Ep 15. Bogeyman

Bogeyman, the 15th episode of the 18th season of Law & Order, begins with the discovery of a young boy's body, brutally murdered in a park. Detective Michael Cutter (Linus Roache) and his partner, Detective Lupo (Jeremy Sisto), are immediately put on the case, working to identify the young victim and find his killer.

Their investigation leads them to a suspect, a man named Alan Shepard (played by guest star John Ashton), who has a history of mental illness and has been known in the past to become violent. Shepard, however, denies any involvement in the boy's murder, and the case quickly becomes more complicated as more evidence comes to light.

Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) is dealing with a difficult case of her own as she prosecutes a young woman, Amber Kelly (played by guest star Megan Good), who has been charged with the murder of her abusive boyfriend. Rubirosa is determined to see justice done, but she quickly realizes that there is more to the case than meets the eye.

As the two cases begin to intersect, Cutter and Rubirosa find themselves working together to uncover the truth, even as they face resistance from some members of the police department. As they get closer to the answers they seek, they realize that both cases have a common thread: the bogeyman, a mythical figure used to scare children into behaving.

With time running out, Cutter and Rubirosa must work to solve both cases before it's too late. But even as they come closer to the truth, they realize that the bogeyman is not just a simple legend, but a very real danger that could be lurking in their own backyard.

Bogeyman is a gripping and suspenseful episode of Law & Order that deals with important issues of mental illness, domestic abuse, and the lasting impact of childhood trauma. The stellar cast, led by Roache, Sisto, and De La Garza, turns in powerful performances that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats.