Law & Order: Special Victims Unithas featured some horrific situations, but almost nothing compares to what they aired nearly 25 years ago. The police procedural series first aired in 1999 and quickly became one of the most popular crime drama shows on the network, consistently attracting high viewership each season.
Most recently, viewers watchedLaw & Order: SVUseason 26, which explored various interesting storylines, including one involving reporter Kelsey Sommers falling victim to sextortion. The season concluded on a high note and received high ratings on platforms such as IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.

Shortly after the end of the last season, the network renewedLaw & Order: SVU. The upcoming season is set to premiere in September 2025 on NBC and Peacock.Law & Order: SVUseason 27will see some major changes, including the departure of the previous showrunner and the introduction of the first female showrunner, Michele Fazekas.
Reports suggest thatLaw & Order: SVUseason 27 will consist of 24 episodes. Familiar faces,such as Amanda Rollins, will return, while characters like Velasco and Silva will not be featured. There will also be guest appearances from other characters, such as Dr. George Huang.

It’s Hard To Top Law & Order: SVU Season 1, Episode 22 “Slaves” As The Most Horrifying Episode
Law & Order: SVUhas showcased some horrifying moments throughout the years, with the most memorable being from the show’s first season.Law & Order: SVUseason 1, episode 22, called"Slaves,“remains the most chilling episode ever of the series.
The gripping storyline follows detectives Benson and Stabler investigating a human trafficking case involving a girl named Ilena. The detectives ultimately find Ilena hidden in a wooden box under a bed, resulting in one of the most shocking reveals in the show’s history. The realism of the episode was intensified by the acting, writing, and terrifying visuals.

“Slaves” Was Based On The Real 1977 Case Of Colleen Stan
The plot ofLaw & Order: SVUseason 1, episode 22,“Slaves,“is what makes it the most memorable and horrific episode in the franchise. Unlike other episodes that have a fictional approach,“Slaves"is based on a real-life crime from the 1970s.
In May 1977, a young woman named Colleen Stan was hitchhiking from Oregon when she accepted help from Cameron and Janice, who initially seemed like normal people. However, within just thirty minutes, Colleen realized her mistake as Cameron and Janice threatened her with a weapon and trapped her.
Colleen spent nearly twenty-three hours each day trapped in a coffin-sized wooden box under Cameron and Janice’s bed. She not only endured isolation and extreme torture but was also abused and raped. To make matters worse, Cameron forced Colleen to sign a “slave contract,” somehow convincing her of an entity named “The Company” that would kill her family if she tried to escape.
The situation took a turn when Janice began to doubt Cameron and helped Colleen escape, revealing the truth to her. In the end, Cameron received a deserved sentence of 104 years in prison. The episode,“Slaves,“remains unparalleled among allLaw & Order: SVUepisodes.