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Gas leak/explosion death episode - Law & Order


(Forgive me, but I'm asking this on both boards because the SVU one is more active with people who have been fans of both shows since SVU is still running and since the boards are only up for a short time.)

Does anyone recall an episode of L&O (the original) where the victim (possible perp) died as the result an intentional gas leak in his apartment that was actually orchestrated to be an explosion, but the explosion never happened? I have tried to catch it in reruns, but I only saw it once and I don't remember what season or the title. It's one of those that gnaws at my memory and I hate that I can't remember the resolution/verdict.

I seem to recall that he had a candle on a shelf or maybe lower on a coffee table. He had gas leaking into his apartment (maybe from a line...maybe from an oven) and his intention was to allow the gas to rise to the ceiling and eventually fill up the room to the point where it would be low enough for an explosion to be triggered by the candle. Maybe he didn't die from the gas, but maybe he OD'd or something and he was found by detectives before the explosion was able to occur. I don't recall if it was a suicide, planned murder/suicide, or maybe he was framed to appear like he did it, but in the end, it was someone else.

Does this ring a bell for anybody? Thanks!

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You may be thinking of Season 12's finale, "Patriot." The episode began with a huge explosion in an apartment building where a suspected terrorist lived. It was rigged by a candle detonating gas from an intentional gas leak the way you described it. IIRC the gas leak and subsequent explosion were designed to hide the way the victim was actually killed - by a deadly attack from another person, again as you alluded to.

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I'm certain that was it. It was shortly after 9/11.

Thank you! I'm going to keep an eye out for it.

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