3. Want — Episode — Law & Order: Criminal Intent

3. Want

A shy, lonely man becomes the focus of a police investigation when a stripper is found murdered -- with part of her calf missing -- and Detectives Goren and Eames zero in when another woman escapes his clutches, leading them to believe the suspect wants a "mindless" female to keep him company. However, as the noose is tightened, a sympathetic Goren clashes with his superiors over how to prosecute the pathetic killer.

Plot summary and ending

Spoilers ahead. Coverage follows the scope labeled below.

Complete story — includes the ending

John Tagman ( Neil Patrick Harris ) is a lonely, quiet, unassuming guy who kidnaps and attempts to lobotomize two young women, one of whom dies and the other suffers permanent brain damage. Goren and Eames, track him down but have difficulty finding the evidence to convict him. A.D.A. Ron Carver and Captain James Deakins seek the death penalty however Goren surprisingly opposes them, protesting that Tagman did not have the intent to kill, but to create a submissive companion. In the police interview room, Goren successfully elicits a confession from Tagman which results in a life sentence, although he is later beaten to death in prison.

Sources and content license

Source and revision history · Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, Law & Order: Criminal Intent season 4. HTML formatting and reference markers removed. · Content license