A/N In response to Legendary Blade 14, yeah I know, I only realized it when I got the chance to check on it, plus my computer is sometimes buggy, but it is now fixed, I assure you...Thanx so very much for the support...here is the newer chapter...and I promise that even though it might take a while..unlike other authors (cough JAMACIAN BOY cough) I will complete this story eventually and with reasonable speed.
Innocence Lost- a Law and Order: Special Victims Unit case
Medical Examiner's office
One Police Plaza
June 4. 9:56 a.m.
Benson and Stabler walk in to meet Dr. Melinda Warner, head police Medical Examiner. She is analysing the report of the body as well as her own findings.
"Well apart from what was reported from the crime lab, there were a few other things that we were able to find", Dr Warner started.
"Which was?", began Benson.
"We were able to determine that the earlier suspicions that the analyst made were correct. The victim was first hit on the back of the head, hard enough to incapacitate and render her unconscious...then the perp had beaten, raped, and used the pole on her. We were able to find that despite the fact that she was unconscious, she felt all the abuse and went through all the pain before she was hanged. It was the hanging that finally killed her"
"How could you tell all that?" asked Benson.
Warner pointed at the pressure marks on the body, "These are signs of emotions, now the body is tensed up so much that you could easily tell that she went through the worst kind of hell, then she died, very shortly after".
"Unbelievable, I mean the least they could do was let her die in peace first", lamented Stabler.
"Or better yet, leave her alone" answered Benson.
"What about the other injuries?" asked Stabler, hinting at the rammed pole.
"Well, the pole was rammed up plenty of times up her both her uterus and anus. But it was her uterus that received the worst. It's the worst I've seen. I mean look, it was so bad that her clitoris and her entire vaginal wall, as well as her uterus were torn up and ripped apart worse than a birthday piniata at kid's party."
"What about DNA?" Stabler asked hopefully.
"We could not get a complete set of anything substantial", answered Dr. Warner, "However we did find what you could call a blurred, fragmented part of the perps DNA, found within both the spermicide left but on the victim as well, but we can't get a positive match here. Thus what little I had it sent it to the FBI crime lab, they have better resources to work with it, and don't worry about the Feds, I know their chief DNA examiner" Dr. Warner said with a slight smile for reassurance.
"Alright then, keep us informed", Benson said as she was about to leave with her partner.
"Oh and another thing, detectives" Dr. Warner said
"What is it" asked Stabler.
"I haven't completely finished with this body, so I probably will have more for you later on, and one more thing" Dr. Warner said, "See this?".
Dr. Warner lightly gripped Lizzie's left wrist to show a shade of a whitish mark resembling a band.
"I could tell by this that Lizzie was wearing a wristband, probably from the day, and that she was wearing it up to the time of her death (when she was hanged), but CSU couldn't find it, but if you can find it, I can easily find any possible match.""OK. Thank for telling us"
Stabler and Benson head out to go back to the precinct and begin hypothesising between themselves.
"Hey Elliot, if CSU couldn't recover it could it be?...", asked Benson"with our perp", finished Stabler.
Back at the precinct
The entire squad sits in the main room bringing together all the info they had on this case. The head of SVU, Capt. Donald Cragen leads.
"Alright what do we have so far", Cragen asked.
"Not much we can use", answered Benson first.
"Other than the fact that the perp most likely ripped a wristband off of Elizabeth, and if we find whoever got the bracelet had to have known something, to say the least", finished Stabler.
"Great that's like finding a needle in a haystack", said Cragen
Just then both Detectives Munch gets off the phone almost at the same time that Tutuola come in from canvassing the neighbourhood. Both join the briefing.
"Alright I just finished canvassing the entire surrounding neighborhood, apparently people in the area were really scared about the State Department's warning that none found or heard anything last night" said Tutuola."Same with the local 34th precinct, no one was able to see anything through the storm", added Munch, "as well I just got a call from central, we have a hit from missing persons".
"Hold on a minute I may have something", said a very sombre looking Asian man.
This Asian man was Dr. George Huang, a forensic psychiatrist and an expert on the criminal mind. He was very well respected and all ears in the team were focused on what he was about to say.
"You see, the marks were very specific and I could tell was deemed very personal indeed. This is not consistent at all with the notion of a regular pedophile or pervert. You see...", Dr Huang said as he pointed at the horribly graphic crime photos of Lizzie's anatomy and body, "I just finished talking with the M.E. earlier and I have to agree that the perp was someone she knew, someone who she sexually humiliated, and this is an emotional act trying to avenge hurt pride""Hurt pride, huh, well you know that the worst pride come from teenagers", said Benson.
"Yeah, someone she knew" added Cragen.
"Not just that, this was an act of rage yet an act of cowardice, I can almost guarantee that the victim had personal contact with her assailent and that contact was most likely sexual" said Dr. Huang
"How do you figure that?" asked Cragen.
