Introducing SVU’s Latest Agent: Unraveling Her Past Appearances on the Series

Following an intense month-long search for Maddie’s abductor, a breakthrough emerged in Episode 5 (“Zone Rouge”) when a civilian from Pittsburgh shared a photo of Maddie, appearing drugged on a train. With the knowledge that the criminal was in Pennsylvania, Benson headed to Maddie’s last seen location to collaborate with the Pittsburgh SVU. It was there she encountered the reticent yet resolute FBI Agent Sykes, hailed by Benson as the “East Coast authority on child abductions.”

Agent Sykes, who had compiled the behavioral analysis profile on Maddie’s abductor, had already earned Benson’s admiration before their paths crossed. Sykes joined Benson in the hunt, but their discovery of Maddie’s kidnapper led to the heart-wrenching realization that he had auctioned Maddie off to the highest bidder.

The revelation was a blow, and Sykes momentarily lost her composure during the interrogation, desperately demanding the kidnapper reveal Maddie’s location. Benson, adept at reading people, perceived the case’s deep personal significance to Sykes, whose anguished appeals betrayed her inner turmoil.

With her knack for eliciting trust and truth, Benson gently probed, leading to Sykes’ hesitant confession of her own past tragedy: her sister’s abduction during their childhood. The case seemed resolved when remains were found, yet a year of DNA testing disclosed it wasn’t her sister. A chilling discovery years later—a box of Polaroids in the woods, one of which captured her sister—confirmed the grim fate her sister had suffered.

Sykes, sharing a moment of vulnerability, admitted, “I don’t feel her in the world anymore,” before swiftly steering the conversation away.

Jordana Spiro brings FBI Agent Shannah Sykes to life, a face familiar to SVU aficionados and Law & Order universe fans. Before embodying Sykes, Spiro portrayed Delia Hackman in Season 23, Episode 22 (“A Final Call At Forlini’s Bar”) of Law & Order, a character who had killed her husband.

Spiro is also known for her role as Rachel Garrison in the critically acclaimed series Ozark, among other notable TV appearances including The Huntress, My Boys, Harry’s Law, and The Good Wife.

Catch new episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on Thursdays on NBC, with next-day streaming available on Peacock.