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00:05In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous.
00:11In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are
00:15members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit.
00:18These are their stories.
00:48How much?
00:50You tell me.
00:51What are you looking for?
00:53Everything.
00:55100?
00:58That's a lot.
00:59How much you got?
01:0180.
01:04As your friend.
01:05Why don't you get in the car and stop asking questions?
01:11NYPD!
01:12Don't shoot!
01:14NYPD!
01:17I'm married!
01:18I'm married!
01:18I'm married!
01:18I'm kids!
01:19Please!
01:19I'm begging you!
01:20My wife will take the kids!
01:23Hey.
01:24Hey.
01:24I'm Tracy.
01:25I'm a police officer.
01:26You hurt?
01:26Come here.
01:28Come here.
01:30Ow!
01:31Ow!
01:31Ow!
01:32I'm here to help you.
01:34You're not in any trouble, I promise.
01:36That man's not going to be able to hurt you.
01:38Can you tell me your name?
01:43Captain.
01:44Hey.
01:48Don't start.
01:49First of all, you don't look bad.
01:50You look good.
01:51I mean, this is something.
01:53Oh yeah, you can borrow it.
01:56She won't tell me her name, or her age, or anything really.
01:59But she's young.
02:01No older than 15, I think.
02:03John's from Jersey.
02:04I swear she was already beat up when he solicited her.
02:06She won't let the doctor examine her?
02:08Only treated the busted lip, but she's in no hurry to leave.
02:13I think she might be ready to accept some help.
02:15All right.
02:17Hey, I'm Olivia.
02:19I'm a police officer.
02:21Ouch.
02:22That looks like it hurts a little bit, huh?
02:25I'll get it.
02:26I'll get it.
02:27Wow.
02:29I like heels, but I don't think I could walk in these.
02:32You know what I brought?
02:33I always bring me socks in case people are cold.
02:36I feel them.
02:37They're my favorite.
02:39Super soft, right?
02:41You know what else I always have in my bag?
02:46Always.
02:48Little makeup wipes if you want to take your makeup off.
02:50They smell really good.
02:51They're cucumber.
02:54You got any hot cheetos in that bag?
02:57I'm happy to get you some when we're done.
02:59That wig can't be comfortable.
03:02Let me help you.
03:06There you go.
03:08Oh, that thing is heavy.
03:11Here.
03:14Yeah, get yourself comfortable.
03:19Here, I'll take it.
03:23I'll help you with that.
03:24Oh, you got it.
03:26So, what's your name?
03:28Riley.
03:29Is there somebody I can call for you, Riley?
03:34How about...
03:35It's a little cold in here.
03:36I should have given you this earlier.
03:39Take this.
03:41There you go.
03:43Here.
03:46Okay.
03:47Good.
03:49So, how old are you?
03:50Yeah.
03:51I'll be 15 in a couple of months.
03:54Your parents around?
03:59My mom died when I was little.
04:02Oh, I'm sorry.
04:04My dad, I just don't live with him anymore.
04:07Okay.
04:08You in foster care?
04:11Those lashes, are they hard to get on?
04:14Not really.
04:15Okay.
04:18Oh, good.
04:20That was easy.
04:22So, Riley.
04:24I don't know you.
04:26And you don't know me.
04:28But...
04:29What happened to you, is it right?
04:32It's not fair.
04:34And you deserve to be protected.
04:39And loved.
04:41And I can't change the past, but what I can do...
04:44is I can promise you...
04:48that I'll do everything in my power...
04:51to make sure that you...
04:54get to be the girl that you were supposed to be.
05:01He...
05:04He said if I ever told anyone, I'd...
05:07I'd never see my daddy again.
05:09Who said that?
05:12He said I can never go home.
05:16Please, I just...
05:17I just want to go home.
05:19Can you just take me home?
05:24Is it okay if I give you a hug?
05:27I'm sorry.
05:29I'm sorry.
05:31I'm so sorry.
05:34I need you.
05:37I am sorry.
05:40I'm sorry.
05:42I felt like I did a good time for you, my baby.
05:43And I got to be...
05:43I got to be a little girl.
05:44I don't want to be a little girl, a little girl.
05:56And I'm just trying to be...
06:32She agreed to the physical exam.
06:34Great.
06:35I'll do it myself.
06:37Nice work.
06:38So, did she tell you her last name or where she lives?
06:41No, but ACS is sending a social worker.
06:44They may be able to ID her.
06:45Would have been nice if they checked on the child in their care before she was pimped out.
06:51Look, Ash, I know you're slammed, but I really don't want her to go to another foster home tonight.
06:55I'll find her a bit.
06:58Oh, I think that's the social worker.
07:00Tell her I'll talk to her after the exam.
07:03Don't bite her head off.
07:03Yeah.
07:05You're the detective?
