Radical Lesbianism. For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

While investigating a man stabbed in the groin, Benson and Stabler learn the victim and his wife frequent a sex club. The partners go undercover as swingers and meet the victim's paramour, Cassandra (Rose McGowan). They suspect her jealous ex-boyfriend, Doug, might be the attacker. Elliot and Olivia are shocked to learn that not only have Cassandra and Doug been running a con on the unsuspecting victim, they're actually twins committing - as Stabler calls it - "twincest."We're looking at SVU season 12 episode 19 "Bombshell." Our guest from the September 12, 2018 episode is Toronto Sun sex & relationship columnist Simone Paget. The inspiration for one of the characters is burlesque star Dita von Teese. For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After an extended undercover assignment, Benson is reunited with Stabler to investigate the poisoning of a model. The case involves drugs, a mute eyewitness, a rabid dog, and an affair between the victim's husband and Naomi, a beautiful dancer (Catherine Bell). Later, the detectives learn her husband Glenn (Bob Saget) has secretly implanted a microchip in his wife to keep tabs on her. He confesses to the revenge murder, but the chip has made Naomi gravely ill. Glenn donates part of his liver to save Naomi before being wheeled back to jail.We're talking about Special Victims Unit season 8 episode 9 "Choreographed." Our guest from the February 1, 2017 episode is "Outside/In" and "Bear Brook" senior producer Taylor Quimby - better known to our fans as Uncanny Valleys, the composer of our catchy theme song.Though not based on a crime, this SVU episode is inspired by the true story of microchip enthusiast Amal Graafstra. For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Benson and Stabler have an open-and-shut case against psycho killer Peter Harrison. But annoying lab tech Dale Stuckey makes an error with the bloody knife, leaving Judge Donnelly no choice but to set the suspect free. Munch and Fin tail Harrison to Coney Island and "chase" him through a fun house before another body is discovered. Soon the detectives are dealing with booby traps, secret lairs with secret tunnels, poison-filled needles and poison-filled gas. Munch reaches out to his mentally ill ex-wife (Carol Kane) to help capture the elusive culprit. While visiting the crime lab, Stabler discovers the killer's DNA belongs to Stuckey. After taking Elliot hostage, he admits to framing Harrison and targeting those who've embarrassed him. Benson tricks Stuckey into thinking she loves him by slapping the hell out of Stabler. When Olivia goes in for a kiss, Elliot kicks Stuckey and knocks him out.We're going back to our October 11, 2017 episode to look at Special Victims Unit season 10 episode 22 "Zebras." Our guest is from the "In Trouble for Talking" podcast, Sonia Sells.The episode takes some cues from the life of SVU regular Richard Belzer. For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Police discover an unconscious man in Central Park who's been the victim of a theft - of his kidney! Det Sgt Max Greavey and Det Mike Logan learn the daughter of wealthy Phillip Woodleigh suddenly withdrew from the organ transplant list. They discover surgeon James Reberty rented portable surgical equipment and find bloody bandages at his nurse’s apartment. ADA Paul Robinette says Reberty didn’t sew off the renal artery, suggesting he wanted the victim/donor to die. EADA Ben Stone believes Woodleigh paid the surgeon $2 million to get a kidney for his daughter…by any means necessary.  We're talking about Law & Order season 1 episode 21 "Sonata for Solo Organ."Our guest from our May 22, 2019 episode is Dan Taberski, from "Missing Richard Simmons," "Running from COPS," and “Hysterical.” The episode was inspired by the 1989 organ scandal involving Amhet Koc. For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Benson and Stabler look for a man who impersonated a cop on the phone and tricked a man into strip searching his employee. The trail leads to Merritt Rook (Robin Williams, in an Emmy-nominated performance), who squares off in court against Novak and wins an acquittal. Rook becomes a folk hero, saying we’ve all become sheep to authority. He organizes a flash mob in Grand Central Station where he kidnaps Olivia. Elliot tracks Rook to a recording studio where he’s holding his partner. Stabler hears Benson’s shrieks of pain from electric shocks, but they’re only sound effects. As the detectives arrest him, this supervillain has one more trick up his sleeve: he activates an explosive that blows up the studio and gets away. Benson