Disappeared (Law & Order episode)

"Disappeared" is the 176th episode of NBC's legal drama Law & Order, and the 19th episode of the 8th season.

Plot

Three people are kidnapped from a newly constructed building in Chelsea. Soon after, a newspaper receives a manifesto from the kidnapper, demanding that it is published otherwise there would be further kidnappings. The manifesto details perceived threats to the neighborhood from developers and property owners.

After the newspaper publishes the letter, the kidnapper's brother recognizes the writing style and comes forward to ask the police to arrest his brother quietly, afraid that he is mentally unstable and may overreact. In return for consideration of his brother's mental state from assistant district attorney Jamie Ross, he agrees to turn his brother in. The kidnapper agrees to tell his brother where he kept his victims.

The detectives find the bodies of the victims, shot to death. Adam Schiff determines the death penalty is warranted and makes this a capital case, despite Ross's agreement. Furthermore, the killer has forbidden his lawyer Danielle Melnick from offering any evidence of his mental state at trial.

The killer is quickly convicted of the murders, but McCoy decides that an inconsequential bail hearing needs his attention and allows Ross to present at the sentencing hearing. Ross, angry about the treatment of the victim throughout the case, elicits testimony about the mental state of the killer from his brother, over the killer's protests. The jury decides to spare the killer's life, to the chagrin of Schiff.