It looks like SVU is on a role with these “ripped-from-the-headlines” cases, so why not add one more to the pile? This week, the detectives investigated the rape case of college-freshman Evie Barnes, a character representing Duke University freshman Belle Knox. Knox got in to the porn industry to foot the bill for her education, and last year, a fellow classmate outed her, making the story national news. Fortunately, Knox’s story did not take the downhill turn that Barnes’ does in the episode.
All cases are “fictional,” huh? Well, at least partially I guess…
In the SVU version of the story, Barnes appears as Roxxxanne (three X’s on purpose) Demay on a violent online porn show called 18 With a Bang. Soon, two of her male classmates at Hudson University see her videos and invite her to a party. When she arrives, the boys corner her in a bathroom and rape her.
A few days later, Barnes’ RA calls SVU to come speak with her since he knows she was assaulted. Fin and Rollins talk to Barnes and she admits to being attacked Matt Cooper and Daniel Pryor.
Fin and Carisi immediately call Cooper and Pryor to SVU where they claim that Barnes wanted them both. They also point the detectives to Barnes’ porn videos and explain that they did not do anything worse than the activities on film. Barnes combats the boys’ testimony, saying that they raped her and she repeatedly told them “no.” The boys rebut Barnes, claiming they did not know that her “no” meant “no” because she said “no” in the videos and the scenes continued.
Soon, the detectives slyly convince Cooper that Pryor, whose parents are paying for the boys’ lawyer, is going to get a good deal in court by selling him out. Cooper then starts blabbering the truth to the detectives, saying he did not know the boys were committing rape until after it was already done but that Pryor knew. Barba cuts a deal with Cooper in exchange for him being a witness for the defense.
Carisi convinces Cooper he’s getting played
After a lengthy court case, the jury finally finds Pryor guilty of rape in the first degree, but Delaney motions to overturn the verdict. Benson assures Barnes that the judge will not change the jury’s decisions, but sure enough, just a few scenes later, the judge sets Pryor free.
Barba can’t believe the judge’s decision!
The next day, Barnes’ mother comes to SVU saying that Barnes did not come home that night. The detectives ask if she can think of anywhere her daughter might go and she suggests New England, where she had spent the summer with friends.
Rollins figures out Barnes’ location and sets off with Carisi to get her. Upon arrival, Barnes is preparing for another porn video, and Rollins tries to tell her that she does not have to do it. Barnes replies “once you’re Roxxxanne Demay, you can’t go back to being Evie Barnes,” walking toward the set.
What was your reaction do the judge’s decision to overturn the jury’s verdict? Thoughts on this case?
I Ride With Detective Benson 
I think this story goes along with the study we learned about in class one day. Pornography seems to dehumanize the mind and I feel that that’s what happened to the guys that raped her. They seem to be more prone to violence.
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This was very well written! I don’t really watch this show, but you made it so engaging. I’m tempted to go look up this episode myself! It sounds like a pretty tricky case, but her being a porn star shouldn’t conflict with her rape, in my opinion. If she said no, then that’s all there is to it. Her outside lifestyle shouldn’t matter.
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Very interesting case, sad one too unfortunately it happens all the time on college campuses. I have also noticed from previous seasons that they take a lot of cases straight from the Times. Love SVU so much!
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