07:06I'm the captain, Olivia Benson.
07:07Vivian Parker, ACS.
07:09When can I talk to the girl?
07:10After you talk to me.
07:11So, do you know who she is?
07:13I believe so.
07:14From her age and description, I think her name is Riley Williams.
07:18Well, is there anything in here about her foster father pimping her out?
07:22I don't think so.
07:23No?
07:23Did you bother to check on Riley since she's been placed in that home?
07:27I'm new to this case.
07:28Well, then let me bring you up to speed.
07:31She got lost in the system.
07:33She's been forced into prostitution.
07:35So, I need somebody on this case who actually gives a damn.
07:37That's me, Captain.
07:39I don't have to tell you the number of cases ACS has to cover.
07:42Over 50,000 cases and 6,000 kids in foster care alone and not enough hours in the day to
07:47keep track of them.
07:48But get her out of that home and tell me who the foster father is so I can arrest him.
07:53Well, that's a thing.
07:54There isn't one.
07:55She was placed with a single woman, Monique Sherman.
07:58All right.
07:58Well, I need to speak with Monique.
08:04You weren't concerned when Riley didn't come home last night?
08:06What?
08:07Am I supposed to tie her to her bed?
08:09I done told that social worker I cannot control that girl.
08:11You told the social worker two months ago that everything was fine.
08:15I don't know about that.
08:16Look, there's a different one every single time.
08:18Okay.
08:19That girl is a problem.
08:20Always has been.
08:23I didn't know anybody was coming over.
08:26I would have cleaned up.
08:27Who's Marcus?
08:28Who?
08:28The guy getting bills at this address.
08:30I get the wrong mail every time.
08:32Listen, my shift is going to start.
08:33You need to go.
08:34Well, there's two coffee cups here in the sink.
08:36And there's two phone chargers.
08:38And a pair of size 12 work boots.
08:41Four pairs of men's shoes.
08:42A couple of men's jacket.
08:43That is private.
08:43Monique, where's Marcus?
08:45Marcus, you need to leave.
08:47Somebody in this house is forcing a child into sex trafficking.
08:51And if Marcus doesn't exist, that only leaves one other person, doesn't it?
08:58Marcus Boyd, 42, has a rap sheet that goes back for 20 years.
09:03Gambling, theft, and he just finished a bid at Green Haven last year for promoting prostitution.
09:09Looks like his first foray into trafficking kids.
09:11He really wants to go down to the bottom of the barrel.
09:13With a record like this, he's going to be going away for a long time.
09:16And I suspect he knows that because he's in the wind.
09:19So we have a car sitting on the residence.
09:21And Curry is with the foster mother.
09:23And Casey calls.
09:24And how's the girl?
09:25Um, she's comfortable.
09:27Um, there's no drugs in her system.
09:29And, uh, she can't stay there indefinitely.
09:31So the social worker's trying to place her.
09:34That was Curry.
09:35Marcus called the foster mom.
09:36He borrowed money for a bus ticket.
09:37He's at the Midtown Terminal now.
09:42We got a hold on all outbound buses.
09:44Got every available eye looking.
09:45Okay, he needs ID to buy a ticket, doesn't he?
09:47Unless he got it online.
09:48How many gates?
09:49Over 200.
09:50I'm sorry, Captain.
09:51This is a tiny needle in a 2 million square foot haystack.
09:54Level 2, they're the duncan.
09:56They get him.
09:57We're on our way.
09:58Clear the elevators and shut them down.
09:59Okay, I want teams of two at every escalator from that level down.
10:03Coordinate with court authority officers.
10:05You got it, Captain.
10:12Gate 210, black jacket, gray hat.
10:14Going to Orlando.
10:15Happiest pimp on earth.
10:16All right, so stay here in case he gets past us, all right?
10:19All right, our suspect is at gate 210.
10:22Curry and I are going in.
10:35Marcus, boy?
10:37Don't try it, boy.
10:38Don't do it.
10:38No, come on.
10:45Stop!
10:47In my opinion, you need some weak wings.
10:49Get back!
10:49Get back and stop!
10:50Why?
10:51Whoa, stop!
10:52Freeze!
10:58Oh my god, my leg is broken.
11:01Man, look at you.
11:02Thought you were dead, lucky duck.
11:05Help me!
11:07Okay, we'll call an ambulance.
11:09Okay, we'll call an ambulance.
11:10In a minute.
11:13Oh!
11:14Oh!
11:20A few years ago, the department placed a 12-year-old with them.
11:23And they adopted her.
11:25Amazing family, just really good people.
11:28So they're okay with a teenage girl?
11:29Well, raised three girls of their own.
11:31Okay.
11:31I vetted them myself, visited the home, spoke to neighbors, they're aware of all the circumstances
11:37with Riley.
