| Laura Horton | |||||||||||||||
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| Days of our Lives | |||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Floy Dean (1966) Susan Flannery (1966–75) Susan Oliver (1975–76) Rosemary Forsyth (1976–80) Jaime Lyn Bauer (1993–99, 2003, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2021) Cady McClain (2021, flashbacks) | ||||||||||||||
| Current status | Former; Recurring | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1966–80, 1993–99, 2003, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| First appearance | June 30, 1966 | ||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | February 10, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| Cause/reason | Died | ||||||||||||||
| Created by | Peggy Phillips | ||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Ted Corday (1966) Ken Corday and Tom Langan (1993) Ken Corday and Stephen Wyman (2003) Ken Corday and Gary Tomlin (2010) Ken Corday, Lisa de Cazotte and Greg Meng (2013) Ken Corday, Albert Alarr and Greg Meng (2016/18) Ken Corday and Albert Alarr (2021) | ||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||
| Alias(es) | Monica | ||||||||||||||
| Gender | Female | ||||||||||||||
| Died | February 10, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| Cause of death | Head injury after fighting with Gwen Rizczech | ||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Psychiatrist | ||||||||||||||
| Residence | Salem, Illinois (at time of death) Africa | ||||||||||||||
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Dr. Laura Horton (formerly Spencer) was a character from the soap opera Days of Our Lives, originated by actress Floy Dean on June 30, 1966 till October 21, 1966. Susan Flannery stepped into the role from November 22, 1966 to May 27, 1975. Susan Oliver briefly stepped into the role from October 10, 1975, to June 9, 1976, followed by Rosemary Forsyth from August 24, 1976, to March 25, 1980. Jaime Lyn Bauer assumed the role on November 12, 1993, and remained until July 7, 1999. Laura briefly returned to Salem for her daughter, Jennifer Horton's, wedding to Jack Deveraux.
Laura's story-lines focus on family troubles. She is a member of the series' Horton family. Laura's marriage to Mickey Horton was a big part of the characters' history. She was also married to another Horton, Bill. Laura went through a period where she appeared to be going insane, but was being brainwashed by Vivian Alamain. Bauer's last episode aired on July 7, 1999, but she returned on May 26 and 27, 2003, and again from June 15 to 28, 2010, and April 10 and 11, 2013.
On March 28th 2016, it was announced that Bauer would once again return to the soap. It was announced on November 29th 2017 that Bauer will return to the series in 2018 for at least one episode.
On January 4, 2021 it was announced that Bauer would again return to the show for a short stint. She appeared from February 2 to February 10 where Laura is killed off after suffering a head injury.
Storylines
Laura Horton is the daughter of James Spencer and Carrie Spencer. She is the mother of Mike Horton and Jennifer Horton Deveraux and has been married to both Mickey Horton and Bill Horton. Laura chose to pursue a career in medicine, following in the footsteps of her father, a physician. Her mother struggled with significant mental health issues, spending a considerable portion of Laura's upbringing in an institution.
When Dr. Laura Spencer arrived in Salem in May 1966, she was a psychiatry intern at Salem University Hospital. Having recently graduated from Johns Hopkins University, she moved to Salem at the recommendation of a college acquaintance, Bill Horton, who also attended Johns Hopkins. Laura opted for Salem to avoid returning to her hometown of Chicago and working in her father's hospital, as she wished to maintain professional independence. Residing in a modest apartment building, Laura soon encountered her upstairs neighbor, Tony Merritt, a family friend of the Horton's, who was quite enamored with her and invited her out. However, Tony still harbored strong feelings for his former fiancée, Marie Horton, leading to the swift conclusion of their relationship.
