Beatrice Hines is the bitter, abusive foster mother of Wendy Sylvester. Hines manipulated her from her mother Peggy’s custody, then used her for house maintenance and child support extortion. Peggy was never supported by Child Services, and Beatrice’s boyfriend Brian Sprague beat Wendy.
She didn’t notice Wendy went missing and assumed she ran away. The detectives hated her on the spot for her abrasion and despondency over Wendy and her safety. It was only further demonstrated when she testified at the trial of Wendy’s kidnapper, her teacher Arnette Fenady, who wanted Wendy removed from unsafe circumstances.
It was plenty to acquit Annette, who later filed for custody of Wendy. (L&O: “Nurture”)