For fans wondering about how serial killer Greg Yates' (Dallas Roberts) could possibly return in the premiere of season 17 of Law & Order: SVU, showrunner Warren Leight has a theory.

Law & Order: SVU Four-Way Crossover With Chicago Med Scheduled

Leight dished about how the presumed dead Yates has been living it up criminal style to make his grand return in the premiere of the next chapter of NBC procedural. The showrunner spoke to TVLine about Yates' comeback. Leight emphasized a copy cat theory which would explain Yates being alive and well. Leight revealed that in the last episode fans saw Yates in his body was wahsed ashore "in what was [Yates'] burial ground. So the question is: Is this one of his that they missed? Or is there a copycat? He's very interested in pushing the copycat theory and putting blame on someone else."

Vulture previously reported that the premiere of season 17 of the NBC procedural will be inspired by the Robert Durst story. The pop culture website has picked up on a bunch of crucial clues from the preview for the premiere that connext it to the Durst story -- from the protagonist being a very wealthy "untouchable" serial killer and also his method to dispose of the dead bodies in trashbags. So Yates is essentialy inspired by Durst.

Yates was last seen as the murderous doc who horrified viewers in the Law & Order SVU and Chicago P.D. crossover.

Season 17 of Law & Order: SVU will premiere on Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. (ET).

Watch the preview:

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Law And Order SVU, ABC, Television