Marla Reynolds is a spree killer and later a hostage-taker, obsessed with getting her child into an esteemed preschool to the point of killing the parents of other children who were candidates on the waiting list.
Background[]
Marla was a cocktail waitress who dreamed of a success in dancing. She eventually seduced a socialite named Brian Reynolds, the son of highly expectant socialite Eleanor, marrying him and having a son named Henry partly for the sake of a comfortable lifestyle from his money. Marla would stay at home while Brian worked for the family's income, but Eleanor always disapproved of her and always overbore her with the pressure of being in a family of higher class she wasn't born into or even as exposed to. Brian would also be busy with his work often, and his friends would intimidate Marla in their able successes. Marla's parents would refuse to visit the upscale, busy areas no matter how much Marla would update them on her family's life, except for attending Henry's christening.
As much as Marla genuinely cared for her son, she also cared about her own image in her rich lifestyle and how people saw her. It would be most projected toward when Henry was old enough to go to preschool and Eleanor wanted no less for her grandson than the exclusive Carnegie Hill Day, an institute for toddlers that even screened the families for the perfect children and giving them a chance at higher success with the preschool on their records. Marla was all for the plan, but Henry got waitlisted and Eleanor blamed Marla's less than upscale background. This made her desperate for her son's future and knowing other parents were higher up on the waiting list, albeit with life problems that would get them disqualified, she illegally bought a two-round derringer pistol and started killing those parents, let alone in front of their infant children, leaving more spots for Henry to move up the list.
Please Note We Are No Longer Accepting Letters of Recommendation from Henry Kissinger[]
Finally fed up with Eleanor and still intent on getting away with the crimes as well as ensuring Henry's enrollment still, Marla dropped subtle hints to the detectives that would turn their suspicions to Eleanor and even dropped the gun in her purse to frame her. The detectives realized Eleanor doesn't fit the profile and couldn't plan in the time frame the killings were committed to match the schedule of her life as well, revealing Marla was always responsible.
Meanwhile, Marla goes to the school in hopes of henry's successful enrollment. When she hears he didn't get in, she has a nervous breakdown and takes two hostages, the school secretary and the potential teacher for Henry. Goren arrives and carefully rushes out all the kids sleeping during naptime as well as the other present faculty. In tears and repeatedly shouting at Goren to keep his distance, she holds up a pistol while marveling at the classroom and imagining how she could send pictures to her parents. She laments about her life and tries to compliment herself about how she tried so hard for Henry, which Goren plays along with. When she's near killing herself, Goren stops her by pleading her to think of her son, how he needs her and how much they love each other. When Goren carefully takes the gun away from her, he pins her to the wall and arrests her. Marla's dragged away confused and emotional, screaming "I thought you were my friend" after Goren.
Marla's eventually found guilty of all the murders, Eleanor's illegal incrimination, and the hostage situation, ending up with a sentence of life without parole. (CI: "Please Note We Are No Longer Accepting Letters of Recommendation from Henry Kissinger")
Known Victims[]
- 2008, New York City, New York:
- May 26, Queens: Denise Myler (suffered domestic disputes with her ex-husband; shot in the chest; died ten days later in the hospital)
- July 6, Manhattan: Skip Lowe (had affairs with other men; shot in the chest)
- July 8, Manhattan: Paloma Renzi (a single mother; shot once in the back)
- July 9, Manhattan: The Carnegie Hall Day standoff:
- Janine (the school secretary; tied down, gagged, and held at gunpoint)
- Ms. Chestnut (a teacher; tied down, gagged, and held at gunpoint)
- Detective Robert Goren (held at gunpoint; was disarmed and arrested)