Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

In the season premiere, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) search for an ex-con who is sexually assaulting prostitutes -- only to find their suspect murdered by one of his would-be victims (guest star Sharon Lawrence, "NYPD Blue"). Though it appears that the woman killed in self-defense, another homicide reveals what may be a string of brutal murders by a skillfully manipulative female serial killer. Emmy winner Judith Light guest-stars as SVU Bureau Chief Elizabeth Donnelly; Dianne Wiest ("Law & Order") guest-stars as District Attorney Nora Lewin. Stephanie March, Dann Florek, Richard Belzer and Ice-T also star.

A kindergartner's family portrait leads Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) to suspect the child's actress mother Gloria Stanfield (guest star Sherilyn Fenn) of seducing her teenage stepson Kyle (guest star Jonathan Bennett) into a long-term sexual affair. When the boy's father, corporate mogul Lawrence Fuller (guest star Tom Mason), is found bludgeoned to death in their upscale apartment, all evidence points to young Kyle as the killer.

When a senile woman (guest star Jane Powell) is found wandering and abused, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) first suspect her scheming son (guest star Jay Thomas), as their victim is unable to recall her attacker or attack. But the investigation soon leads the detectives back to the woman's recent residence, an assisted-living facility where one administrator, Hope Garrett (guest star Mary Kay Place), offers chilling details of the dangers faced by both patients and staff members.

When Greta Esterman, a doctor who worked with and helped HIV patients contact their sexual partners, is found brutally raped and murdered in Central Park, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) have no shortage of suspects who had previously threatened their victim in connection with her job. But the gruesome discovery of a second victim leads to the search for a serial killer with a surprising motivation for the crimes. Michael Gross guest stars.

The brutal rape of an FBI racketeering suspect leads Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) into a federal investigation of an organized crime boss. But when their victim (guest star Caprice Benedetti) and prime suspect (guest star John Heard) both disappear into the witness protection program, the detectives find themselves in a turf war with a hard-nosed Assistant U.S. Attorney (guest star Pam Grier), who is determined to put the mob on trial.

When the battered body of a young boy is found on an airport shuttle bus, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) search for the boy's identity, only to discover that his alleged guardian had been routinely sexually and physically abusing him. However, when the pedophile's mutilated corpse is found in his bed, the detectives' homicide investigation leads them to a travel agency specializing in all-inclusive exotic trips for alleged sexual predators.

When the decomposing body of sexually molested five-year-old girl is discovered, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler's (Christopher Meloni) investigation leads them to the painful reality that they are searching for a serial pedophile as they race to save the life of his latest victim. As the mother (guest star Gloria Reuben) of the missing girl frantically awaits news of her daughter's whereabouts, she must reconcile the fact that her own recent bout with addiction may have played a part in her daughter's fate.

When a trip to the emergency room for a coma patient reveals the woman to be seven weeks pregnant, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) turn to DNA testing in order to weed out their rapist -- only to have their investigation hampered when the victim's doctor (guest star Bruce Davison) attempts an abortion. JoBeth Williams guest stars as the frantic mother of the rape victim.

When a drug raid uncovers the body of a 30-year-old suspected marijuana dealer, raped and repeatedly stabbed, Fin (Ice-T) along with Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni), uses his old narcotics skills to track down the murderer, only to see the investigation reveal the attack was the work of two junior high school students.

When a 15-year-old rape victim attempts to step off a subway platform, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) search for the girl's rapists, using DNA to weed out two suspects. However, when both of the suspects admit to being sexually involved with the victim's mother as part of her husband's fantasy, detectives are left to determine if this family secret led to the girl's rape.

When a six-year-old shooting victim caught in an apparent robbery gone bad tests positive for a sexually transmitted disease, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) discover her rapist to be the same store clerk who allegedly foiled the crime. With the help of homicide detectives, they discover the victim's older sister Missy (Ari Graynor) was dating this sexual predator.

When an infant overdoses on cocaine, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) discover the child's baby food to be the culprit, and in the process stumble across a major drug smuggling operation using baby formula to transport their product. However, when internal affairs investigation disrupts their case, Cragen (Dann Florek) sends the squad undercover hoping to flush out a dirty cop running the drug ring.