11:38They want to help.
11:38Good.
11:39Well, this is good news.
11:40I don't know if Riley is going to feel that way.
11:42I mean, she really, really wants to go back to her father.
11:45Dad lost custody four years ago for abuse.
11:48Before my time.
11:49I'm not sure about the details.
11:50Yeah, well, that was in the Bronx.
11:53Back then, SVU was problematic.
11:57Look around, see what I can find out.
11:59Immunification would be ideal.
12:00Yeah, well, I think let's get her somewhere safe first.
12:05Hey, uh, excuse me.
12:07Where's the girl that was here?
12:08There was another girl here.
12:12Okay.
12:17Hey, anything?
12:18One camera caught her getting into a car on the south side of the hospital about two hours
12:23before you arrived.
12:24Okay.
12:24But the footage is garbage.
12:25Could only make out that it was a dark late model sedan.
12:28How did she leave without getting caught?
12:30It's not a lockdown ward.
12:32I mean, she could have walked through the front door.
12:34Well, I'm checking with the ride share companies now between that time frame.
12:37Cap, line two came in on the non-emergency line.
12:40Guy says he's Riley's dad.
12:48Hi, this is Captain Benson.
12:51Hello?
12:52Hello, are you there?
12:54Yeah, yeah, I'm here.
12:55Okay.
12:56And you're Riley's father?
12:57You're Nathan Williams?
13:00Yes, uh, Nate Williams.
13:03Riley's here.
13:03She just showed up on my doorstep.
13:05Okay, Mr. Williams.
13:07Is Riley okay?
13:08Yeah, yeah, yeah.
13:09She's okay.
13:09Um, she said she wants to stay with me.
13:12I want that more than anything, but I don't want her to get in trouble.
13:15Or me.
13:17I don't know what to do.
13:25Hi.
13:27She's, uh, she's really mad.
13:30Okay.
13:31Hey, Riley.
13:33I'm not leaving.
13:33You just have to take me to jail.
13:34Okay, nobody's going to jail.
13:36Honey, you know that we cannot do it like this, right?
13:38Nobody is listening to me.
13:39Why isn't anyone listening to me?
13:41Hey, Riley.
13:42We all just want what's best for you, Riley.
13:44Then let me stay.
13:46My dad never hurt me, and nobody believes me.
13:49I broke my arm playing volleyball, and they said he did it.
13:54The hospital reported the injury to ACS as suspected abuse.
13:57The social worker referred it to Bronx SVU.
13:59I talked to the detective.
14:01He said it looked like an accident because it was.
14:03Then a week later, we get pulled into family court, and they said I did it.
14:07And then they took her away.
14:08Did you appeal the court's decision?
14:11Yeah.
14:12It took me two years to get a lawyer that would even take my case.
14:15We get to appeals court, and they say it's over a six-year backlog on civil cases.
14:20And even then, I went to every class they told me to go to.
14:23I got a better place to live.
14:25I talked to every social worker that came to my door, and it didn't matter.
14:29They ship Riley all different places.
14:32She missed school, and now some man is beating her?
14:36They put her in the street?
14:40I would never.
14:42I didn't hurt Riley.
14:45And nobody cares.
14:46It's been four years.
14:47I will never get that time back.
14:49Riley will never get that time back.
14:56I tried, baby.
14:59I tried so hard to get you back.
15:03I'm still trying.
15:08Can you help us?
15:10Can you make them listen?
15:12I don't work for Bronx SVU, so I don't have the authority to reopen the case.
15:18But I will make some inquiries.
15:21So no, you're not going to help us.
15:23I'm going to try, but, you know, that's really all that I can promise.
15:28At this point, maybe somebody will listen to me.
15:32But unfortunately, you can't stay here right now.
15:39Listen, we have a family that's ready for you to stay with them.
15:42And they are safe and loving.
15:45I will not let you get lost in the system.
15:49Just until we get all this sorted out.
15:53If we could,
15:56I get her to play with you right now and we just run away.
16:00You know I would.
16:02You say sorry, baby.
16:05This is my fault.
16:09I will do whatever you want me to do.
16:12I'll take any tests.
16:13I'll pay any money.
16:15Just help me get my daughter.
16:22The Bronx SVU case file is pretty light.
16:25I mean, the lieutenant spoke with the dad, the school, the hospital, and Riley.
16:29He didn't think that there was anything criminal.
16:30And the Bronx DA declined to prosecute.
16:32But somehow, Bronx Family Court got involved and initiated the removal.
16:36The social worker said that there was already an ACS file on Nate Williams
16:40from when Riley was a baby.
16:42So he had brought her into the hospital with a high fever
16:45and they looked at him for neglect.
16:48Or they looked at him because he was a single dad, low income, and black.
16:52Yeah, that could absolutely be a part of it.
