Caleb Hartwell is a pastor who used his position to rape Ellie Hughes, a comatose woman, and subsequently impregnated her.
Background[]
Hartwell was married and had an infant son with his wife Lilith. He worked as a youth pastor and frequently volunteered as a grief counselor for the trauma unit at a hospital. He once helped a family find comfort after their daughter had been struck by a drunk driver. While at the hospital, he met Laura Hughes, whose daughter Ellie was in the hospital after being beaten by an abusive boyfriend that left her comatose. Hartwell helped her with staying strong by introducing her to the other family and having them remain strong. He then went to see Ellie himself, giving her a prayer. However, Hartwell soon took advantage of her state by raping her, deluding himself into thinking that her squeezing his hand was Ellie giving consent. This resulted in Ellie being pregnant with his child.
Let Me Bring Pardon[]
Eighteen weeks into Ellie's pregnancy, the hospital discovered it, and it was initially thought Ellie's boyfriend was responsible, but a DNA test proved otherwise. Soon suspicions were on the hospital staff, though tests cleared each of them and Laura recalled Hartwell helping her before bringing up how he obtained a window of opportunity when the other family she befriended lost their daughter. SVU tracked him to his residence. He initially feigned innocence and told his curious wife to tend to their son. The detectives noted that he seems to be hiding something but leave him be. However, they soon discover a surveillance video of him with Ellie and see him closing the blinds to hide his crimes. SVU find him in the midst of a sermon, where he realizes the cops are onto him and promptly excuses himself but is caught.
When brought in, his DNA is processed, and he lawyers up. Hartwell defended his actions by stating he was trying to help Ellie come out of her vegetative state and be happy with the gift of a child. His story left the detectives disturbed at his delusional manipulations and depraved acts of assaulting a defenseless woman. Due to this, Captain Benson condemned him for his acts and promised to ensure he suffers in prison before she walks out of the room in disgust. It can be assumed his DNA matched the fetus and he was promptly charged for rape.(SVU: "Let Me Bring Pardon")