Henry Mesner is a psychopath who, at the age of ten, physically and mentally abused his sister Ruby. He was sent to juvenile detention after escalating his violence, but was released in 2021, when he went on another crime spree.
History[]
As a child.
At school, Henry's younger sister Ruby is taken to the nurse for bruises on her stomach and a bump on her head. Ruby admits to the SVU detectives that she got those bruises from being pushed by the "monster". Henry says that he was eating waffles in the other room and didn't know that Ruby got hurt. The SVU squad discovers that Ruby has a history of multiple injuries and emergency room visits in the last year. When Henry is questioned about what happened to Ruby, he says that he saw Irina, his family's babysitter, lost her temper with Ruby and pushed her down the stairs out of anger because she was being difficult.
When Irina is questioned, she says that Henry was the one that pushed Ruby down the stairs and is the "monster". When Olivia and Nick talk to the children's mother, Viola, about it, she admits that Henry resents Ruby and had to see a counselor because of it. When Henry is questioned again, he admits that he pushed Ruby as a kind of "experiment" and is convinced his sister wasn't hurt because she didn't cry much. Henry has a record of assaulting his classmates in a similar fashion. His father, Tom, is convinced that Henry's behavior is normal for his age, believing his son just needs to find a hobby and work out the problem amongst himself. Tom and Viola don't want Henry to see a psychiatrist because they're afraid that their son might get labeled.
The SVU squad comes to the conclusion that Henry needs help. The detectives at first talk to Corporation Counselor Pippa Cox and tell her that Henry's family is in possible danger. Pippa disagrees and says that home is probably the best place for Henry. Olivia argues Ruby was very clear that Henry pushed her down the stairs. Pippa retorts by asking Olivia if she wants every big brother locked up for pushing their sister. She points out that Henry is ten and there will likely be inconsistencies when the story is asked several times. Tutuola calmly asks about another solution for Henry, to which Pippa says if they want to try, it's up to them.
Olivia and Rollins tell the Mesners that there will be no charges pressed against Henry if they agree to take him to see a professional. Viola assures them that she will care for Henry and make sure he is not left alone with Ruby. Later, Viola tries to tuck Henry in for bed, but he refuses to sleep, taking a knife from behind his pillow. Viola demands for Henry to hand over the knife, but he slashes her palm when she reaches for it. Henry watches as his mother runs away, looking upon her with blank, emotionless expression.
When Olivia arrives at the hospital where Viola's wound is treated, Viola defends her son, saying that it was her fault. At the Mesner residence, Rollins looks on as Tom reprimands Henry for hurting his mother, but Henry lashes out, yelling that it was Viola's fault. His outburst wakes Ruby and she is taken her back to her bedroom by Tom while Rollins stays with Henry. Henry then makes small talk with Rollins as if nothing happened at all.
When Dr. Huang evaluates Henry, he deduces that Henry is a psychopath because he lacks any emotions and doesn't feel any sympathy or empathy for other people. Dr. Huang suggests sending Henry to a facility in Vermont for severe cases like his. At first, the Mesners balk at the idea, but eventually agree. When Viola tells Henry about the facility, he once again throws a tantrum, but calms down when Tom leaves for work. Henry locks Viola in the laundry room and lights a fire. He ties Ruby to a bed and watches his sister cough to see if she would burn inside out, but after the room is filled with smoke, he calls Olivia.
By the time the SVU squad arrives, Henry has already left the apartment and gone to his friend Toby's place. Henry steals Toby's father's gun, locks his friend in a closet, and kills Toby's dog Snowball by drowning her in the bathtub before leaving. When Nick goes to the play area of the apartment building, he finds Henry has taken a five-year-old boy hostage using the gun. Nick is able to talk Henry into letting the little boy go, but Henry points the gun at Nick and asks him to stay. As Nick tries to talk Henry into giving up the gun, Henry shoots him in the stomach, but Nick is able to wrestle Henry to the ground and restrain him as Olivia arrives with backup. Because Nick was wearing his vest, he only sustains a minor injury to his stomach.
Since Henry cannot be tried as an adult for the attempted murders of his sister and a police officer, Cox and the SVU tell Tom and Viola that Henry will be charged with juvenile delinquency and locked up in a secure facility until he is 18 years old. (SVU: "Born Psychopath")
In 2021, eight years later, Henry was released from the facility after lying and saying that he had changed. Afterwards, he raped and tortured Libby Blandon, his psychiatrist's daughter, who he also attempted to murder but she survived. After killing his father, stepmother and half-brother Arlo, Henry kidnapped and held Ruby at gunpoint but she was rescued by Rollins. Rollins told Henry that she was worried about him back in 2013 and that she didn't want him to die. However, Rollins soon discovered that Henry had been stalking her and her daughter Jesse and had several photos of Jesse on his phone.
Rollins, Lindstrom, Carisi and several others recommended that Henry be institutionalized, stating that he was a very dangerous man and that he would continue to murder people as long as he was free, as well as being a risk to the the safety of the general public as well as people he knew such as family, past friends and the detectives involved with his case, particularly Rollins and her family. Carisi told Judge Anita Wright that he firmly believed, along with several others, that Henry was competent enough to stand trial. Wright agreed, but Henry's attorney, April Andrews, objected to this, which Wright ignored. Henry told Wright she wasn't being nice to his lawyer and walked over to her, trying to intimidate her. He then blew into a rage and stabbed Carisi in his ear with a pencil before being dragged away by the court security guards, shouting that he wanted his father.
Carisi recovered and was discharged from hospital, where Rollins told him that Henry had put on an act to look insane so he would not have to stand trial. However, Carisi assured her that Henry will stand no matter how insane he is. Rollins visited Henry in his institution where he was drugged out and angrily told him that she lied about not wanting him to die. Rollins warned Henry that if he ever stalked or came near her family or Carisi again, she would kill him herself. As she left, Henry sinisterly smiled to himself. (SVU: "Post-Graduate Psychopath")
Known Victims[]
- Unknown dates: Several unnamed classmates (all assaulted)
- 2012-March 2013: Ruby Mesner (his sister; physically and emotionally abused repeatedly; later bound and attempted to suffocate with smoke from a fire)
- 2013:
- March 15-16: Viola Mesner (his mother; harassed and assaulted by cutting her hand with a knife; later locked in a closet and left in an apartment fire)
- March 16: The apartment standoff:
- Toby Burke (tied up and left alive in a closet)
- Sam (held at gunpoint)
- Detective Olivia Benson (held at gunpoint)
- Detective Nick Amaro (assaulted; shot in the chest with a handgun, but he was protected by a bulletproof vest)
- 2021:
- April 2:
- The Mesner family:
- Tom Mesner (stabbed repeatedly; previously harassed)
- Holly Mesner (stabbed repeatedly)
- Arlo Mesner (stabbed repeatedly)
- Libby Blandon (assaulted; tied up, raped, burned with cigarettes, and choked)
- The Mesner family:
- April 4:
- The Davis home incident:
- Unnamed male police officer (assaulted; tied up and tape-gagged and left in trunk of squad car)
- Megan Davis and her daughter Charlotte (both assaulted):
- Megan Davis (rendered unconscious)
- Charlotte Davis (tied up)
- Ruby Mesner (kidnapped; was released)
- Detective Amanda Rollins (held at gunpoint)
- The Davis home incident:
- April 6: The courthouse assault:
- Judge Anita Wright (harassed and threatened)
- Assistant District Attorney Dominick Carisi, Jr. (assaulted; stabbed in the left ear with pencil)
- April 2:
Appearances[]
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2 seasons, 2 episodes):