Sergeant Tom Cole was a retired police sergeant and the prime suspect in the rape of Quinn Berris, who he saved from a stalker named Ray Wilson four years ago.
History[]
Cole befriended Berris after putting away her stalker. The pair kept in contact and became good friends over the years with Cole making sure she was safe. Eventually, he retired from the NYPD and settled with his wife, but their marriage became strained, and he developed a fixation on Berris as a way to cope.
Cole started to stalk Berris, learning her routine. He also covered his tracks when she suspected someone following her. One night, he decided to act on his impulses and donned a mask while following her. Cole proceeded to hold her at knifepoint and take Berris to a secluded spot, where he raped her but wore a condom to prevent leaving DNA.
After raping Berris, he attempted to frame Wilson for the crime through planted DNA evidence, but SVU detectives saw through this after a lengthy investigation.
Realizing this, Cole kidnapped Berris and took her to his brother's farmhouse in Harding Township, New Jersey. After a standoff at the farmhouse, he was shot to death by Lieutenant Olivia Benson after he attempted to shoot Detective Carisi. Quinn later remarked that she cared for Cole, because he helped, but could not understand Cole's act. (SVU: "Next Chapter")