During her tenure at the hospital, Laura frequently interacted with Bill. Initially forming a strong friendship, the two began a romantic relationship. The pair fell in love and were contemplating marriage. However, Bill suddenly exhibited unusual behavior that he chose not to disclose to anyone. Abruptly, he ended his relationship with Laura and departed from Salem. Heartbroken by Bill's actions, Laura sought solace from the Horton family, particularly from Mickey, Bill's brother. Shortly thereafter, Mickey requested Laura's assistance with a murder investigation he was handling. Susan Hunter had fatally shot her husband in a moment of rage following the accidental death of their son. Mickey needed Laura to assess Susan's mental state at the time of the incident, as he intended to pursue an insanity defense. Laura determined that Susan had indeed experienced a temporary mental breakdown due to her son's death. Her contributions to the case proved vital and ultimately helped Susan evade incarceration. Furthermore, the collaboration on the case fostered a bond between Laura and Mickey, leading to their marriage. Initially, their marriage appeared strong. However, shortly after the wedding, Bill returned to Salem. It was revealed that Bill had left Salem due to a medical condition he believed would hinder his ability to practice medicine. Although Laura still had feelings for Bill, she aimed to find happiness with Mickey. Nevertheless, their frequent encounters at the hospital created discomfort for both. One evening, a drunken Bill assaulted Laura in his office. Laura confronted him and threatened to report his actions, yet ultimately chose to remain silent about the incident. Meanwhile, Mickey grew concerned about Laura's lack of pregnancy and requested his father to conduct tests to determine if he was sterile. Weeks later, before the test results were available, Laura discovered she was pregnant. Elated, they dismissed the notion of Mickey's sterility, believing it was no longer relevant. However, Tom Horton received the test results and summoned Laura to his office, revealing that Mickey was indeed sterile. Overcome with emotion, Laura tearfully disclosed the entire incident with Bill to Tom, realizing she was carrying Bill's child. She implored Tom to keep this information confidential, and he agreed that the child's paternity should remain undisclosed. Unfortunately, Bill mistakenly received Mickey's medical file one day and learned of the test results, confirming he was the father. Aware that revealing the truth would devastate Mickey, Bill pledged to keep the secret. In the fall, Laura and Bill were involved in a car accident, leading to Laura being rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery performed by Bill. Shortly thereafter, Laura gave birth to Michael William Horton, named after both fathers.
In 1969, Tom and Laura found themselves alone in his office, discussing the revelation that Bill was Mike's father. Unbeknown to them, Tom had inadvertently left a recording device he used for transcribing medical notes. Kitty Horton, Tom's daughter-in-law and his secretary, listened to the recording. Driven by vindictiveness, Kitty chose to blackmail Bill. One evening, Bill confronted Kitty, and the situation escalated into a physical altercation, during which Bill seized the recording and departed. Tragically, Kitty, who suffered from a serious heart condition, suffered a heart attack and passed away. Bill was subsequently arrested, charged with manslaughter, and sentenced to a prison term of 3 to 7 years.
Laura's marriage to Mickey began to deteriorate as she suspected him of having an affair with his secretary, Linda Patterson. The following year, Linda confirmed the affair, asserting that her newborn daughter, Melissa Horton, was Mickey's child. Although Laura desired a divorce, she and Mickey decided to remain married for the sake of their son, Michael. However, Laura was convinced that Melissa could not be Mickey's daughter due to his sterility. Ultimately, it was revealed that Melissa was actually the daughter of Linda's former boyfriend, Jim Phillips. Linda married Jim, and they subsequently left town.
After Bill's release on parole in 1970, he explained to Laura the circumstances of his meeting with Kitty on the night of her death. Kitty had discovered the truth about the rape and Michael's parentage and attempted to blackmail Bill. This was the reason for his visit to Kitty that fateful night, a detail he had been unable to disclose in court. Laura respected Bill's willingness to protect the truth, and their friendship rekindled. Meanwhile, Laura and Tom arranged a confidential hearing with the Medical Review Board to restore Bill's medical license. During this secretive session, Bill revealed all the details regarding Kitty's death. Consequently, the board reinstated Bill's license, allowing him to resume his position as a surgeon at the hospital.
The unique bond between Laura and Bill did not escape notice. Mickey began to harbour suspicions regarding their relationship, believing they were involved in an affair. Following his own infidelity and subsequent exposure, Mickey confronted both Bill and Laura, claiming to possess knowledge of their alleged affair. Naturally, Bill and Laura refuted these accusations, as they had not engaged in any such relationship. Nevertheless, they felt a sense of guilt, for although they had not been physically unfaithful, they frequently expressed their love and dependence on one another. During one of these intimate exchanges, a young Michael overheard them. Distressed by the revelations from his mother and uncle, Michael fled the house and was struck by a vehicle. Fortunately, he survived the incident, but it served as a stark reminder to Bill and Laura of their precarious situation. They recognized that both Mickey and Michael could uncover the truth at any moment, prompting them to maintain their distance.