16:54In New York, more than half the kids that are removed from their homes
16:57without a court order are black.
16:59Even though those kids only make up a quarter of the population.
17:01Yeah, I can ask Reesey to reach out to Bronx Family Court.
17:04He might have some contacts.
17:05Who was the lieutenant from the Bronx?
17:07Uh, Delacruz.
17:08You know him?
17:09Oh, yeah.
17:10He got caught up in the house cleaning over there.
17:13They let him stay in the department, but they busted him down to the property room.
17:16Okay, so he hates you or just intensely dislikes?
17:20I mean, I'm not getting any Christmas cards from the guy, but he wasn't the worst of them.
17:24I can have a chat.
17:26Yeah, I remember it.
17:27Kid busted her arm.
17:28Hospital questioned whether the dad could have done it.
17:30You didn't think so?
17:32Plenty of witnesses to the actual injury.
17:35Collider with another kid at practice.
17:37Dad seemed solid.
17:38Kid's story was consistent.
17:39I talked to my DA.
17:40He DP'd it.
17:41Last I heard of it.
17:42Well, somebody at Family Court disagreed and removed her from her home.
17:46Doc at the hospital is real insistent about abuse.
17:50But other than the century, I couldn't find anything to support that.
17:54All I got.
17:56Appreciate you, Javi.
17:57Tell Ginny I said hello.
18:00Ginny left me.
18:01And you and me are not friends.
18:04If they need you in Family Court, will you testify?
18:07You know where to find me.
18:08Down in this hellhole.
18:15Sir, are you with the Manhattan DA?
18:17What the hell are you doing up here?
18:18A favor of my S.U. detectives.
18:20Case dropped in their lap.
18:21They didn't sex with one of your clients, Nate Williams.
18:23Okay, and?
18:24And I think I got something that's going to help you get his kid back.
18:26Oh, look, man.
18:27Don't be telling him things like that, okay?
18:29I don't want to give him false hope.
18:30Well, hold on. Relax.
18:31I didn't tell him anything.
18:32But what's the case?
18:33I don't think you hear what I'm saying.
18:35The lieutenant who investigated is willing to speak on your client's behalf.
18:38He's going to say that he didn't find any evidence of abuse.
18:41Okay, great. Have him give me a call. Thanks.
18:43Wait, hold on.
18:45Do you think your client's innocent?
18:46Yes, I do.
18:48I also know it doesn't matter in this case.
18:51Doesn't matter?
18:52That's insane.
18:53It's also bordering on negligence.
18:55You get a chance to get justice for your client.
18:57You take it.
18:58Have you ever spent any time in Bronx Family Court?
19:03No, I haven't.
19:05Yeah.
19:06You kind of feel it hanging in the air, right?
19:08The despair.
19:09The judges don't care.
19:11They're just waiting for their next political appointment.
19:14Yeah.
19:14Everybody treats each other like garbage.
19:16And the families that walk through these doors,
19:18they get screwed one way or another.
19:20There is rarely a just solution.
19:23Well, I'm telling you, here is one.
19:26Request a new hearing.
19:28Daughter's almost 15 years old.
19:29She's going to be able to testify.
19:31Come on, pal.
19:32This is as close to a slam dunk as you're going to get.
19:36Yeah.
19:36All right.
19:37I'll do my best.
19:38You should come up and see for yourself.
19:41Sit in the front row.
19:44All right.
19:45I've read the application, motions, and briefs.
19:48I've also reviewed the statements
19:49from the investigating detective and the police file.
19:53Mr. Battaglia, please call your first witness.
19:55We called Dr. Bethany Allen.
19:58Dr. Allen, I'll remind you, you're under oath.
20:01You may proceed.
20:02Dr. Allen, you're the head of the Child Abuse and Neglect Department
20:06at St. Bartholomew's in the Bronx?
20:08Yes, I am.
20:08And you reviewed Riley Williams' case when she was seen
20:11in the St. Bartholomew's emergency department in 2022?
20:14Yes, I did.
20:15Can you explain what a child abuse pediatrician is?
20:18Well, it's in the job description.
20:20It is a subspecialty of pediatrics.
20:23We are trained to evaluate, treat, and prevent child abuse.
20:27Why did you recommend Riley be removed from the home
20:29after evaluating her four years ago?
20:31I made my recommendation based on Riley's medical history
20:35and on the injuries she presented with.
20:37As a newborn, Riley developed a fever of 102,
20:42and by the father's own admission,
20:44he delayed getting medical attention for three days.
20:47By definition, failure to provide necessary medical care is neglect.
20:55And what about her broken arm?
20:57Riley presented with a non-displaced fracture to the ulna,
21:02also called a nightstick fracture.
21:04In young women, this injury often occurs
21:06when someone uses their forearm to shield their face from a blow.
