Fans looking forward to a new episode of "Law & Order: SVU" will have to wait. The show is officially on its winter hiatus and is not set to return again until January.

"SVU" star Mariska Hargitay took to Twitter last week to thank the loyal fans of the long-running police drama, confirming that Episode 9 was indeed the fall finale and hinting that the show would be returning next year with some "pretty bad guys."

NBC has not yet released a preview or a synopsis for future episodes, but the show will likely pick up right where it left off, in the midst of a tense case against the heinous child abductor Lewis Hoda (Tom Sizemore).

Hoda originally appeared in Season 14 in the episode "Manhattan Vigil," in which he was accused of kidnapping a young boy named Wyatt (Luke Fava). Evidence eventually emerged that Hoda was also responsible for the abduction and murder of a boy named Hector in 1999, an unsolved case that had plagued then Sgt. Olivia Benson (Hargitay) for years.

In last week's installment, "Depravity Standard," Hoda returned to the show in a case that saw his defense attorney arguing that a taped confession was coerced from his client by Benson and her associates in the Special Victims Unit.

The episode highlighted the often frustrating procedural roadblocks in the justice system, as what appeared to be an open and shut case against a horrible criminal was severely complicated due to witness testimonies and other legal obstacles.

One recurrent theme throughout the season was that of parental protection, as Wyatt's mom -- despite connecting with and relating to Hector's mother -- was initially hesitant to allow her son to testify against Hoda.

The episode also saw the return of one of Benson's colleagues, Dr. Huang (BD Wong), fighting on Hoda's behalf.

Viewers were left on somewhat of a cliffhanger, as the jury deadlocked, declaring the case a mistrial. It is unclear as of yet whether Episode 10 will immediately revisit the matter, but it's likely that fans haven't seen the last of Hoda this season.

Look out for "Law & Order: SVU" to return in January on NBC.