A short time later, Mickey experienced a heart attack while embroiled in a dispute with Michael regarding the alleged affair between Bill and Laura. Although Mickey survived, he vanished from the hospital while everyone was preoccupied with the wedding of Susan Martin and Greg Peters. Subsequently, Mickey's damaged vehicle was discovered abandoned by the roadside, leading to the presumption of his death. Laura found solace in Bill's company and rekindled their relationship, ultimately becoming engaged. With Mickey presumed dead, there was nothing hindering their union. However, nearly a year later, as Bill and Laura were in the midst of wedding preparations, Tom uncovered the existence of a man in nearby Brookville who bore an uncanny resemblance to Mickey. Bill and Laura travelled to the town and encountered Marty Hanson, who turned out to be Mickey, albeit suffering from amnesia. As Marty, Mickey had entered into marriage with a young woman named Maggie Horton Kiriakis. Despite Bill and Laura informing Marty of his identity, he chose not to return to Salem. He found contentment in Brookville with Maggie, believing that his departure from his previous life was due to its unhappiness.
Marty willingly obtained a divorce decree to remarry Maggie legally, which also allowed Laura and Bill to finally unite in marriage. They celebrated their union in a modest ceremony in the Horton living room. Initially, Laura and Bill experienced happiness, and as Mickey began to regain his memories, it seemed everyone was ready to move forward.
In 1976, the truth about Michael emerged following an accident on Maggie's farm that required blood transfusions. Mickey discovered that his blood type did not match Mike's, leading him to piece together the reality of the situation. All of Mickey's memories returned, including the jealousy he harbored towards Bill and Laura. Enraged by their deception, Mickey confronted Bill with a firearm, resulting in Bill being shot but surviving the attack. Subsequently, Mickey exhibited violent tendencies towards blonde women, attempting to strangle both Laura and Linda upon their return to Salem, which led to his commitment to a sanitarium. Shortly thereafter, Laura became pregnant and gave birth to Jennifer Rose Horton at Maggie Horton's farm in Brookville. However, after Jennifer Horton Deveraux's arrival, Bill and Laura's marriage faced significant challenges due to their demanding hospital schedules and Bill's brief affair with Dr. Kate Winograd. Although Bill returned to Laura, she remained plagued by suspicions of his infidelity with Kate, which contributed to her deteriorating mental state.
In 1979, Laura's mother's mental health deteriorated, leading to Carrie's tragic suicide in the hospital room. The impact of her mother's death, coupled with Bill's infidelity with Kate, profoundly affected Laura. She began to exhibit unusual behavior towards her loved ones. Following Julie Olson Williams's facial injuries from an explosion, Laura told her that Doug Williams would never love her again and urged her to seek a divorce. Additionally, she placed young Jennifer on a cross-country bus, believing it would ensure her safety. Although Jennifer was ultimately rescued, Laura's mental state continued to decline. She experienced hallucinations, frequently hearing her mother's voice warning her that she was 'losing control.' Eventually, this voice urged her to take her own life. Laura attempted to hang herself but was rescued just in time by Bill. After being admitted to Lakewood Sanitarium, she made a brief return for Tom and Alice Horton's 50th anniversary celebration before going back to the facility, prompting Bill to leave town to be nearer to her.
In 1993, Laura was in a catatonic state. During her time away, she was moved to Pine Haven Sanitarium located outside Chicago. There, she began receiving visits from Kate Roberts, who was concerned about Laura's condition. However, Vivian Alamain, another patient at Pine Haven, noticed Kate's visits and became determined to uncover the truth. Vivian observed Laura's intense dislike for Kate when she placed a photograph of Kate on Laura's lap, prompting Laura to gradually tear it apart. Later, Vivian learned that the administrators of Pine Haven, Anne Goldberg and Nurse Jackson, were keeping patients in a catatonic state through medication to continue receiving financial support from their families. Armed with this knowledge, Vivian advised Laura to cease taking the medication. Gradually, Laura's clarity improved.
During a visit from Jennifer, Laura managed to utter Jennifer's name, but she chose to keep her ability to speak a secret for the time being. On New Year's Eve, Laura fixated on Kate while celebrating with her family at the Penthouse Grill in Salem. Although Laura was excited to be with her loved ones, her disdain for Kate was evident through her piercing glares from her wheelchair.
Meanwhile, Ivan Marais, Vivian's servant who worked as an orderly at Pine Haven, administered a counteracting medication to Laura. Soon after, she was able to inform Ivan that Vivian was being prepared for a lobotomy. After rescuing Vivian, a fire erupted in the hospital, but Anne Goldberg and Nurse Jackson pursued them. Laura defended herself and Vivian by incapacitating both with a glass bottle and a gurney. Ultimately, Vivian and Laura escaped through a sewer pipe, fleeing the blaze.