21:10And even though Riley stated she'd been hurt playing sports?
21:13Well, you don't need to be a doctor to understand
21:16that children protect their parents,
21:18protect their abusers.
21:21And it's up to me, and to you, and to you, Your Honor.
21:26It's up to us all to protect them.
21:33Thank you all for your presentations.
21:35While I understand that the Administration for Children's Services
21:39has the burden of proof here,
21:41I will say I still have concerns for the minor's safety.
21:45I'll review all the evidence and have a decision in a week.
21:49We're adjourned.
21:53So, what does that mean?
21:54Does that mean that she must say yes?
21:56Honestly, it means she wants us to wait until she says no.
22:00Welcome to the Bronx.
22:02Hope you enjoyed your field trip.
22:18Dr. Allen, hi.
22:20Hi.
22:21I'm Captain Olivia Benson from Manhattan Special Victims Unit,
22:24and I was just in court, and I heard your testimony.
22:28Oh, well, I'm happy to have helped.
22:30Well, actually, you know, I'm always looking to learn,
22:32and I was wondering if you might tell me
22:33just a little bit more of how you came to your conclusion
22:36about Riley Williams.
22:37Easy. I followed the science.
22:39Okay, but police work supported everything that Riley said
22:43and everything that her father is saying.
22:46Then the police work is wrong.
22:50How do you know when you're wrong?
22:52Well, I appreciate the work of law enforcement.
22:54I do, but you are simply not capable
22:56of making judgments at this level,
22:57and I'm sorry if that sounds condescending.
22:59It does, but I assume that's the point?
23:02Fair.
23:04I respect what you do,
23:05but if we allow cops and lawyers and judges
23:08to interpret science, children die.
23:11The only thing that I regret about how I handled Riley Williams
23:14is I just wish I'd gotten her out of that house sooner.
23:17Okay, Dr. Allen, Riley Williams was forced into prostitution
23:21while in foster care.
23:23She wasn't safer.
23:24Yes, but that is not my responsibility, is it?
23:28It's yours.
23:30That's all the time I've got, Captain.
23:32Good luck.
23:38What are our next steps?
23:40We don't really have any.
23:42Why not?
23:43Well, if this isn't even our own county.
23:46And we got the guy a new hearing,
23:47and hopefully the judge comes back with the right decision,
23:51but it's not all that we can do here.
23:59I don't know, Olivia.
24:00The arm fracture could have been warding off a blow,
24:03or it could have happened the way the child
24:04and the dad described it.
24:06Okay, fine.
24:06I mean, at worst, it's unclear.
24:10But would you have taken her out of the home based on this?
24:13If there was a history of neglect or abuse.
24:16The history is high fever that went on too long
24:19before the father sought medical attention.
24:22I don't know what you want me to say, Olivia.
24:24Would you have taken her out of the house?
24:26No, but I am just reading the reports.
24:29I am not seeing the patient or the father.
24:31Well, neither did Dr. Allen.
24:33She made her decision remotely
24:36based on medical records and imaging.
24:40So what's really bothering you here?
24:43You know, there are only about 350 board-certified CAPs
24:47in the country.
24:49Dr. Allen is one of them.
24:51She is one of the most respected and sought after.
24:55But that doesn't mean that she can't make a mistake.
24:57And frankly, I'm a little surprised
25:00that you want to challenge
25:01the medical judgment of a physician.
25:03I know that I'm not a doctor.
25:05I've been doing this a long time.
25:07And that's got to count for something.
25:11And Dr. Allen is so sure.
25:16And that's a problem.
25:18Doctors can get myopic.
25:21And they want to prove their hypothesis so bad
25:24that they reject any information
25:26that doesn't conform with it.
25:27Look, I'm not trying to undermine Dr. Allen.
25:30I'm not.
25:31But...
25:33But I think that there may
25:35be an injustice here.
25:38Obviously, if I'm wrong,
25:39I'll let it go.
25:40But...
25:41Yeah.
25:41That sounds just like you.
25:44Allen keeps jumping around.
25:48For a supposedly rising star in this field,
25:51she keeps bouncing to new jobs.
25:54And a small hospital in the Bronx
25:56isn't exactly a step up.
26:00Always wondered why.
26:05Well, Ashley wasn't wrong.
26:07Dr. Allen has been all over.
26:09She started her career in Chicago
26:11and then a couple of places in Cleveland,
26:13three or four-year stints.
26:14And she spent the longest amount of time in the Bronx.
26:17She seems to spend half her time
26:19giving expert testimony
26:20and talks at medical conferences.
26:22The last one was about abusive head trauma,
26:24what we used to call shaken baby syndrome.
26:27Look, you got beef with me or something?
26:30No.
26:30Why?
26:31Then what's with the, uh,
26:33the boatload of subpoenas
26:34you dumped on my desk?
