Victor Moran was a detective of 20 years with the NYPD. He spent fifteen years in Homicide and five in Major Cases. Moran first starts out somewhat rude towards the SVU crew, but later grows to get along with them, he was a bit obsessed with finding the killer of the women.
It is eventually revealed that nearly six months before while he was working the case, Moran's fed-up wife left him and took their twelve-year old daughter Joy. The two were involved in a car accident that left Moran's wife dead and Joy in a persistent comatose state due to a severe head injury she suffered. His obsession with the case comes from his belief that his case and the killer were responsible for his losses.
With the help of SVU, particularly Elliot Stabler, Moran is finally able to catch the killer Mark Ocurro. Occuro subsequently confesses to the murders and a couple of more committed in the Dominican Republic. Afterwards, Moran decides to move forward with his life and decides to take Joy taken off life support, but he donates her organs. Though mourning his loss, Moran tells Stabler that its a second chance which everyone needs.