Laura possessed more secrets about Kate that Vivian was eager to uncover. Nevertheless, Laura declined to share, stating that in due course, all would be revealed. Following Lucas's incarceration, Laura ultimately confronted Kate and disclosed to the audience the root of her animosity towards Kate. After attending a party hosted by Alice at the Penthouse Grill, Laura visited Kate, who was at home recuperating from the stress of Lucas's imprisonment. Prior to her commitment, Laura had witnessed Kate and Bill in a compromising situation; she indicated that this, along with the fact that Lucas was Bill's son, contributed to her emotional breakdown. Kate pleaded with Laura to keep this information confidential. Laura consented but intended to eventually expose Kate.
Bill soon returned from Salem to reconcile with his wife, but the reunion lacked warmth. Laura was distant towards Bill and eventually revealed that their previous issues stemmed from her knowledge of his affair with Kate. Furthermore, she informed him that Lucas Roberts was his son. Like Kate, he implored Laura to remain silent. She agreed, but only if he refrained from seeing Kate or their son Lucas, to which he reluctantly acquiesced.
However, this secret was not destined to remain hidden for long. Laura learned that Bill had visited Lucas on several occasions, which incited her fury. Bill grew concerned that she might be descending into madness again. Although she did not acknowledge it, Laura harbored the same fear; she had heard her mother's voice taunting her on two occasions. Nevertheless, she procured one of Marlena Evans prescription forms and self-prescribed medication to maintain her composure. After both Lucas and Kate were exonerated of murder charges, Victor organized a gathering at the Penthouse Grill, primarily aimed at restoring Kate's public image. Unfortunately, Laura intervened. Encouraged by Vivian, Laura halted the festivities and publicly accused Kate of having an affair with Bill, revealing that Lucas was their son.
After exposing Kate, Laura attempted to return to her previous routine, but she struggled to adapt. The realization that she had missed out on Jennifer's upbringing weighed heavily on her. In her desperation, she increasingly relied on medication, leading to a growing dependency. Mike Horton returned from Israel to visit his mother, and within a week, he sensed something was amiss. Laura appeared perpetually agitated, which he initially attributed to nerves related to her efforts to rejoin the hospital staff. However, her agitation stemmed from her ongoing difficulty in adjusting to contemporary Salem. Her self-prescribed drug dependency escalated to the point where she resorted to stealing prescription pads. One night, she broke into a fertility clinic with the intention of pilfering pads. While hiding behind a counter, she overheard Vivian and Ivan conspiring to switch petri dishes, ensuring Vivian would conceive Victor's child instead of Kate's. Laura chose to remain silent until the opportune moment.
Eventually, Mike discovered Laura using her medication and chastised her, informing her that the drugs were outdated antidepressants with severe side effects. Upset, Laura lamented that had she not been confined, she would have been aware of this. After Mike departed, she turned to alcohol to numb her pain, but he caught her with a vodka bottle and confiscated it, forcing her to confront her new reality without the crutch of drugs or alcohol.
After Tom Horton passed away due to a heart attack Bill, who had travelled to Chicago two months prior, returned for his father's funeral. During his visit, Bill voiced his worries about Laura's deteriorating mental state, which had led to their divorce. Subsequently, Bill departed from Salem once more.
Laura supported the budding relationship between Jennifer and Peter Blake. She recalled Peter from New Year's Eve; although she was unable to speak at the time, she remembered him flying her from Pine Haven on his private jet. A few months later, Laura recognized Peter's true character when she observed him conversing with Leo, a known drug dealer. Consequently, she instructed Jen to cease her association with Peter, but Jennifer refused. Believing Peter to be a negative influence, Laura collaborated with Alice to bring Jack Deveraux back to Salem. Although Jack did arrive in Salem, he quickly left upon witnessing Jennifer declare her love for Peter.
