Ellen Kaplan is the wife of businessman Mitch Kaplan. She was raped by colleague Robert Flynn.
History[]
At a benefit hosted by Mitch's associate, Robert Flynn, Ellen was groped by Flynn at a photo op, then isolated by Flynn while she was helping with supplies. She vehemently tried to make Flynn keep a distance even by simple "no"s, but Flynn said "nobody says no to" him and raped Ellen. She was so shaken she could barely hold her purse, but she lied that she was fine just to get home.
She told Mitch about being groped when they got back, and because he knew Flynn harassed his business partners' wives, Mitch was both riddled with guilt and furiously hoping to report Flynn. Going straight to Special Victims, Mitch insisted he wanted Flynn arrested, but Ellen privately disclosed the rape to Benson and warned Mitch was overprotective to the point he could get violent with people who threatened his loved ones. She wanted no scenes from an investigation, especially not from Flynn slandering her on live radio.
A sting revealed Flynn also killed his business partner, Kenneth Cross, threatening and presumably sexually abusing Ken's widow Lola Simenon because Flynn had his sights on her while Ken and Lola were running their own couple's scam on him. When Lola was convinced to fake a hit taken out on her, this was enough for Flynn's arrest. Ellen personally told Mitch about the rape before Flynn went to arraignment and then posted bail.
Mitch was furious and confronted Flynn on air with a gun. Out of Mitch's own rage and to avenge his wife, he shot Flynn dead and left the gun at the scene before leaving, dispatch being too late to stop it. Mitch was presumably arrested and imprisoned soon after. (SVU: "Video Killed The Radio Star")