Law and Order
Advertisement

Sarah Branson is the legal mother of Patty Branson, who gave birth to her after Patty was fertilized in embryonic stage and placed into Sarah's womb at a fertility clinic. It was later revealed Patty was really fertilized from an egg of Michelle Osborne, who was conned to pay for more embryos so the doctor at the clinic, Stanley Norton, could place an embryonic Patty into Sarah's uterus and pass Patty off as the Branson's biological baby.

When Michelle saw Patty out in public and believe she was Michelle's missing daughter Anna, who Michelle refused to except was fatally immolated in a car explosion with Anna's father and Michelle's husband Steve, Michelle had PIs Peter Carson and Kenny Pratt stalk Patty to prepare for kidnapping her, Michelle hoping to raise her as Anna. After Pratt befriended her but only pulled out Patty's hair in an attempt to try and kidnap her, Sarah was horrified to hear the news especially since the PIs had contact with Patty beforehand and took the opportune moment when her husband Matt was reading the newspaper at the park.

The PIs were spotted at Patty's school and arrested, with Michelle being tracked and arrested as well when Peter gave her up. When an age progression photo and a DNA test of Patty's hair revealed she was indeed Michelle's daughter, Norton's schemes were revealed and he was imprisoned for his crimes. That also absolved Sarah and Matt of suspicion of being "kidnappers" when the explanation of Patty's genetic and facial resemblance was revealed. When Michelle kidnapped Patty herself and was arrested again, she was taken to trial in hopes to separate her from Patty.

Sarah and Matt were distraught from Novak pressing Patty on the stand about her family lines, leaving Patty to cry and plead to stay with her parents who raised her and not face Michelle again. Michelle was distraught and finally promised to leave Patty alone, taking a guilty plea to custodial interference and arranging to move out of state for Patty's safety. Patty ran off the stand to her parents when she was done with being questioned, crying as her parents tried to help her feel better.

Medical records revealed Patty had three other siblings because of Norton's utilization of Michelle's embryos. (SVU: "Birthright (SVU)")

Advertisement