Rita Lasku was an Albanian waitress who was trafficked by the Kosta Organization.
History[]
Elliot Stabler (in his undercover alias as Eddie Wagner) and Reggie Bogdani go to Rita's restaurant in Little Albania. He makes fun of Bogdani's attempt to get her phone number and orders a Monte Cristo sandwich, which she has trouble pronouncing like Americans do as she only arrived in the country 4 weeks before. He mentions the book, The Count of Monte Cristo, to her as well, to which she starts referring to him as. Stabler also dives on top of her when Frugatti's gang shoots up the diner in retaliation against the KO and the Marcy Killers. (OC: "New World Order").
Stabler became concerned when Rita didn't show up for work and called in sick. He had given her a copy of the book, The Count of Monte Cristo, the day before. However, after flirting with Flutura Briscu and then spiking her drink, Stabler found Rita's passport in a briefcase in the Briscu home, along with several other passports of young Albanian women. After sending in the photos to Ayanna Bell, Stabler expressed to her that he was worried about Rita and they might be looking at human trafficking. (OC: "For A Few Leke More")
Bell asked Special Victims Unit to look into the possible trafficking with Jet Slootmaekers bringing over the information to them in person. Olivia Benson talks to Elvis Baktashi, a vigilante that SVU had encountered before, and he brings them information about the operation. (SVU: "Fast Times @ TheWheelHouse")
SVU and the Organized Crime Control Bureau confirm the operation and bust it up. Rita, however, is put into a car; Stabler gives chase and saved Rita by crashing a motorcycle he had stolen into the car. Rita became terrified and told Stabler that they were going to kill her son. However, Stabler told Rita that Gabriel was okay and Rita was confused because she didn't tell him anything about her son before tonight like his name being Gabriel. Stabler told Rita that he was a cop and showed her his badge. Rita became confused and Stabler told Rita that Gabriel is with Interpol in London and that she would go be with him there. She thanked him for saving them as Officer Monte Cristo, the nickname she had made for him. (OC: "The Good, The Bad And The Lovely")
Rita returns into Stabler's life two years later after contacting Stabler. (OC: "Memory Lane")
Rita is kidnapped by a group of men at a bar who harassed her before she passed out. She is murdered by them and her body is found by Stabler and Vargas in a buried grave next to a World War II bunker, devastating Stabler. (OC: "Missing Persons")
Appearances[]
- Law & Order: Organized Crime (2 seasons, 6 episodes):