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| “ | I'm the best thing that ever happened to that kid. | „ |
| ~ Hines |
| “ | I don't know where she is, I don't care where she is. | „ |
| ~ Sprague |
Beatrice Hines and Brian Sprague are the main antagonists of the Law & Order episode "Nurture". Hines is the former legal guardian of Wendy Sylvester, who she abused and made a house slave. Sprague is the physically abusive boyfriend of Hines. They were brief suspects in Wendy's disappearance.
Hines was portrayed by Camryn Manheim, who also portrayed Margo in Hannah Montana, while Sprague was portrayed by Bruce MacVittie, who also portrayed Larry Brunig in a later episode in the series and Judge Harvey Frye in Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Biography[]
Hines knew Wendy's mother Peggy from working at the same restaurant. As Peggy used Wendy for shoplifting beer and cigarettes, Hines manipulated Peggy to put Wendy in her custody instead. Wendy was living even worse with Hines, treated as a house slave, her child support checks being stolen by Hines, and Sprague beating Wendy. Peggy reported to Child Services, which didn't intervene. however, the police arrested Sprague without prosecuting him, as a warning to keep him away from Wendy.
Wendy went missing, so her friend Janel, who didn't see her at the bus stop, went with her mother Sheryl to the police. They both feared Hines and Sprague killed Wendy and buried her remains somewhere, so Hines and Sprague were questioned. They denied any possible culpability over Wendy, as Sprague was more embittered over being arrested, and Hines was annoyed Wendy wasn't doing the chores Hines wanted her to; Hines also took offense to her poor conditions for Wendy by blaming Peggy and defending herself.
Wendy was found in captivity of Arnette Fenady, her volunteer teacher who hid her out of wanting to save her. Wendy was actually happy with Arnette and wanted to live with her. Against their own reservations, Arnette was taken to trial, Hines being called as a witness. She destroyed the case when Arnette's defense counsel provoked her to show her true nature on the stand. Wendy also perjured her testimony to defend Arnette. Arnette was acquitted, and she filed for Wendy's custody once she was freed.
Hines' and Sprague's legal statuses once their crimes came to light were left unknown by the time the episode ended.
Trivia[]
- The case of Wendy Sylvester is in part inspired by the Mary Ellen Wilson child abuse and endangerment case. Hines and Sprague are inspired by Mary Ellen's former, similarly abusive legal guardians in the case, the Connollys. Mary Connolly was convicted and briefly imprisoned for abusing Mary Ellen after Mary Ellen was removed from her custody. Mary Ellen was later adopted by the Methodist missionary who intervened on her behalf, Etta Angell Wheeler, the inspiration for Arnette.
