Mary Ellen Abbott is the wife of Andy Abbott, a New York City district prosecutor and closeted gay man.
Background[]
She fell in love with Andy when he made a painting for her and they went onto marry. Mary Ellen gave birth to two daughters and was seemingly happily married. Unknown to her, Andy was secretly gay and having a sexual affair with Jeff York, who used to date Benson.
Lowdown[]
When York was found murdered, Abbott was questioned when the affair was found out.
York tested positive for HIV, which meant Andy was likely to also have contracted the STD. Mary Ellen was outraged to hear husband was being charged and the news of his alleged affair. Against Andy's consent and the law, Novak told Mary Ellen, she was likely infected and needed to get tested herself.
Although enraged with Novak, Mary Ellen indeed got tested and it confirmed her HIV diagnosis. Horrified and anguished, she confronted Andy, who made an attempt to sue Novak.
Novak visited her and apologized to her though she was angry but after a talk realized Novak was trying to do the right thing.
She later visited Andy with Novak in attendance and pleaded to her husband to confess after revealing her STD. Out of guilt, Andy apologized for his actions and confessed to the affair and York's murder. After seeing his guilt, Novak offered up a deal in which Andy does seven years for first degree manslaughter while the case details are hidden. Mary Ellen also ensured Andy would drop his complaint against Novak, due to the fact that she was doing her job.