Alyssa Bonal, the 11-year-old who fought off a knife-wielding kidnapper on video, got to meet Mariska Hargitay, one of her heroes from Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, in an interview with Today.
Alyssa used a technique she learned from SVU to help police identify her kidnappers.
She smeared blue slime down his arm to leave evidence and mark him as her attacker. She was very intentional in her mark as “I knew that that might be better evidence if the cops do find him.” Her quick thinking helped the police identify and arrest the man.
When Mariska Hargitay, who plays lead Olivia Benson on the show, found out where Alyssa learned the technique that helped stop her attempted kidnapper, she decided to reach out in an incredibly sweet Instagram post.
“Alyssa, first and most important, I am so relieved and grateful to know that you are safe. And I am so honored to be part of your incredible story. You are one BRAVE, Strong, and Smart young woman. I think the ‘SVU’ squad might have to add slime to their crime-fighting gear! Take good care of yourself and each other. With all my love, your number one fan, Mariska.”
Then, while Alyssa was talking to Today, Mariska Hargitay surprised the 11-year-old with a video call.
The star began by telling Alyssa how she was “so incredibly honored” to meet her, and that “I just want to tell you how blown away me and all of my squad are – and I think the whole world right now – that you had the forethought and the wherewithal to do what you did and I am just blown away.”
Then Mariska Hargitay gifted Alyssa with a signed script from the show reading, “You are my hero.”
Hargitay added how glad she was that Alyssa was okay. “You’re amazing, sweetheart. You’re amazing. And strong and brave, and what’s most important to everyone is that you’re OK and that is the most beautiful gift that we all have.”
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Alyssa was more than a little starstruck, telling Hargitay “It’s amazing to meet you” and how “I never thought in my whole entire life that I was going to be able to even meet you.”
To which Mariska Hargitay responded, “I feel the same way” and left Alyssa with a message from Olivia Benson herself: “Would you like to be on my squad?”
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