History Recap / LawAndOrderS4E20Nurture

* SecretUndergroundPassage: Fenady built one to hide Wendy in.

* ChildrenAreInnocent: ZigZagged. Wendy is only ten, with all that implies, but she's ''very'' savvy and pretty much knows that no adult in this situation is actually looking out for her wishes. [[spoiler: {{Subverted}} when she quite blatantly perjures herself with a straight face to make sure Fenady isn't sent to jail.]]

Ten-year-old Wendy Sylvester disappears. She has a chaotic, unstable home life with a neglectful foster mother. The detectives eventually discover that Arnette Fenady, a volunteer teacher at Wendy's school, is hiding Wendy in a secret room of her house. Fenady, whose own daughter died, believes God sent Wendy as a replacement; Fenady has previously attempted to kidnap another student as a new "daughter." Despite the DA's office petitioning for Fenady to be committed to hospital, she is found fit to stand trial. On the stand, Wendy changes her story and says she ran away to Fenady's house; previously, she had claimed that Fenady picked her up in a car. She is angry at what she sees as Stone trying to punish Fenady for helping her. The jury is very sympathetic to Fenady and acquits. She subsequently applies to adopt Wendy. Kincaid thinks Fenady will never get permission, but Stone is confident she will; he hopes that she'll be a good mother.

!!!This episode contains examples of:

* SoapboxSadie: Fenady's lawyer, who uses the case to make a political point about child social services not being fit for purpose.

* CinderellaCircumstances: Hines expects Wendy to do all the house chores and basically treats her as a servant.

* ChildrenAreInnocent

* DepartmentOfChildDisservices: In spades.

Ten-year-old Wendy Sylvester disappears. She has a chaotic, unstable home life with a foster mother who neglects her and did not bother to report her missing. The detectives eventually discover that Arnette Fenady, a volunteer teacher at Wendy's school, is hiding Wendy in a secret room of her house. Fenady, whose own daughter died, believes God sent Wendy as a replacement; Fenady has previously attempted to kidnap another student as a new "daughter." Despite the DA's office petitioning for Fenady to be committed to hospital, she is found fit to stand trial. On the stand, Wendy changes her story and says she ran away to Fenady's house; previously, she had claimed that Fenady picked her up in a car. She is angry at what she sees as Stone trying to punish Fenady for helping her. The jury is very sympathetic to Fenady and acquits. She subsequently applies to adopt Wendy. Kincaid thinks Fenady will never get permission, but Stone is confident she will; he hopes that she'll be a good mother.

Ten-year-old Wendy Sylvester disappears. She has a chaotic, unstable home life with a foster mother who neglects her and did not bother to report her missing. The detectives eventually discover that Arnette Fenady, a volunteer teacher at Wendy's school, is hiding Wendy in a secret room of her house. Fenady, who lost her own daughter, believes God sent Wendy as a replacement; Fenady has previously attempted to kidnap another student. Despite the DA's office petitioning for Fenady to be committed to hospital, she is found fit to stand trial. On the stand, Wendy changes her story and says she ran away to Fenady's house; previously, she had claimed that Fenady picked her up in a car. She is angry at what she sees as Stone trying to punish Fenady for helping her. The jury is very sympathetic to Fenady and acquits. She subsequently applies to adopt Wendy. Kincaid thinks Fenady will never get permission, but Stone is confident she will; he hopes that she'll be a good mother.

Ten-year-old Wendy Sylvester disappears. She has a chaotic, unstable home life with a foster mother who neglects her and did not bother to report her missing. The detectives eventually discover that Arnette Fenady, a volunteer teacher at Wendy's school, is hiding Wendy in a secret room of her house. Fenady, who lost her own daughter, believes God sent Wendy as a replacement; Fenady has previously attempted to kidnap another student. Despite the DA's office petitioning for Fenady to be committed to hospital, she is found fit to stand trial.On the stand, Wendy changes her story and says she ran away to Fenady's house; previously, she had told the police and Kincaid that Fenady picked her up in a car. Stone requests an adjournment and speaks to Wendy, who's angry at what she sees as him trying to punish Fenady for helping her. The jury is very sympathetic to Fenady and acquits. She subsequently applies to adopt Wendy. Kincaid thinks Fenady will never get permission, but Stone is confident she will; he hopes that she'll be a good mother.

A child reports her friend, ten-year-old Wendy Sylvester, missing. Wendy's foster mother Beatrice Hines is totally unconcerned and did not go to the police. Wendy has a chaotic, unsuitable home life and was beaten by Hines' boyfriend. Her friend leads the detectives to Arnette Fenady, a volunteer teacher Wendy was close to. Fenady turns out to have previously been arrested for trying to kidnap a student who, she claims, was being neglected. After some difficulty in getting a search warrant, the detectives find Wendy in a hidden room inside Fenady's house. Fenady believes that God sent Wendy to replace Fenady's own daughter, who died as a baby. Despite the DA's office petitioning for Fenady to be committed to hospital, she is found fit to stand trial.

