Law and Order
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Arlene Tarrington is an infant kidnapper and a suspect in the murder of Chelsey Haggerty, whose baby she snatched.

History[]

Arlene’s husband Stewart was overseas often for military service, but eventually, Arlene became pregnant with their child. When she had a miscarriage, she was desperate for a baby and put up a ruse where she bought maternity wear with a fake bump fashioned underneath it. Seeking children to take for herself, she came across Connor Doyle in the park. When the family wouldn't sell him for 50 grand, she took Connor from the stroller and ran, but his sister Lindsey caught up to her and got Connor back, Arlene escaping by a hair.

She then found Frank Stoll, who was selling Chelsey’s baby Nicky. He agreed to the 50 grand price, and Arlene started buying baby supplies. The day she was to retrieve Nicky, she found Chelsey dead in the apartment, after Stoll killed her. Arlene ran with Nicky, assuming the deal was still in place and not wanting to lose her chance. As her crimes and supply purchases were all within the radius of her neighborhood, Arlene was tracked, and in spite of her open protests, Nicky was retrieved, and Arlene was arrested.

Her defense failed to offer an insanity argument of postpartum psychosis due to her miscarriage, and when it was found Stoll killed Chelsey, Arlene was pushed to take a plea to 15 years in prison in exchange for testimony against Stoll. (L&O: “House of Cards”)

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