This episode appears to be based on the 2002 disappearance of Bison Dele, former Detroit Piston center, who, along with his girlfriend and skipper of the catamaran Hakuna Matata disappeared from the boat with only his brother Miles Dabord being seen after July 8th of that year. His brother was later arrested and committed suicide from an overdose of insulin.
CSU Technician Julian Beck is referred to by both the DA and Defense Attorney as "Dr. Beck" while on the stand. This is the first time he has been called Doctor; previously he had been called Mr. Beck, while the detectives usually called him by his last name only. The character is listed as CSU Technician Julian Beck in all the Law & Order episodes in which he appears.
John Doman played five different characters over the course of the series:
- Episode 1.22 The Blue Wall (1991) - Bailiff.
- Episode 7.20 We Like Mike (1997) - Sgt. Frank Gottlieb.
- Episode 9.9 True North (1998) - Mr. Stephens.
- Episode 13.18 Maritime (2003) - Howard Ridgeway.
- Episode 18.6 Political Animal (2008) - Jim Gilles.
Drew McVety has played three different characters over the course of the series:
- Episode 13.18 Maritime (2003) - Mr. Haas.
- Episode 15.19 Sects (2005) - Clerk.
- Episode 18.13 Angelgrove (2008) - FBI Agent.