and Stabler chase him to the banks of the East River, but Rook vanishes, never to be seen again.We’re talking about SVU’s 200th episode: season nine, episode 17, “Authority.” Our guest from our February 27, 2019 show is Michelle Rubenstein from the "It Takes Three podcast" network. This episode was inspired by a 2004 phone scam at a Kentucky McDonald’s. For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When the Bakers, a chastity-espousing reality TV family, come to New York to celebrate Lane's purity ceremony, they discover the 13-year-old is pregnant. After interrogating a cameraman, Fin and Carisi learn that accusations of inappropriate touching by the oldest son, Graham, were buried by the Bakers' powerful supporters. Before Benson and Dodds can question him, the family pastor says the boy has been sent to a camp in Ecuador. After binge-watching their show, Rollins suspects Graham fathered a child with a different sister. But the DNA points in a different direction. The pastor himself has been preying on the daughters and blaming the son.We're talking about Special Victims Unit season 17 episode 7* "Patrimonial Burden." Our returning guest is Melody Carlisle from the "Heaving Bosoms" podcast.This episode is inspired by the scandal around reality TV stars, the Duggar family.*Note: Because of a two-part season opener, some streaming services list this as episode 6. For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As Detectives Briscoe and Curtis work a drug sting, Lt. John Flynn shoots the dealer. Lenny backs up his old friend's story that Ruben Morales went for his gun, but Rey is suspicious about Flynn's connection to the dealer. They learn Morales was going to testify against a kingpin who had Flynn on his payroll. Prosecutors Jack McCoy and Jamie Ross want to charge Flynn with murder, but the dirty cop gets a deal in exchange for testifying before a police corruption commission. In front of the cameras, he accuses Briscoe of stealing drugs from the evidence locker. Lenny struggles to defend himself because the incident happened during his drinking days. The married woman he had an affair with comes forward to provide him with an alibi, but is humiliated by the commissioners. While wearing a wire, Briscoe gets Flynn to confirm his innocence. His perjury nullifies his deal, and before Lenny can take him in, Flynn shoots himself.We're talking about Law & Order season 7 episode 5 "Corruption." Our special guest is author and NPR reporter Sonari Glinton.This episode takes cues from the real life police scandal around drugs stolen from the famous "French Connection" operation. For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A jogger who died of a heart attack leads police to the unrelated murder of a woman who's been using the Social Security number of Marcella Celaya, who was killed ten years ago. Detectives Briscoe and Green learn that Rafael Berseño, the victim's husband, used to have the last name Celaya also. Before they question him further, they spot a jealous wife running over her husband with her car again and again. Then, Green discovers a note on a bathroom mirror from a pregnant woman saying she's been kidnapped. Meanwhile, they hear Rafael's brother Reynaldo just got out of prison for killing his wife Marcella, though her body was never found.Reynaldo tells McCoy and Southerlyn he already served his sentence for killing Marcella, even though she wasn't dead, and they can't convict him twice for killing the same person. Still on the job, Briscoe and Green learn Rafael and Marcella set up Reynaldo so they could be together. When he got out of prison, he forced his brother to kill his (their) wife. Briscoe gets a lead on the kidnapping. The mom-to-be was abducted by an infertile woman. They rescue her just as she goes into labor, forcing Lennie to deliver the baby himself.  Before they can finally punch out for the night, Dr. Rogers calls to say that jogger didn't have a heart attack...he'd been poisoned!We're talking about one crazy day for the detectives in Law & Order season 13 episode 23* "Couples." Our guest is Sarah Carradine from the Crime Seen podcast.Among the many inspirations for this story include the case of Clara and David Lynn Harris.