Barbara Ryder is the socialite mother of Jonathan Ryder, whose marriage to his wife Lois she threw a wrench into that resulted in Jon murdering Lois, as she was having an affair and wanted a divorce.
Barbara tried to sabotage the trial by bribing a witness, but Lois' lover Dr. Joel Friedman gave his testimony of the evidence as to what proved the motive for murder. Jon was convicted, and Barbara's legal status was left unknown. (L&O: "Blood Is Thicker...")