how did cragen die on svu

Captain Donald Cragen died off-screen of natural causes on Law & Order: SVU. The show did not specify the exact cause of death, but he had been retired and out of contact for some time before his death. His passing was honored in the Season 27 premiere episode titled "In The Wind," which featured a memorial service attended by many of his former colleagues and highlighted his legacy as a mentor and steady leader in the NYPD's Special Victims Unit. Cragen left SVU to retire and spend time with his girlfriend, and his death marked the end of an era for the show, deeply felt by the team he once led and mentored.