26:35Requests for medical records
26:36from three Cleveland hospitals,
26:37the Chicago Hospital Group,
26:39employment records,
26:40DCFS records,
26:41medical board records,
26:42all for Dr. Bethany Allen.
26:44Yeah, I'm just...
26:44I'm looking into her.
26:45Liv, come on.
26:46I told you.
26:47We did our job here.
26:48In fact, we did more than that.
26:49Okay, and Riley Williams
26:50is living in a foster home indefinitely.
26:54Unfortunately, Riley Williams
26:55is out of our hands.
26:56That's a different department.
26:57And I cannot believe that you,
26:59of all people,
27:00want to go after a medical doctor on this.
27:02Why?
27:02Because she can't be wrong?
27:04That is not what I said.
27:06Chrissy, I've worked with CAPs before,
27:09and it has always been a team.
27:12So what's your plan here?
27:14Are you going to build a case against her?
27:15Are you going to arrest her?
27:16No, she hasn't done anything criminal.
27:20Look, I'm just trying to do the right thing
27:24for Riley and for whoever else is out there.
27:38Hey, CJ, what's shaking?
27:41I got a problem.
27:44That doctor?
27:48Uh, I used her in a case six months ago,
27:52expert witness,
27:52and I got the conviction.
27:55You're questioning that now?
27:58Aren't you?
28:07Sure, I remember this.
28:09Corinne Langford.
28:10Baby had a head injury.
28:11Doctor couldn't rule out abuse.
28:13What did the mother tell you?
28:14Nothing.
28:15I tried to talk to her at the hospital.
28:17She said her cousin was a lawyer.
28:18Something told her never talk to the police.
28:20Honestly, that's good advice.
28:21So you never interviewed her at all?
28:23Nope.
28:23Next thing I heard, CJ got the indictment.
28:25My usual expert witness wasn't available.
28:28Someone recommended Dr. Allen,
28:29and she was incredible.
28:31Grand jury loved her.
28:32She diagnosed abusive head trauma.
28:35After the indictment,
28:36the defense lawyer wanted a deal.
28:38Pled to attempted reckless endangerment one.
28:41Mom's in the middle of 12 months at Rikers.
28:43Where's the kid now?
28:44ACS put him with an aunt.
28:45I gotta tell you,
28:46I don't see what the problem is here.
28:48The doctors in the ER flagged it for abuse.
28:50Allen confirmed it,
28:51and the mom pled guilty.
28:53My guy looked at the case later,
28:54said he was surprised I got the indictment
28:56based on what he saw.
28:57Called it a gray area.
28:59He wouldn't have called it abuse.
29:00And the mother pled because the lawyer said
29:02it would have been worse in front of a jury.
29:03He's right.
29:04It would have been.
29:06All right, CJ,
29:06I just want to make sure that you're understanding
29:10that you're starting here,
29:11because if you open this up,
29:13you open up everything.
29:14Do you understand?
29:15I know.
29:15I mean, think about what happens
29:16when we find out a cop is corrupt.
29:18All those cases, they get tossed.
29:20Right?
29:20So are we going to do that for doctors now?
29:22Honestly, if even one person is in prison
29:26for something they didn't do,
29:27that's too many.
29:29So yeah, I want to open this up.
29:31CJ, this is not just about guilty people walking free.
29:34This is also about potentially sending kids
29:36back to their abusers.
29:38So you better be damn sure,
29:40because I am not qualified to determine
29:42if a doctor is doing medical malpractice.
29:44And neither are you.
29:48Then we find someone who is.
29:52Olivia, I gave you my five-minute opinion
29:54on the last case as a favor to you,
29:56and it's all I'm comfortable doing.
29:57All right, Ash, please.
29:58Will you please just listen to me?
30:00Hey, I wouldn't bring this to you
30:02if it wasn't important.
30:04This is a dangerous road.
30:05Do you really want police and lawyers
30:07to litigate medical diagnoses?
30:09Doctor, this is really because I screwed up.
30:11I used Dr. Allen's testimony,
30:13and I may have put an innocent woman in jail.
30:16She lost custody of her baby.
30:18I would love it if you read this file
30:21and said Dr. Allen was right all along.
30:23That would make my day.
30:25I'm not looking for anything other than the truth.
30:31All right.
30:32I'll let you know when I have an opinion.
30:34But if I don't find anything,
30:35this is the last I want to hear about it.
30:36Understood. Understood.
30:38All right.
30:40She's the best.
30:40She will give us an unbiased opinion.
30:45So I'm going to head to the precinct.
30:47I'm going to head to Rikers.
30:49When Langford never got to tell her side of the story
30:51about time someone listened.
31:06Miss Langford, I'm C.J. Jones.
31:07I remember who you are.