While assisting victims of a summer blackout, Laura encountered Daniel Scott, who identified himself as a publishing executive. They began a romantic relationship, during which he presented her with lavish gifts. After being reinstated at the hospital, Laura commented on the unattractive color of her office, prompting Daniel to have the walls repainted. He also gifted her a statuette of The Oracle. Unbeknown to Laura, Daniel was secretly working for Peter. The paint used in her office contained a substance that induced hallucinations, and the statue was equipped with a radio transmitter designed to drive Laura to madness. She began to hear Peter's voice threatening to kill Mike and Jennifer. Although Laura warned her children, they merely feared that she was losing her sanity again. After taking a break from work, Laura seemed to improve. However, Daniel, intent on perpetuating her descent into insanity, gifted her a pearl necklace laced with poison, causing Laura to spiral into irrational behavior once more.
One day, while in her office, a man dressed as a firefighter burst in and urged her to activate the fire alarm due to a fire. Laura complied. However, the fire department later confirmed that no firefighters had been dispatched to the hospital that day. Consequently, Laura was advised to take another vacation. While at home, she overheard her family discussing the possibility of placing her in another sanitarium. Distressed, Laura departed for the Salem Inn to meet Daniel. In his room, she fell asleep. Upon waking, she found herself precariously positioned on the edge of the hotel roof, with her family, Peter, and Daniel pleading with her not to jump. Confused and unaware that Daniel and Peter had placed her there, Laura nearly lost her footing, but Peter managed to catch her. In the struggle, her necklace broke, causing the pearls to scatter off the roof. This incident led everyone to believe that Laura was unstable, prompting her swift admission to University Hospital and subsequent arrangements for her transfer to a Sanitarium.
Laura contacted Vivian from her hospital room, requesting assistance to escape from University Hospital. However, Vivian declined, as she was pregnant with Victor's child and could not afford to jeopardize her situation. In response, Laura resorted to blackmail, revealing her knowledge of how Vivian became pregnant with Victor's baby. Consequently, Vivian and Ivan disguised themselves as orderlies to facilitate Laura's escape. They stole an ambulance and fled the scene, with Laura subsequently hiding in the Alamain mansion. Despite a search by Peter, Abe, and another detective, no trace of Laura was found.
Shortly thereafter, Laura learned that Jennifer had been admitted to the hospital and secretly visited her. After a brief conversation, Laura ascended to the hospital roof to evade two police officers. Jennifer pursued her, assuring Laura that she no longer needed to hide. On the roof, both women fell onto a hanging scaffold. After being rescued, Laura returned to her normal life and accepted Peter's presence. Nevertheless, Laura continued her relationship with Daniel. Peter's plan remained undiscovered, and Laura found herself infatuated with Daniel. As their intimacy progressed, Laura abruptly left Daniel's hotel room at the last moment. Later, she called Daniel to apologize, explaining that she had not been with a man in over 18 years. She also mentioned her intention to seek treatment for her anxiety at a facility outside of Salem called The Meadows, as suggested by Marlena.
Upon her arrival at The Meadows, Dr. Perkins, the clinic's director, informed Laura that real names were not used. Consequently, Laura adopted the name Monica. She formed a friendship with another patient, Clark, who was, unbeknown to her, her daughter's former husband, Jack Deveraux. Laura and Jack had never previously met. After believing they had made significant progress, 'Clark' and 'Monica' chose to test their newly acquired skills. Laura returned to Salem and invited Daniel on a date, which he declined, stating he had to leave town and could not see her anymore. Distressed, Laura returned to The Meadows, where she discovered 'Clark' was also upset, having been rejected by the woman he loved. They consoled one another and ended up in bed together. The following morning, 'Clark' and 'Monica' mutually decided it was best to remain friends. Shortly thereafter, they both departed from The Meadows.
Upon her return to Salem, Laura met Dr. Roger Hunt, a new addition to the hospital staff. Although they went on a few dates, the relationship faltered as Laura found herself preoccupied with thoughts of Clark. She embarked on a quest to locate Clark throughout Chicago. After several months, she unexpectedly discovered Clark in her home, engaged in an argument with Jennifer. Jen introduced Laura to her ex-husband, Jack. Furious, Laura feigned ignorance of his identity. When they were alone, they concurred that it was prudent to keep their past affair confidential. Despite the temptation to disclose this information to Jen, Laura opted against it. However, she confided in Alice, who remained silent about the matter. Following this, Laura felt a significant alleviation of her conscience.
Daniel Scott returned to Salem once more. Laura was furious with him and wanted nothing to do with him. Under Jack's pressure, Daniel confessed to having collaborated with Peter to manipulate Laura. Laura was horrified to learn that it was not merely the paint fumes but a malicious scheme orchestrated by Peter that had nearly led her back to an institution. This revelation haunted her, resulting in disturbing nightmares.
