Henry Mesner

Henry Mesner is a psychopath who abused his sister, Ruby, when he was ten, and shot Nick Amaro during a hostage situation. In 2021, he was released from a juvenile facility after his 18th birthday and went on a killing spree.

History
At school, Henry's younger sister Ruby is taken to the nurse after experiencing pain from bruises on her stomach and a bump on her head caused by Henry. Ruby admits to the SVU detectives that she got those bruises from being pushed by the "monster". Henry says that he was eating waffles in the other room and didn't know that Ruby got hurt making him look innocent. The SVU squad discovers that Ruby has a history of multiple injuries and emergency room visits in the last year. When Henry is questioned about what happened to Ruby, he says that he saw Irina, his family's babysitter, lose her temper with Ruby and push her down the stairs out of anger because she was being unreasonable and difficult.

When Irina is questioned for her abuse, she says that Henry was the one that pushed Ruby down the stairs and is the "monster". When Benson and Amaro talk to the children's mother, Viola Mesner, about it, she admits that Henry resents Ruby and had to see a counselor because of it. When Henry is questioned again, he admits that he pushed Ruby as a kind of "experiment" and is convinced his sister wasn't hurt because she didn't cry much. Henry has a record of assaulting his classmates and was told by the school that it was not acceptable. His father, Tom Mesner, is convinced that Henry's behavior is normal for his age, believing his son just needs to find a hobby and work out the problem by himself. Tom and Viola don't want Henry to see a psychiatrist because they're afraid that their son might be labeled as a psychopath.

The SVU squad comes to the conclusion that Henry needs help. The detectives at first talk to Pippa Cox, a corporation counsellor, and they tell her that Henry's family is in possible danger of being hurt or even murdered. Pippa disagrees and says that home is probably the best place for Henry. Benson argues Ruby was very clear that Henry pushed her down the stairs and tried to kill her for an "experiment". Pippa retorts by asking Benson if she wants every big brother locked up for pushing their sister. She points out that Henry is ten and there will likely be inconsistencies when the story is asked multiple times. Fin calmly asks about another solution for Henry, to which Pippa says if they want to try, it's up to them.

Olivia and Rollins tell the Mesner family that there will be no charges pressed against Henry if they agree to take him to see a professional. Viola assures them that she will care for Henry and make sure he is not left alone with Ruby. Later, Viola tries to tuck Henry in for bed, but he refuses to sleep, taking a knife from behind his pillow. Viola demands for Henry to hand over the knife, but he slashes her palm when she reaches for it. Henry watches as his mother runs away, looking upon her with blank, emotionless expression.

When Benson arrives at the hospital where Viola's slash wound is treated, Viola defends her son, saying that it was her own fault. At the Mesner residence, Rollins looks on as Tom reprimands Henry for hurting his mother, but Henry lashes out, screaming that it was his mother's fault. His outburst wakes Ruby and she is taken her back to her bedroom by Tom while Rollins stays with Henry. Henry then makes small talk with Rollins as if nothing happened at all.

When Dr. Huang evaluates Henry, he deduces that he is a psychopath; he lacks conscience, has flat emotional affect, and doesn't feel any sympathy or empathy for other people. Huang suggest sending Henry to a facility in Vermont for severe cases of psychopathy like his. At first, the Mesners thought it wasn't a great idea but eventually they agree. When Viola tells Henry about the facility, he once again throws a tantrum, but calms down when Tom leaves for work. Henry locks Viola in the laundry room and lights a fire. He ties Ruby to a bed and watches his sister cough to see if she would burn inside out, but after the room is filled with smoke, he calls Olivia.

By the time the SVU squad arrives, Henry has already left the apartment and gone to his friend Toby's place. Henry steals Toby's father's gun, locks his friend in a closet, and kills Toby's dog Snowball by drowning him in the bathtub before leaving. When Nick goes to the play area of the apartment building, he finds Henry has taken a five-year-old boy named Sam hostage using the gun. Nick is able to talk Henry into letting the little boy go, but Henry points the gun at Nick and asks him to stay. As Nick tries to talk Henry into giving up the gun, Henry shoots him in the stomach, but Nick is able to wrestle Henry to the ground and restrain him as Olivia arrives with backup. Because Nick was wearing his vest, he only sustains a minor injury to his stomach.

Since Henry cannot be tried as an adult for the attempted murders of his sister and a police officer, Cox and the SVU tell Tom and Viola that Henry will be charged with juvenile delinquency and locked up in a secure facility until he is 18 years old.

Return
In 2021, eight years later, Henry was released after lying saying that he had changed and he was cured from his demons. Afterwards, he raped and tortured Libby Blandon, his psychiatrist's daughter, whom he also attempted to strangle to death. After killing his father, stepmother and half-brother, Henry held Ruby at gunpoint, but she was rescued by Rollins. Rollins told Henry that she had been terrified of him back in 2013, but that she didn't want him to die. However, Rollins soon discovered that Henry had been stalking her and her daughter Jesse and had several photos of Jesse on his phone. Rollins, Lindstrom, Carisi and several others recommended that Henry be institutionalised for the rest of his life, stating that he was a very dangerous man and that he would continue to murder people as long as he was free as well as being a risk to the public's safety as well as people he knew such as family, past friends and the detectives involved with his case, particularly Rollins and her family. Judge Anita Wright agreed and Henry was sent to an institution, however Henry blew into a rage and stabbed Carisi in his ear with a pencil before being dragged away by the court security guards, shouting he wanted his father. Rollins visited Henry in prison where he was drugged out and angrily told him that she lied about not wanting him to die and that she did indeed want him to die and warned him that if he ever stalked or came near her family again, she would kill him herself and it would be his last day on earth.

Appearances

 * Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
 * Season 14: "Born Psychopath"
 * Season 22: "Post-Graduate Psychopath"