31:11Good.
31:15There have been some developments in your case
31:17that I wanted to tell you about,
31:19and I wanted to ask you some questions.
31:22I don't have nothing to say to you.
31:25Some new evidence may have come to light
31:27that could exonerate you.
31:29So talking to me about what happened
31:31when your son was injured could only help.
31:35This is a good thing.
31:36This is good.
31:37I know, Miss Langford.
31:39You don't know.
31:41You don't know.
31:42You put me here.
31:43I lost my baby because of you.
31:47He's living with another woman
31:48who isn't his mother because of you.
31:51Then let me try to fix it.
31:55You want to know what happened?
31:57My baby bumped his head.
32:00Not even hard.
32:02And then his eyes rolled back.
32:04And I called an ambulance.
32:05And we went to the hospital,
32:07the place that's supposed to help us.
32:13I didn't know I was never going to see him again.
32:19And y'all looked at me,
32:20a black single mother,
32:23and decided I was guilty.
32:27And then you made me say it in court
32:29knowing it wasn't true.
32:32You made me say I hurt my baby.
32:36So go ahead.
32:38Try and fix whatever you did wrong.
32:42It won't be enough.
32:54Well, I'm starting to see
32:55why Carisi is so pissed off.
32:57Can't wait.
33:00Look, I...
33:01I don't want to arrest Alan.
33:04I just want to make this right.
33:08And the only way to do that
33:10is to prove her wrong,
33:12which we can't do
33:13because we're not doctors.
33:15And I'm not about to go around
33:17telling doctors
33:17they don't know what they're talking about.
33:19So what?
33:19So we just swallow it?
33:20No.
33:21Just things happen
33:22and just lateral damage.
33:28I could ask Carisi
33:29to convene an investigative grand jury.
33:31Look into practices
33:32and procedures of ACS,
33:34make recommendations
33:35on how they could do it better.
33:36But the real purpose
33:37would be putting Dr. Allen's actions
33:39on public record.
33:41She's used to nobody questioning her.
33:42Let's make her give some answers.
33:48Ash.
33:51What happened?
33:52She hit a test.
33:56I only caught it
33:58because I checked the records
33:59against Medicaid.
34:00She tested him
34:01for genetic clotting disorder,
34:03Von Willebrand's disease.
34:04He's got it.
34:05The brain bleed on the images...
34:07Is from the disease?
34:08It certainly can't be ruled out.
34:11She took the test
34:12out of the records,
34:14but
34:14she ordered it.
34:19Call Carisi.
34:21Can be in a grand jury.
34:30Dr. Mancini,
34:32would you say
34:32that abusive head trauma,
34:34also known as
34:34shaken baby syndrome,
34:36is a controversial diagnosis?
34:38No.
34:38I wouldn't.
34:40It's only controversial
34:41in the courtroom,
34:43not within the medical profession.
34:45Part of why the name changed
34:47is because of
34:48lawyers like yourself
34:49who questioned
34:50the shaken part of it,
34:52even questioned
34:53if it was a real thing.
34:54Abusive head trauma
34:56is a more accurate description.
34:58And can accidental head trauma
35:00ever be mistaken
35:01for abusive head trauma?
35:03Sometimes.
35:04A fall,
35:05an illness,
35:06an infection,
35:07even some congenital disorders
35:09can have similar symptoms.
35:11Congenital disorders,
35:12like a genetic disease?
35:14Yes.
35:14And how would a doctor
35:15rule that out?
35:17A blood test.
35:19Dr. Allen,
35:20I'd like to talk to you
35:21about your tenure
35:22up in the Bronx.
35:23Happy to.
35:24Now, you found
35:24a lot of child abusers.
35:26I have.
35:27By some metrics,
35:28there was a 20% increase
35:30in referrals to ACS
35:31from your hospital.
35:32We are diligent
35:33and vigorous.
35:35How does it work up there?
35:35Do you mostly call the shots?
35:37Do you work together
35:38as a team?
35:39As a team,
35:39with my medical colleagues,
35:41along with law enforcement
35:42and ACS.
35:43And does this team
35:44ever disagree?
35:45No.
35:46Lockstep, then.
35:48We know how
35:48to interpret information
35:50and arrive
35:51at similar conclusions.
35:52But what would happen
35:53if they did disagree with you?
35:55They wouldn't.
35:57No, I guess they wouldn't.
36:00Uh, doctor,
36:01I'd like to ask you
36:01about one case in particular.
36:03This is a baby boy,
36:05Jason Langford.
36:06Now, I know that you've
36:06reviewed this file.
36:07I have it here for you
36:08if you'd like more time with it.
36:09I'm very familiar.
36:10Okay, good.
36:11Now, you diagnosed Jason
36:12with abusive head trauma.
36:13I did.
36:14Fortunately not fatal.
