Lena Parkova is a Russian girl working to become a model in New York City. Her sister Nadia was doing the same, before she collapsed dead in a dressing room after shoplifting from a department store. Lena was a primary witness in the investigation into Nadia’s death, and translated for her parents who were struggling with English even more than her.
After detectives ruled out domestic violence and suicide, it was revealed the girls’ primary doctor, Ellis Heinz, deliberately addicted his patients to pills so he could rob them from their chemical dependence. Lena testified against him when he was taken to trial, as his prescription was one pill a day, which was far less than the levels in Nadia’s systems, and Nadia was on other medication. However, in court, Lena read the instructions as “2 to 4” hours, which implies Lena either misread the instructions or Nadia, who didn’t speak a word of English, misheard them.
Dr. Heinz was acquitted, and it’s presumed Lena was never charged for her honest mistake, and after all the pain she and her family suffered. (L&O: “House Calls”)