S5·E9 Control

Episode recap

In the Law and Order Special Victims Unit episode titled Control, the investigation begins when a subway commuter is discovered in a state of severe injury, specifically having been castrated and suffering from profuse bleeding. As the detectives from the elite squad tasked with investigating sexually-based offenses look into the circumstances surrounding the man, the nature of the case shifts significantly. The evidence gathered by the team leads them to conclude that the individual they initially identified as a victim is actually a perpetrator.

The investigation reveals that this man had been responsible for abducting women and holding them captive for several years. According to the findings of the detectives, he had forced these women to live in a dungeon setting, where he kept them as his brides. This discovery changes the focus of the police work from a simple assault investigation to a complex case involving long-term human trafficking and confinement.

As the detectives proceed with their work and prepare to formally arrest the man who had been identified as the suspect in these abductions, the situation takes a sudden and violent turn. Before the team can complete the arrest, Detective Benson arrives at the scene only to discover that the suspect has been murdered. This development leaves the detectives to contend with the death of their primary suspect, effectively ending the possibility of bringing him to justice for the crimes he committed against the women he held captive. The episode highlights the challenges faced by the NYPD squad as they navigate the complexities of these vicious felonies, moving from the initial discovery of a wounded commuter to the uncovering of a long-standing criminal operation and the subsequent homicide of the man responsible. The narrative underscores the persistent nature of the work performed by the Special Victims Unit as they investigate crimes including rape and human trafficking within the criminal justice system of New York City.