A social worker testifies that while child services knew Wendy was severely neglected, nothing was done to remove her from Hines' care. On the stand, Wendy changes her story and says she ran away to Fenady's house; previously, she had told the police and Kincaid that Fenady picked her up in a car. Stone requests an adjournment and speaks to Wendy, who's angry at what she sees as him trying to punish Fenady for helping her. The jury is very sympathetic to Fenady and acquits. She subsequently applies to adopt Wendy. Kincaid thinks Fenady will never get permission, but Stone is confident she will; he hopes that she'll be a good mother.

A child reports her friend, ten-year-old Wendy Sylvester, missing. Wendy's foster mother Beatrice Hines is totally unconcerned and did not go to the police. Wendy has a chaotic, unsuitable home life and was beaten by Hines' boyfriend. Her friend leads the detectives to Arnette Fenady, a volunteer teacher Wendy was close to. Fenady turns out to have previously been arrested for trying to kidnap one of her students, who, Fenady claims, was being neglected. After some difficulty in getting a search warrant, the detectives find Wendy in a hidden room inside Fenady's house. Fenady believes that God sent Wendy to replace Fenady's own daughter, who died as a baby. Despite the DA's office petitioning for Fenady to be committed to hospital, she is found fit to stand trial.

A child reports her friend, ten-year-old Wendy Sylvester, missing. Wendy's foster mother Beatrice Hines is totally unconcerned and did not go to the police. Wendy has a chaotic, unsuitable home life; Hines' boyfriend is on bail for beating Wendy, and her birth mother is an alcoholic. Wendy's friend leads the detectives to Arnette Fenady, a volunteer teacher Wendy was close to. Fenady turns out to have previously been arrested for trying to kidnap one of her students, who, Fenady claims, was being neglected. After some difficulty in getting a search warrant, the detectives find Wendy in a hidden room inside Fenady's house. Fenady believes that God sent Wendy to replace Fenady's own daughter, who died as a baby. Despite the DA's office petitioning for Fenady to be committed to hospital, she is found fit to stand trial.

A social worker testifies that while child services knew Wendy was severely neglected, nothing was done to remove her from Hines' care. Hines herself admits that she regularly leaves Wendy alone late at night. On the stand, Wendy changes her story and says she ran away to Fenady's house; previously, she had told the police and Kincaid that Fenady picked her up in a car. Stone requests an adjournment and speaks to Wendy, who's angry at what she sees as him trying to punish Fenady for helping her. The jury is very sympathetic to Fenady and acquits. She subsequently applies to adopt Wendy. Kincaid thinks Fenady will never get permission, but Stone is confident she will; he hopes that she'll be a good mother.

A child reports that her friend, ten-year-old Wendy Sylvester, is missing. Logan and Briscoe confirm that Wendy's been gone for two days. Her foster mother, Beatrice Hines, is totally unconcerned and did not go to the police. Wendy has a chaotic, unsuitable home life; Hines' boyfriend is on bail for beating Wendy, and her birth mother is an alcoholic. Wendy's friend leads the detectives to Arnette Fenady, a volunteer teacher Wendy was close to. Fenady turns out to have previously been arrested for trying to kidnap one of her students, who, Fenady claims, was being neglected. After some difficulty in getting a search warrant, the detectives find Wendy is being kept in a hidden room inside Fenady's house.

Wendy says she was happy with Fenady and chose not to call home. Fenady claims she was just trying to rescue Wendy from an abusive home; she believes God sent Wendy to replace Fenady's own daughter, who died as a baby. Despite the DA's office petitioning for Fenady to be committed to hospital, she is found fit to stand trial. A social worker testifies that while child services knew Wendy was severely neglected, nothing was done to remove her from Hines' care. Hines herself admits that she regularly leaves Wendy alone late at night.

In court, Wendy changes her story and says she ran away to Fenady's house; previously, she had told the police and Kincaid that Fenady picked her up in a car. Stone requests an adjournment and speaks to Wendy, who's angry at what she sees as him trying to punish Fenady for helping her. The jury is very sympathetic to Fenady and acquits. She subsequently applies to adopt Wendy. Kincaid thinks Fenady will never get permission, but Stone is confident she will; he hopes that she'll be a good mother.

* SoapboxSadie: Fenady's lawyer, who uses the case to make a political point about child social services not being fit for purposes.

A child reports that her friend, ten-year-old Wendy Sylvester, is missing. Logan and Cerreta confirm that Wendy's been gone for two days. Her foster mother, Beatrice Hines, is totally unconcerned and did not go to the police. Wendy has a chaotic, unsuitable home life; Hines' boyfriend is on bail for beating Wendy, and her birth mother is an alcoholic. Wendy's friend leads the detectives to Arnette Fenady, a volunteer teacher Wendy was close to. Fenady turns out to have previously been arrested for trying to kidnap one of her students, who, Fenady claims, was being neglected. After some difficulty in getting a search warrant, the detectives find Wendy is being kept in a hidden room inside Fenady's house.

Wendy says she was happy with Fenady and chose not to call home when Fenady suggested it. Fenady claims she was just trying to rescue Wendy from an abusive home; she believes God sent Wendy to replace Fenady's own daughter, who died as a baby. Despite the DA's office petitioning for Fenady to be committed to hospital, she is found fit to stand trial. A social worker testifies that while child services knew Wendy was severely neglected, nothing was done to remove her from Hines' care. Hines herself admits that she regularly leaves Wendy alone late at night.