Christine could navigate the legal minefield of kidnapping charges on The Young and the Restless. She could help prove that Mariah was a victim of psychological warfare rather than a criminal mastermind. This could be the prayer that Sharon wants answered.
Key Takeaways
- Christine could use the insanity defense, proving that Ian Ward’s psychological conditioning made Mariah incapable of distinguishing right from wrong.
- Abby’s maternal instincts will clash with her friendship as she weighs whether to press charges for Dominic’s safety.
- The true challenge lies in exposing Ian’s ghost to prove he was the reason behind Mariah’s downward spiral.
READ: Y&R’s Camryn Grimes gives her perspective on Mariah’s ‘act of desperation.’
The Insanity Defense
Christine (Lauralee Bell) could make a return to Genoa City. If so, she could work with Mariah (Camryn Grimes), who will need legal help. Christine could prove that Mariah’s actions were the result of psychological conditioning from her childhood trauma involving Ian Ward (Ray Wise).
She’s not doing it to deny the kidnapping attempt, but to prove that Ian’s influence fractured Mariah’s fragile mental state. This strategy would rely on expert testimony and Mariah’s willingness to be vulnerable. She would have to confess to what led her to abduct Dominic (Ethan Ray Clark). It was the result of the hallucinations she had of Ian.
For months, she pushed Sharon (Sharon Case) and Tessa (Cait Fairbanks) out of her life. She refused to tell them that her mental state was getting worse for wear. If she can’t open up about her emotional state, she could face a decade behind bars. It doesn’t matter what her intentions were.
Abby’s Ultimatum
As for Abby, she’s on the other side of this complicated dilemma. She went through every mother’s worst nightmare and a friend’s biggest betrayal. While Abby realizes the trauma that Mariah has endured, the safety of Dominic is her biggest priority.
Abby could hit Mariah with a shocking ultimatum: that she agrees to seek psychiatric help as she keeps a court-ordered distance away from their family. This demand could reignite their former rivalry.
READ: Y&R’s Melissa Ordway has hinted at the return of Abby and Mariah’s iconic feud.
Even though Mariah is behind bars, Abby will still have nightmares of Dominic being abducted. She can’t risk another lapse in judgment, regardless of the insanity defense. Abby could be forced to ensure her son is never a pawn in someone else’s mental health crisis.
