Written By Mick Betancourt & Amanda Green
Directed By Peter Leto
Two young sisters are killed in a fire, leading Stabler and his former partner to hunt down the arsonist responsible. However, the case at hand proves to most likely be a unfortunate accident, and its up to detectives (alongside a fire consultant) to prove such to the judge.
Tropes
- Insurance Fraud: Frank Sullivan becomes a suspect for the house fire that killed his daughters when it's revealed he lit a car on fire for the purpose of insurance fraud before. The theory of the case is that he attempted to burn the house for the insurance money and just couldn't get the girls out in time, leaving him liable for both arson and manslaughter. However, new evidence casts doubt on the fire and the case is dismissed because it was likely a genuine accident.
- Know-Nothing Know-It-All: Fire Marshal Kurek is bold and confident as he explains why this was obviously arson. However, Dr. Drexel complains that it takes just one 40-hour course to become a fire marshal and Kurek, like many others, belive long-debunked "old wive's tales" on how fire spreads. During Frank's trial, Kurek is stunned when Drexel shows how every one of his conclusions is wrong and this was a simple accident.
- Ripped from the Headlines: Very clearly based on the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was found guilty of murder by arson under similar circumstances and was executed in 2004, even though questions about the legitimacy of his conviction had begun to surface in the months leading up to his execution. The fire investigator played by Brad Dourif even mentions the real-life case.
