Peggy Sylvester is the birth mother of kidnapping victim Wendy Sylvester. Peggy had problems with alcoholism and had Wendy shoplift beer and cigarettes for her. She lost custody to Beatrice Hines, a colleague where she worked as a waitress, who only worsened Wendy’s abuse by making her do labor around the house and stealing her support checks after Hines manipulated Peggy. Peggy went to Child Services, who didn’t intervene.
When Wendy went missing, Peggy was questioned. She lamented losing her daughter because she really did want to care for her, stating she hated what Hines put her through. It was revealed Wendy’s teacher Arnette Fenady kidnapped Wendy for her safety. After Arnette was acquitted, she applied to be Wendy’s new guardian. (L&O: “Nurture”)