This season 5 classic guest stars Will Keenan as William "Billy" Tripley, a child-like toy store owner and billionaire whose sleepovers with actual children lead to allegations of abuse. While "Sick" is clearly based on the similar charges made against Michael Jackson, right down to the outcome, Tripley's guilt is never really in question for detectives Stabler and Benson. Like the accusations surrounding the King of Pop, however, wealth and greed complicate whatever good the partners can do this episode.
When a young boy named J.J. posts disturbing messages online, the police discover that he may have been abused by Tripley, who then paid off the parents for their silence. Another sleepover friend — and cancer patient — April also accuses Billy, and despite his insistence to an aggressive Stabler that he'd never hurt a child, it looks like he won't escape prosecution.
However, everything falls apart. J.J.'s father refuses to let him testify against Billy and the case is dismissed. Then in a major twist, April's cancer and charges are all a lie: Her grandmother has been poisoning her and even created the false allegations against Tripley.
While the episode ends with Billy celebrating his acquittal, Stabler is sure they'll get him, confident of an eventual win.