"If look at the way that the pipe was stuck up inside her, as well as the type of thrusts made against the victim, these type of thrust were meant to project hate and anger, as well as immense pain and humiliation, but all in the matter that is strikingly familiar with the act of sexual intercourse, I'd say he was trying to recreate it for either reminder or punishment or humiliation"
"So, you're saying that the perp was a former encounter of Elizabeth's and one that was humiliated and for some reason was hurt, and wanted to see her suffer." Cragen hypothesized.
"Exactly, I bet you anything that's the case, I mean the signs match so perfectly clear, almost like a textbook case, but even though it had to have been one who had regular contact with her, it could have been one who thought that they were her lover as well, or wanted to create that illusion to perhaps humiliate or teach her a lesson" Dr. Huang said.
"Like a stalker almost", Benson replied.
"Exactly", Dr. Huang said.
"Alright then, I think we have enough to narrow it down" Cragen said as he began to give orders to the detectives, "Liv, Elliot, pay a visit to Elizabeth's family, see if you could get any possible people from them. Fin, you and John investigate her school, see if we could get any possible suspects from her school"
Mr. & Mrs. McGuire's residence
310 Galedon Cres.
Astoria, QueensJune 4. 10:56 a.m.
Benson and Stabler arrive at the McGuire household and ring the bell, they are greeted by a hopelessly distressed Mrs. Jo McGuire. Her husband, Sam McGuire. equally worried walk over to greet them.
"Mr. and Mrs. McGuire?", started Stabler.
"Yes?", replied Jo.
"We're detectives Stabler and Benson from the NYPD"
Jo then starts to light up. This confuses the detectives for a moment until their experience as detectives made them realise the awful truth.
"You mean you found my baby?, please tell me you found my Lizzie, oh I'm worried sick about her when she didn't come back from the storm, please tell me you found my bab..."
The awful truth was that their precinct didn't have the chance to call and inform the parents about Lizzie's true fate.
"Mrs. McGuire is it ok if we come inside, it is better if we tell you in there", Benson suggested.
"Oh, sure not a problem", Mr McGuire said as he held and took his wife inside and guided both her and the detectives to the living room".
"Mrs. McGuire there is no easy way to tell you this, but we found Elizabeth", began Stabler
"Yes and..?", asked Jo. It was at that point that Sam's reaction changed, because when he heard 'no easy way to tell you this' he clued in, but almost tragically Jo did not pick this up and even thinking that they found Lizzie safe and sound.
"Mrs McGuire we found her body this morning, She brutally violated and murdered in a Brooklyn alleyway last night", finished Stabler.
At this point Jo's heart almost stopped, her head went spinning, her world came crashing down, and not to mention in the least, a face of shock had replaced the one of hope. That face lasted for only 3 seconds when Jo broke down and began sobbing, which quickly turned into tragic crying.
"Nooooo how could it be, my Lizzie, my Lizzie"
At this point Jo was absolutely devastated to say the least. Her husband was to and showed immense sadness on his part.
"Mrs. McGuire, we are deeply sorry for you loss and were here to find the man who did this", Benson said comforting Mrs. McGuire, "Now we need to ask a few important questions, and we really need you to help us on this one"
"Alright", Mrs. McGuire responded, quickly sobering and sombering up.
The questioning had begun
"Mrs. McGuire, do you know were you daughter was last night"
"She was in the house all night, it's a school night and I never let Lizzie out without her telling me, I mean last night I was cleaning the basement until 2 in the morning"
"Because we think she was murdered around one thirty", Benson said.
"What! Jo how could you...", Sam began angrily.
"Please Mr. McGuire, now where were you last night" asked Stabler, pointing the focus on Sam.
"Sorry detectives, I didn't get much sleep"
"Don't worry we've been there", Stabler assured.
"I was entertaining 3 important business contacts, from my company, we were out from 6 in the evening until 4 in the morning, and I went straight home, then Jo woke me up and told me about Lizzie", Sam said solemnly.
"Mr. McGuire, do you know if Lizzie had any trouble, you know with friends, boyfriends, or other people in general", Benson asked.
"I'm afraid I can't answer you there, you see up to three years ago, when Lizzie went off to high school, we stopped having our "mother daughter" chats. We've both been too busy and Lizzie wanted to keep everything away from us" Jo responded with Sam notioning in silent agreement".
"Is there someone we can talk to that might know something?", asked Benson.
"Well maybe you should talk to Matt, our son, he's 4 years younger than Lizzie, but he seemed to know what was going on with Lizzie more than we did since she when to high school, whenever we really needed to know about something about Lizzie, Matt would have a general knowledge of what was going on with Lizzie. He's at an all day soccer practice right now"
"And where was he last night?" asked Stabler.
"He was at his girlfriend Melina's place, doing a late night project with her and his friend, Lanny. I allowed them to stay over because it was late, and Melina's parents would take care of them."
