Ep 9. Born Bad

Born Bad is the ninth episode of season 4 of the American police procedural TV series Law & Order. The episode aired on November 19, 1993, on NBC and was directed by Martha Mitchell.

In this episode, Detectives Greevey (George Dzundza) and Logan (Chris Noth) are called to investigate the murder of a suburban teenager who was shot at a bus stop in a poor neighborhood. The boy, named Ryan Gilliard, was known to be a troublemaker in his wealthy community, and his parents, Frank (John Heard) and Rachel (Amy Aquino), are stunned by their son's death.

As they start to dig deeper into the case, the detectives discover that Ryan was not the innocent victim everyone thought he was. He had been involved in drugs, alcohol, and violence, and had been expelled from school for vandalizing property. They also find out that Ryan was part of a group of affluent teenagers who would come to the poor neighborhood to buy drugs.

The investigation leads them to a drug dealer named Ziggy (Michael Mastro), who tells them that he had a run-in with Ryan and his friends a few days ago. Ziggy claims that Ryan had threatened him with a gun and that he shot him in self-defense. However, the detectives are not convinced and keep digging.

They soon discover that Ryan's father, Frank, had been abusing him and his mother for years. Frank had a history of violence and had been arrested for assault and battery in the past. The detectives also find out that Frank's company was going through financial difficulties and that he had been embezzling money from the company to cover up his losses.

As they piece together the evidence, the detectives realize that Ryan's death was not just a random act of violence but a result of his troubled life and the circle of violence he had been part of. Despite the evidence against Frank and the emotional toll of the case, the detectives push on with the investigation and ultimately bring justice to Ryan's tragic death.

Born Bad is a powerful episode that explores themes of wealth, drug abuse, and parental abuse. The episode highlights the complexities of the justice system and the challenges that detectives face in bringing criminals to justice. Overall, it is a gripping and emotional episode that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.