Infected (Season 7, Episode 12)
Premise: A boy who hid while his mother was killed takes revenge on the philanthropist he blames, and his case becomes a fight over whether gun violence spreads like a disease.
- Air date
- Season/Episode
- Season 7, Episode 12
- Starring
- Det. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), Det. Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni), Det. John Munch (Richard Belzer), Det. Odafin “Fin” Tutuola (Ice-T), Capt. Donald Cragen (Dann Florek), ADA Casey Novak (Diane Neal), Dr. George Huang (BD Wong), ME Dr. Melinda Warner (Tamara Tunie), Judge Elizabeth Donnelly (Judith Light)
- Guest stars
- Malcolm David Kelley as Nathan Phelps, Gordon Clapp as Ted Carthage, Annie Potts as Sophie Devere, David Aaron Baker as Mike Geddes, Amanda Plant as Candace Tanner
- Director
- Michelle MacLaren
- Writers
- Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters
Summary
“Infected” opens with Monica Phelps, a hot dog stand worker with a crystal meth habit, found raped and shot in her apartment while her son Nathan hid in the closet; he heard the fight but never saw the man. Nathan leads the detectives to her dealer, DJ, who denies killing his best customer, and her work locker holds $15,000 in cash. Spending the night at the precinct, Nathan tells Benson that “good people” gave his mother money and once bailed her out. That leads to My Salvation Charities, run by wealthy philanthropist Ted Carthage. Ballistics tie Monica’s killing to an unidentified woman found shot in Riverside Park, whom Nathan recognizes as Gina Arroyo, his mother’s friend; she carried $7,000 and a charity bracelet.
The squad learns that Carthage, who funds the charity himself, is under investigation by the state attorney general, and his checks lead to young women using meth. One, Katie, a minor, says Carthage paid her for sex arranged by Candace Tanner, another charity client. Facing charges, Candace books a meeting, and Carthage is arrested as he propositions Katie. He admits to many affairs but denies paying for sex. Nathan cannot settle on one voice in an audio lineup, and when he later spots Carthage in handcuffs and charges at him, the identification is tainted. Before a murder case can be built, Nathan walks into the charity office with a gun taken from a boy down the hall and shoots Carthage dead, then surrenders to Benson. The gun used on Monica turns up in Carthage’s desk.
The district attorney insists that Nathan be tried as an adult. Defense attorney Sophie Devere argues that witnessing gun violence spreads violence like a disease, citing a new study, and on the stand Benson volunteers that Nathan would never have hurt anyone otherwise. Novak agrees to a plea to second-degree manslaughter, but lawyer Mike Geddes, representing Carthage’s widow and paid by the National Gun Association, wins an order blocking Judge Elizabeth Donnelly from accepting it. Civil court Judge Joseph Malloy holds a hearing on the study, and Geddes calls Nathan, pressing him until he says he hated Carthage.
Spoiler, the ending: Devere moves for a mistrial before Donnelly, arguing that Nathan was forced to incriminate himself after his criminal jury was sworn. Donnelly grants it and dismisses the case with prejudice, and Malloy throws out the civil action. Nathan goes to a foster family, and Novak tells Geddes to blame his bosses.
Why it stands out
- Malcolm David Kelley, then best known for Lost, guest stars as Nathan; NBC’s promotion played up his Lost role, an unusual nod to another network’s show.
- Annie Potts plays defense attorney Sophie Devere, one of the season’s recurring roles, and Judith Light’s Elizabeth Donnelly, once a bureau chief in the DA’s office, presides as a judge, as she does this season.