When a drug dealer dies in jail after being beaten and sexually assaulted, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Fin (Ice-T) look at the victim's cellmates and disgruntled guards as possible suspects. However, when forensics suggest that the dealer may have suffered his fatal blows while in police custody, the detectives set their sights on a gangland beat cop with a mysterious agenda (guest star William Mapother).

When a one-month-old baby turns up dead and stuffed inside a cooler in the East River, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Chris Meloni) are horrified, but M.E. Warner (guest star Tamara Tunie) soon makes a shocking discovery --- the baby had a genetic condition that always proves fatal by the time the child is 5 years old. Emmy Award-winner Judd Hirsch guest stars.

Investigating the brutal murder and sexual assault of a female motorist, Detective Stabler (Christopher Meloni) discovers the victim was moonlighting as a cyber vigilante, using herself as bait for on-line pedophiles in order to stop the predators. Tracking her last trips down the information superhighway, Stabler finds himself on the trail of a missing 14-year-old girl -- and the foreign child pornographer that may have kidnapped her. Pam Grier reprises her role as U.S. Attorney Claudia Williams.

The discovery of the body of a Tibetan torture survivor sends Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) digging through the victim's past in the belief that a former torturer might be the killer. However, when forensic evidence points to a entirely different motive for the slaying, the detectives begin their search for a fetish killer. Illeana Douglas reprises her role as passionate public defender Gina Bernardo. Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, Stephanie March, B.D. Wong and Ice-T also star.

Investigating the apparent suicide of a 20-year-old woman who took a flying leap off the balcony owned by a prominent Manhattan family, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) search for a motive and uncover the victim's personal relationship with the famous family's son. When the forensic evidence points to murder, the detectives focus their attention on proving the over-privileged boy's guilt. Four-time Emmy winner Michael Learned and Mariette Hartley guest-star.

When a young woman is found brutally murdered after a violent sexual assault, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) rest their hopes on the only witness to the crime, the woman's young son. However, when detectives discover the woman to be a battered wife on the run, they set their sights on her abusive husband. Sandra Bernhard ("Zoolander") and Rob Estes (NBC's "Providence") guest star. Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, Stephanie March, B.D. Wong and Ice-T also star.

The discovery of a nine year old beauty queen's body in a suitcase on a Manhattan bus sends Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) searching for a pedophile with a fetish for pageants. However, when the prime suspect blames a virtual pornography website for his crime, A.D.A. Cabot (Stephanie March) must put the first amendment on trial.

When an engagement celebration dinner ends in sexual assault and a gruesome quadruple homicide, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) search for a violent killer looking for revenge through the domination of his victims. However, when the killer goes on a murder spree aimed at the upper class, it's a race against time as the squad tries to stop this deadly rampage. Tony Winner Frank Langella ("Fortune's Fool") and Ian Somerhalder ("Rules of Attraction") guest star. Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, Stephanie March, B.D. Wong and Ice-T also star.

When a female party-goer (guest star Katherine Moennig) defends herself after being sexually assaulted, killing her attacker, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) attempt to support the girl's claim of self-defense. However, when DNA evidence uncovers the girl is really a man, the detectives begin to question the validity of the victim's defense.

Michael Gardner (Fred Savage), a well-heeled yuppie, is arrested outside his apartment on rape charges. He claims he didn't do anything but they have his fingerprints at the scene of the rape of Carrie Huitt (Myndy Crist).

When a cocktail waitress at a trendy Manhattan club is raped and murdered outside the popular nightspot, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) rest their suspicions on the victim's angry ex-boyfriend. However, when the detectives discover the victim was involved in an abusive love affair with the club owner, they set their sights on him as their predator.

When the body of a murdered 14-year-old girl is discovered in a back alley, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) discover the victim was a missing Pennsylvania teenager believed to have been kidnapped eight months earlier. However, when the detectives uncover a link between their victim and a prominent New York physician who specializes in reproduction therapy as well as dabbling in human cloning, they also stumble across a group home for alleged runaway teenaged girls.

When an alleged rape victim is kidnapped from a New York hospital and later murdered, Detectives Benson (Marishka Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) search for the girl's killer only to discover her attack to have been perpetrated by several bored young socialite club goers at a popular Manhattan nightspot. Relying on DNA evidence, the detectives uncover multiple suspects, including one supposedly despondent teenager whose involvement in the assault continues to evolve.