A/N Ironically, Matt is in the same school and is a team mate of the three latino boys who discovered Lizzie in the first place
"Alright Mrs. McGuire, we need you give us a list of Lizzie's friends, rivals, boyfriends, or anyone else that Lizzie was close to"
"uh, ok, I don't that have much" Jo said.
"Whatever you know or can find at the moment will be fine, we are already looking at the school" assured Benson.
Then something came to both Jo and Sam's mind
"Why, you mean my daughter's killer is...", Sam started
"We have reason to believe that she knew him personally at least", Benson answered
"Oh my God....how could that be, Lizzie was loved by everyone"
"Please Mrs. McGuire, we need you to help us", pleaded Stabler
"No problem, I'll help you get it" Sam responded as he excuse himself out of the room to get the needed info.
"Mrs. McGuire if you need us in anyway, please don't heistate" Stabler offered as he gave her his card.
When Benson gets the info, she leaves with Stabler, ready to interview the last of the McGuire family...
Easton Soccer field
Astoria, Queens
June 4. 11:03 a.m.
Benson and Stabler enter the field and approach the coach. After showing their badges, discussing the urgency of the matter the coach pulls Matt out to talk to the detectives.
"Is this about Lizzie?" asked Matt.
"I'm afraid it is", replied Stabler.
After telling Matt everything, Matt breaks down in anguish,to say the least, and has a sudden urge to excuse himself to go home to his parents. He's obviously devestated as well. The coach agrees with this and excuses Matt. The detectives agree as well but they ask if they may speak with Matt first. Matt agrees.
"Matt have you noticed your sister having problems, maybe with her friends or with boys?" asked Benson.
"Well, you see seems to have kept her friends almost the same but it was a different ball game with high school, and with a different game was a different Lizzie".
"What do you mean?" asked Stabler.
"Well when it came to her friends, she still has them both, well actually she still has Miranda when she stated going to Hillridge P.S., she still had Miranda.."
"Miranda...Miranda Sanchez?" asked Stabler referring to his list.
"Yeah...they're still close...but with Gordo..."
"Who?", asked Benson
"David Gordon, used to be close to Lizzie, used to date, but not anymore",Matt replied and sighed, "now he's her playtoy, a boy when no one else was available".
"And David doesn't like that?" asked Stabler
"Of course not, but he's still so head over heels in love with Lizzie so bad that he doesn't seem to care" replied Matt.
"So he's the back up for Lizzie, when she doesn't have anyone"
"Yeah until recently" said Matt.
"Recently?"
"Lizzie and Gordo (David Gordon) got in a fight last week, seemed like Gordo was sick of being treated like a scab for Lizzie, Matt said, "and personally I can't see how Lizzie can ignore Gordo. If you ask me they belong for each other."
"I see" Benson remarked.
"Anyways, Lizzie was throwing all types of insults at Gordo, saying how poor he compared to other's she has at her fingertips. Gordo fought back threatening Lizzie"
"Threatening" asked Stabler.
"Yeah, but don't worry", Matt said sensing the remark's effect on the detectives attention, "I'm sure it was at the heat of the moment, because Gordo broke down just before he left Lizzie's room right after the confrontation."
"Alright, and one more thing", said Stabler
"Yeah?"
"You said that Gordo was a scab...well how 'plentiful' was Lizzie's choices".
Matt seemed uncomfortable with this but still answered
"Plentiful, that's an understatement, she's grown beautiful to all the guys at her school. I mean every day it was a different boy from her 'pool' of available guys, and some were ones she dated in middle school. It's almost sickening"
Then Matt looked away for a minute and asked
"Can I go now?"
"sure, you need a police car to take you home?" asked Benson with concern.
"nah I could make it", Matt said as he managed an encouraging grin as he left sadly for his house on foot.
Benson and Stabler walk to their car. Talking about this, they decide to meet Tutuola and Munch at Hillridge P.S.
"Wait, Liv (Benson)", said Stabler to his partner
"Yeah"
"Matt said that Lizzie had plenty to choose from, what do you think"
"Well, it fits perfectly with what George said, I guess were definitely looking for a boy she shouldn't of 'crossed' I mean she does have a whole 'pool' of them."
"Exactly, we should really work the school together with John(Det. Munch) and Fin(Det. Tutuola), I have a good feeling that's the perp is a fellow student"
"Well, I'd try Gordo, I mean he would be a first person to suspect
"Why, if anything Lizzie would mean more to Gordo than all the others. If you think about it, in a way that kind of makes him the least likely. The others have a better motive and would want Lizzie for themselves, and if you can't have her (only you) no one can"
"Well, I see your point, but love make you do crazy things"
"Like rape and murder"
"Maybe"
A/N- This Chapter is one of two sections of the second part of the investigation. Interviews. This section is focused on the family as well as the final results of what really happened with Lizzie (The M.E.). The next chapter will focus on Lizzie's friends, boyfriends, and ex's. Thanx.
