Ep 16. Tortured

In the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 4 episode 16, titled "Tortured," a teenage girl named Cassidy Cornell is found brutally beaten and left for dead in an abandoned building. The SVU team is quick to discover that Cassidy was not the only victim of this vicious attack. As the investigation progresses, they uncover a web of secrets and lies that ultimately lead to the identity of the perpetrator.

The episode begins with Cassidy being rushed to the hospital after being found by a passerby. Detectives Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler arrive at the scene and gather evidence, including a bloody necklace that Cassidy was wearing. They soon discover that Cassidy was not the only victim of the attack, as they find another girl who was beaten and left for dead two weeks prior.

As the detectives dig deeper into the case, they learn that both girls were students at an all-girls Catholic school. They interview their classmates, teachers, and parents, but nobody seems to have any leads. However, when they discover that one of the girls had been in a romantic relationship with a male teacher, Father Theo Sallinger, they begin to suspect that he may have been involved in the attacks.

Father Sallinger is brought in for questioning, and he vehemently denies any involvement. However, the detectives soon discover that he has a dark past and a history of abusing his power and authority. They also uncover evidence that he was in contact with both girls leading up to the attacks, and that he had a motive for wanting to harm them.

As the case builds against Father Sallinger, the detectives must also deal with the emotional toll that the investigation is taking on Cassidy's family, as well as their own personal issues. Benson is struggling with the recent revelation that she was conceived through rape, while Stabler is dealing with his wife's ongoing struggle with alcoholism.

In the end, the detectives gather enough evidence to arrest Father Sallinger for the attacks on both girls. The episode ends with the SVU team reflecting on the disturbing nature of the crime, and the toll it takes on both the victims and those who seek justice on their behalf.

Overall, "Tortured" is a gripping and emotionally charged episode that highlights the complexities of investigating sexual assault cases, and the ways in which they can impact both the victims and the investigators working to bring the perpetrators to justice.