This story contains spoilers from Law & Order Season 25, Episode 10 (“Dream On”). 

While it’s no secret that Maura Tierney’s Lieutenant Jessica Brady is a natural in the squad room and a force to be reckoned with on a case, Season 25 of Law & Order just pulled back the curtain on Brady’s not-so-seen personal life as a mother of two with the introduction of her youngest, Leo Brady.

Viewers met Brady’s eldest, Ryan (Steve M. Robertson), in Season 24 of Law & Order after Brady reconnected with him and learned that his brother, her youngest son Leo, had supposedly been sober for two months and had a show on the calendar. Ryan did his best to convince the suspicious Brady to give his brother the benefit of the doubt, inviting her to attend Leo’s concert. But Brady seemed dubious that Leo would stay clean, giving viewers a sense that whatever happened in the throes of Leo’s addiction did some hefty damage to their relationship.

Ryan did his best to encourage Brady to attend Leo’s show, but the idea proved too daunting for the hardened lieutenant, who later felt so guilty about bailing that she called her estranged son and left a voicemail saying she’d like to reconnect soon.

While Brady seems to be on good terms with Ryan, her relationship with Leo has remained splintered, and it all came to a head during Season 25, Episode 10 (“Dream On”) after the Brady family had an emotionally-charged reunion. Here’s what happened — and why you recognize the actor behind Leo, Alex Neustaedter.

Jessica Brady’s son, Leo Brady, is played by Alex Neustaedter on Law & Order

Alex Neustaedter has starred in a variety of films and television projects, first breaking into the entertainment scene as Homer in Meg Ryan’s 2015 epic Ithaca after making guest appearances in television series like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Dead Diaries. Some of Neustaedter’s other big-screen credits include 2017’s Walking Out, American Woman (2018), and 2019’s Josie & Jack.

Law & Order isn’t the first time Neustaedter has brushed shoulders with industry titan Maura Tierney, either. Before guest starring as Jessica Brady’s son, Neustaedter starred alongside Jeff Daniels and Tierney in the drama series American Rust: Broken Justice.

Some of Neustaedter’s most recent roles include playing a young Atlas in Colleen Hoover’s 2024 film adaptation of It Ends With Us, as well as starring as Greg in 2025’s action flick The Running Man.

Leo Brady was entangled in a shocking Law & Order case

After the shocking murder of a musician brings the 2-7 into a mind-boggling homicide case, Detectives Vincent Riley (Reid Scott) and Theo Walker (David Ajala) were dismayed to see Brady roll up to their investigation with a sullen look on her face. Her son Leo’s girlfriend hadn’t come home the night before, and after her detectives confirmed her suspicions that the girlfriend was their murder victim, Brady couldn’t help but jump into the case. Leo was in a tumultuous relationship with a musician named Zina Worth; they lived together along with Zina’s young daughter from a former relationship.

After the squad investigated Zina and Leo’s apartment for any evidence about who may have done this to her, the 2-7 uncovered a large stash of cocaine, giving Brady instant cause for alarm. After Brady berated her son for the transgression, Leo explained that he hadn’t known about the drugs because Zina hid them from him. As the investigation continued, they identified Zina’s killer, but as the defense highlighted the tense nature of Leo’s relationship with Zina, Brady’s son landed on the suspect list.

Meanwhile, Leo expressed interest in becoming the legal guardian to Zina’s child, a notion that Brady was less than thrilled about, especially after Zina’s more responsible sister came forward. Leo was sober and back on his feet, but Brady was doubtful about his preparedness to become a father so soon after sobriety. To make matters worse, Brady’s investigation skills were placed under a microscope after she failed to initially charge Leo with drug possession during their initial visit, complicating the trial.

While Brady did her best to remind everyone that the drugs had been Zina’s — and that Leo had loved Zina and was doing his best to help her get clean, too — the courtroom showdown was intense, leading to Leo being called to the stand to testify. With Leo’s help, the steadfast 27th Precinct successfully landed a guilty conviction. But Brady was still left with an awkward conversation after telling Leo she couldn’t endorse his desires to become a legal guardian.

Leo felt he could be a good father, but Brady told her son he’d always been a dreamer. Which was a good thing, but not when it came to becoming a parent too soon. Leo left angrily, leaving Brady to stew in her thoughts.

While Law & Order‘s latest did wonders for Brady and Leo’s evolving relationship, their relationship remains turbulent.