‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’: What Is Angela Wheatley’s Connection to Kathy Stabler?
With another epic Law & Order: SVU crossover event, Law & Order: Organized Crime dropped a bombshell clue about Kathy Stabler’s murder. In the May 13 episode, Elliot Stabler discovers new details about Richard Wheatley’s ex-wife.
But that shocking reveal has fans wondering how Angela Wheatley and Kathy Stabler might be connected.
[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for Law & Order: Organized Crime, Season 1, Episode 5.]
‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’ reveals who put the hit out on Kathy Stabler
In the fifth episode of the season, “An Inferior Product,” Law & Order: Organized Crime finally revealed the person responsible for Kathy’s death. Ever since the car bomb killed her, Elliot (Christopher Meloni) believed he was the real target, and suspected criminal mastermind Richard Wheatley (Dylan McDermott) was behind it.
But in episode 4, after finding passerby photos from the scene, Elliot realizes the bomb was specifically meant for Kathy. Along with his team, he tracks down the elements used to build the bomb and learns that Richard’s right-hand man, Izak Bekher (Ibrahim Renno), is the one who made it.
Elliot confronts Bekhar, who has since turned informant, and asks him why Richard wanted to kill his wife. But in a shocking twist, Bekhar reveals that Richard’s ex-wife, Angela Wheatley (Tamara Taylor), ordered the hit.
The series showrunner confirms Angela Wheatley ordered Kathy Stabler’s murder
Angela has been a form of support for Elliot ever since Kathy died. After losing her own son, she seemed to connect with him on a deep emotional level.
Seeing how sweet and kind Angela’s been, it’s hard to believe she could be so cold. But according to Law & Order: Organized Crime showrunner Ilene Chaiken, Angela has been a villain all along.
“We’ve known from the very beginning that in some form that was going to be Angela’s role,” she told TV Insider. We didn’t know in the very beginning that Stabler would have a nascent romantic relationship with her — But we always knew that she was going to turn out to have, in some sense, called for the hit on Kathy.”
Some ‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’ fans think they know why Angela Wheatley wanted Kathy Stabler dead
For weeks, Law & Order: Organized Crime fans have been trying to figure out why Richard Wheatley would want Kathy dead. Recalling Law & Order: SVU, Season 9, Episode 9, “Paternity,” some wondered if he was the man Kathy briefly dated and also Eli’s biological father.
While keeping that theory in mind, a few fans now think Angela may be taking revenge on both Kathy and Richard. “She blames both Richard and Kathy for the death of her son,” a Reddit user wrote. “So she killed her as revenge but also as a way to take her husband down, knowing that Elliot would stop at nothing to find the person responsible for murdering his wife.”
“She’s been playing with Elliot’s mind since day one, making him think that she’s someone he can trust, all the while knowing very well what she did and acting like a victim in this situation,” the Redditor continued. “She’s also playing Richard since it seems like she [is] trying to pin all the blame on him.”
Others wondered if the hit was just Angela’s way of getting back at Richard for getting her son killed. “I always thought it was Angela,” another Reddit user added. “She is just trying to frame Richard because Richard killed her son.”
Luckily, fans will know more about Angela’s motivations as the season winds down. New episodes of Law & Order: Organized Crime air Thursdays on NBC.