*Note: Hulu incorrectly lists this as episode 24. For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After the body of a mummified child is discovered, Benson and Stabler run out of leads. At a vigil for "Cherish Doe," Fin meets Violet (Gloria Reuben). She's fresh from rehab and fears the unidentified girl is her missing daughter, Nina. The detectives learn the victim is a different girl, but both children were taken from their homes by a man posing as a social services worker. The trail leads to a handyman with an obsession for expensive dolls (David Harbour). In order to get him to say where the missing Nina is, Violet must convince him she's not a bad mother.We're talking about Special Victims Unit season 4 episode 7 Dolls. Our returning guest is Lani Diane Rich.Some plot points share similarities with the 1991 investigation into an unidentified child known only as “Baby Hope.” For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The squad investigates the murder of Bobbi O'Rourke, a book author who'd written about her life as a teen prostitute. Carisi finds out the victim was just posing as the writer for public appearances because no one has ever seen the real Bobbi. Fin traces the royalty payments to the home of Joe and Ben Edelman (Judd Hirsch and Wallace Shawn), two bickering, old Jewish men who have lived as hoarders and shut-ins for decades. Benson learns there is no Bobbi; Ben wrote the sexually-explicit book under the pseudonym. But before they let the brothers go, Carisi discovers their dead mother's body in a locked freezer. ADA Peter Stone charges the Edelmans with murder. Based on the book, Olivia believes Ben might be a past sexual assault victim. Rollins learns Joe was also molested, but the brothers have never told each other about their trauma. At trial, Joe takes the blame for smothering their dying mother decades ago - then has a massive heart attack. Visiting his older brother's death bed, Ben finally shares his secret.We're talking about Special Victims Unit season twenty episode ten "Alta Kockers." Our returning guest is Lauren  Milberger.Characters in this episode are inspired by Homer and Langley Collyer. For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Goren and Eames investigate the murder of an aspiring writer. Kira Danforth was surrounded by unsavory literary figures, including a lecherous book agent (Fisher Stevens), an author with a hardscrabble back story (Pablo Schreiber), and a publishing giant who hasn't had a bestseller in years (Peter Coyote). The detectives learn Kira discovered TJ Hawkins' gritty biography was a lie and that the washed-up Lionel Shill plagiarized her unpublished novel.  Did one of the writers kill her to protect their secret?We're talking about Criminal Intent season seven episode seven "Self-made." Our returning guest is Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Marcia Chatelain.Among the literary scandals that inspired this episode is that of J.T. LeRoy.  For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Benson and Stabler connect an assault on a child (played by a young Sabrina Carpenter) to the rape of Larissa, who'd been forced into child pornography decades ago. The rapist leads them to Orville Underwood, the man acquitted of making the explicit videos years earlier. He explains that his DNA was on photos found at the rapist's home because he decided to rub one out in the bathroom and it got everywhere.Unable to make a case against Underwood, Olivia and Elliot look for Daniel, Larissa's scene partner. The detectives discover he's making his own child porn and refuses to testify against his old kidnapper. After Underwood gets the case thrown out of court, Larissa takes matters into her own hands.We're talking about Special Victims Unit season 12 episode 12 "Possessed." Our returning guest is Lauren van der Meer from the "Drinks with Death" podcast. Aspects of this episode take some inspiration from the case of Alex Cabarga. For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After a mother is murdered and her newborn Nicky kidnapped, Detectives Joe Fontana and Ed Green interrogate Frank, the drug dealer who was in her apartment that morning. But Lt. Van Buren says a witness spotted a pregnant woman fleeing the building with Nicky. The trail leads to Arlene Tarrington, a woman who'd been faking her pregnancy.Arlene admits while suffering from postpartum psychosis, she kidnapped the infant but didn't kill the victim. ADA Alexandra Borgia learns Arlene had offered a teen mom $50,000 for her baby, and she called Frank days before the murder. He tells the cops he's Nicky's biological father and scammed Arlene with a promise to sell his child for cash. EADA Jack McCoy must decide who he believes the actual killer is and offer a deal to the other...but does he make the right choice?We're talking about Law & Order season 16 episode 7 "House of Cards." Our guest is Margo Donohue from the Book vs. Movie podcast. Some inspiration for this episode comes from the 1988 kidnapping of Rachael Ann White.  For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.