Plot summary
Detective Stevens and her Chicago PD mentor, Marcus Feingold ( Paul Calderon ), attend an Illinois execution of confessed serial killer, Elvis Howell ( Chance Kelly ) whom they helped convict. He claims he did not kill the last victim, Courtney Gunderson for which he was convicted, and that her killer is still "out there". Back in New York, Diego Caldez is found shot and evidence leads Nichols and Stevens to two other victims, sex workers Maricela Fernandez ( Shoshanna Withers ) and Rae Ann Farmer ( Anne Fidler ), and forensics indicate copycat crimes by a possible "disciple" of Howell.
Stevens returns to Chicago to interview Reverend Shelby Redding ( Reathel Bean ) about Howell's last request, and discovers the reverend passed along a letter for Howell. The detectives locate the recipient Dale Grisco ( Ryan O'Nan ) who admits to the recent murders, but he also reveals that Howell killed Courtney Gunderson when he could not bring himself to do it. Lorraine Bracco makes a special guest appearance as the matron of the Dolores House foster home.
Credits
Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, Law & Order: Criminal Intent season 9. HTML formatting and reference markers removed.