36:15We were able to save him.
36:17And you were able
36:17to rule out
36:18accidental head trauma.
36:19Yes, he had
36:20a subdural hematoma
36:21that was intrahemispheric
36:22and bilateral retinal hemorrhaging.
36:24All strong indicators
36:25of AHT.
36:27Did you test for hypertension?
36:28Yes.
36:29What about hypoxic,
36:30ischemic encephalopathy?
36:32Someone's learning
36:32their big boy words.
36:34Yes, I am.
36:35Yes, I am.
36:35We did not test for that
36:36as it was not indicated.
36:38Sure.
36:39Um, what about
36:41a blood clotting disorder?
36:42Like von Willebrand's disease.
36:45Did you test for that?
36:46No, same reason.
36:51Now, you have examined
36:52this entire file
36:53and there is no other
36:54possible explanation
36:55for Jason's injuries.
36:56Yes, I have.
36:57And no, there is not.
36:58And you're aware, of course,
37:00that you are under oath
37:01here today.
37:01I am.
37:02Thank you, Dr. Rowland.
37:11Perjury?
37:13That is an outrageous accusation.
37:16It's an accurate one.
37:17Your client under oath
37:18said that she never tested
37:19for a blood clotting disorder,
37:20but she did order that test
37:21and deliberately
37:23concealed that fact.
37:25Now, you always will tell you
37:26that perjury one
37:27is a Class D felony.
37:28That's punishable
37:28by up to seven years
37:29in state prison.
37:30You can't be serious.
37:31I'm dead serious, doctor.
37:32You would send me to jail
37:34for this, a mistake.
37:34A mistake?
37:36This is not a mistake.
37:39You hid that test
37:40from the mother.
37:42You hid it from ACS
37:43and you hid it
37:44from the initial grand jury.
37:45And then you lied about it.
37:49Why?
37:50Because that baby
37:50was in imminent danger
37:51from a mother
37:52who was incapable
37:53of providing him
37:54with a stable,
37:55secure environment.
37:57The baby had
37:57a genetic disorder.
37:59That's what caused
38:00his injuries.
38:01Oh, you know that.
38:02For a fact.
38:03No, you don't.
38:04Like you,
38:05I can only look
38:07at the evidence before me.
38:08And if there's
38:09reasonable doubt...
38:11Reasonable doubt
38:11means nothing
38:12to a dead child, Captain.
38:13I'm on the front lines.
38:14I am sometimes
38:15the only chance
38:16a child has at survival.
38:18Better safe than sorry, right?
38:20Better alive than dead.
38:22Then why hide it, doctor?
38:23Why change the medical records?
38:25Why lie to the grand jury?
38:26Because they didn't have
38:27the capacity
38:28to understand
38:28the complexities
38:29of what I'm trying to do.
38:31No, no, no.
38:31You hit it
38:31because you knew
38:32that you were wrong.
38:35And here we are.
38:40What do you want?
38:41Well, I'm not interested
38:43in seeing your client
38:44go to prison.
38:45But the way I see it,
38:46you've got two options here.
38:48Now, you can go forward
38:49with this perjury trial.
38:50You'll get convicted.
38:52You're probably going to do
38:53two to four years.
38:55Your medical license
38:56that gets terminated
38:57along the way.
39:00Or,
39:01you give up
39:02your medical license now.
39:04No conviction.
39:06No felony record.
39:08And more than likely,
39:09you'll never have to
39:10hear our names again.
39:14I need to confer
39:15privately with Dr. Allen.
39:18He's got an hour.
39:24Does this make
39:25children safer?
39:28Does this help anyone
39:29but the abusers
39:30I've put in prison?
39:33I don't know, Dr. Allen.
39:34I really don't.
39:35But what I do know
39:37is that a couple of kids
39:38have a chance
39:40to go home
39:41to their parents now.
39:43Parents that love them.
39:46And for that,
39:47my conscience is clear.
39:51How about yours?
40:05After considering
40:06the newly discovered
40:07evidence in this case,
40:09I am dismissing
40:10the charges
40:10against the defendant.
40:12Miss Langford,
40:13you have my sympathy
40:15and I apologize
40:16for all that
40:17you've gone through.
40:19Adjourned.
40:35Karen Langford
40:36missed her son's
40:37first steps.
40:39How awful is that?
40:43All we can do
40:44is try to do
40:44the right thing
40:45and when that
40:46doesn't happen,
40:47try to fix it.
40:50You can be proud
40:51of yourself,
40:51CJ.
40:53She's still gonna
40:54have to fight
40:54to get him back.
40:56How long
40:57is that gonna take?
40:59She'll have someone
41:00on the inside
41:02helping her out.
41:03She'll be back.
41:17She'll be back.
41:20She'll be back.
41:22And if she's still
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