Robert Flynn was a radio talk show host, as well as a rapist and murderer.
Background[]
Flynn was a radio host with a previous career as a lawyer and also with activity doing tours in Iraq as part of his business. Flynn's material was usually political debates and challenges even when tossing points between himself, and he was also writing a book on his career titled "Titan of Talk". People familiar with Flynn knew he had a history of sexually harassing and groping numerous women, facing three allegations in Iraq and even being fired from the last studio he worked at when it got worse overtime. The women Flynn usually targeted were the female partners of his business partners and other close associates.
One of Flynn's previous legal associates was Kenneth Cross, who was married to Lola Simenon. Flynn was offended when he found out Ken and Lola were pulling couple's scams and chose him as their next victim. As a result, Flynn shot Ken dead near Amsterdam Avenue and stole his personal items to make it look like a robbery. He then threatened Lola in their home personally with the gun he used in the shooting, saying he'd kill her too if she told. It's also implied he extorted Lola with sexual abuse as well by utilizing the same threats regarding Ken's murder.
Video Killed the Radio Star[]
At a benefit where Flynn hired Trevor Langan as a keynote speaker, Flynn met up with Mitch Kaplan, a businessman specializing in sleep apnea products who was endorsed on Flynn's show. Flynn was being lewd again at the event, harassing Captain Benson and getting close to Mitch's wife Ellen, groping her buttocks during a photo op. As the event was winding down, when Ellen went into a backroom to help organize supplies, Flynn got her alone and harassed her again. When she said "no" and tried to get him to back off, Flynn retorted with "nobody says no to Bobby Flynn" and raped her.
Ellen only told Mitch about being groped, and he insisted to go to the police. She confided in Benson privately about the rape and feared Flynn would both slander Ellen on his show and provoke Mitch into retaliation, as Mitch had a complex of aggressive vigilantism for the people he loves. Investigations revealed Flynn's past history and allegations, so Rollins, who heard Flynn's show before, went undercover to record what Flynn would do at a book signing. Flynn did get her alone and started making passes and tried to sexually assault Rollins once he got drunk, but then he suddenly bragged about Ken's murder, providing vague but revealing details that included the treat he used on Lola, and implying Ken got in the way of Flynn sexually abusing Lola. Rollins then goes off script and says she's been sent to get intel on Flynn, but adds to the lie with saying she's a hitwoman named "Amanda Jones" with a fee.
Lola calls Flynn and warns him the cops are onto him, which Flynn knows came from Rollins. Since Flynn's attempts to deny his confession were weak despite not being enough evidence, Rollins rushes with Flynn to seal a paid hit on Lola Flynn is insistent to be carried out, with Velasco as Rollins' backup. Since Flynn spoke in a code to not incriminate himself, Lola was brought on to pose for a fake photo as "proof" for Flynn. Flynn was convinced, but then he pulled a gun and aimed it at the two detectives, then pulled it away while saying he was just joking. The police arrived and arrested Flynn on the spot, along with Velasco just for show. Flynn pleaded not guilty and posted bail.
While on his show, Robert talked about his case, lying by saying the NYPD were harassing him and using women from his past to blackmail him with his false allegations. SVU went from exasperated and disgusted from Flynn's riffing to being shocked from hearing Mitch barge into Flynn's studio. Mitch pulled his gun and revealed Ellen told him Flynn raped her. Flynn just taunted Mitch by harassing him and Ellen on live radio and goaded Mitch, while not believing Mitch would be audacious enough to pull the trigger. Mitch shot Flynn once and said that was for himself, as Flynn looked at his wound in disbelief. Mitch then stated what was next was for his wife, before he shot Flynn again and killed him in his chair, leaving the police and viewers in shock as Mitch put the gun on a desk and walked out, backup being too late to respond when Flynn succumbed to his wounds.
Known Victims[]
- Unknown dates and locations: Numerous unnamed women (all sexually harassed and groped)
- Unknown dates, Iraq: Three unnamed women (all sexually harassed and groped)
- Unknown date, New York City, New York, U.S.: Kenneth Cross (his business partner; shot and stole his personal items)
- Unknown date, New York City, New York, U.S.: Lola Simenon (harassed and threatened at gunpoint; later tried to have Rollins kill her)
- 2022, New York City, New York, U.S.:
- Captain Olivia Benson (sexually harassed)
- Ellen Kaplan (groped; later raped)
- Detective Amanda Rollins (harassed and attempted to sexually assault; later threatened at gunpoint)
- Detective Joe Velasco (threatened at gunpoint)