In the meantime, Laura allied with Marlena in their effort to unveil Kristen DiMera, who was engaged to Marlena's former lover John Black and was revealed to be a scheming DiMera. This revelation occurred during Peter Blake's funeral, where Laura observed that Kristen's supposed unborn child was merely a pillow. Upon confronting Kristen, Laura was kidnapped by Stefano DiMera. Before transporting her to the Blake residence, Stefano traumatized Laura by revealing that the corpse in Peter's coffin was actually Daniel Scott's body disguised with a mask of Peter's face.
Stefano held Laura captive in the Blake household, intending to kill her. However, when Kristen discovered them, she pleaded with Stefano to spare Laura's life. Consequently, Stefano arranged for Dr. Kay to perform a laser procedure on Laura that would erase her short-term memory. Following the procedure, Laura returned to her family unaware of her whereabouts over the past two weeks. Her family suspected she was losing her sanity again when she began insisting that Peter was still alive.
Laura started experiencing fragmented memories of her ordeal. During this period, Jennifer employed Lynn Burke as Laura's personal nurse. Laura developed trust in Lynn, oblivious to the fact that Lynn was working for Stefano. Lynn administered special medication to Laura, which were actually pills designed to suppress her memory recovery. Eventually, Lynn ceased giving Laura the pills, allowing Laura's memories to resurface. She informed everyone that Kristen had never been genuinely pregnant. Unfortunately, by that time, Kristen had already hired a lookalike named Susan Banks to bear her a child, rendering Laura unable to substantiate her claims.
Kristen, who had begun to confine Marlena in a secret room behind her wine cellar, grew increasingly concerned about Laura. After Lynn resumed administering drugs to Laura, Kristen devised a plan to eliminate Marlena. Laura, who had been hospitalized following an altercation with Kristen, interrupted the wedding ceremony, once again asserting that Kristen had fabricated her pregnancy. Despite this disruption, the wedding proceeded and was ultimately concluded. During the reception, Laura struck Kristen, causing her teeth to dislodge and fall into Vivian's champagne glass. It was then revealed to all that Kristen was, in fact, Susan Banks in disguise. Susan admitted that Kristen had indeed faked her pregnancy and that little John Black Jr. was actually her son, Elvis. Furthermore, Susan disclosed that Stefano was alive and that she had imprisoned Kristen alongside Marlena in the wine cellar.
Following the revelation about Kristen, Laura's circumstances began to improve. She supported Marlena in her relationship with John and encouraged Mike in his budding romance with Carrie Brady. Laura was determined to locate Peter to exonerate Jack from the murder charge. She compelled Kristen to confess that Peter was still alive, leading to Jack's temporary release. Meanwhile, it was uncovered that Trent Davis, Jennifer's neighbor, was actually Travis Malloy, Jack's former cellmate who was working for Stefano. Jack soon escaped, and he and Jennifer found themselves in the Grand Canyon, and after Travis' death, they went on the run again.
Laura, now aware that Peter was after Jennifer, decided to get to him first. Knowing that Peter was watching her, Laura took every possible precaution to lead him astray on his search for Jennifer. Sadly, her plan did not work; Peter tracked Jack and Jen to a circus in Dayton, Ohio which was coming to Salem. Refusing to let Peter get to her daughter, Laura grabbed a gun and decided to take action. Laura was willing to kill Peter for to protect her daughter. Before she could do it, Laura received the news of Jennifer's death. She had been killed in a car accident. Devastated, Laura was hell-bent on revenge against all of the DiMeras. Although Laura attended Jennifer's funeral, she didn't stay too long. With a gun in her purse, Laura went to the Blake house searching for Kristen. By night's end, Kristen Blake was dead.
Realizing that Peter was pursuing Jennifer, Laura resolved to confront him first. Aware that Peter was observing her, she took every measure to mislead him in his quest for Jennifer. Unfortunately, her strategy failed; Peter managed to follow Jack and Jen to a circus in Dayton, Ohio, which was on route to Salem. Determined to protect her daughter from Peter, Laura armed herself and prepared to take drastic action, even contemplating killing Peter. However, before she could act, she received the devastating news of Jennifer's death in a car accident. Overcome with grief, Laura became fixated on avenging her daughter against the DiMeras. Although she attended Jennifer's funeral, she did not linger for long. With a firearm concealed in her purse, Laura proceeded to the Blake residence in search of Kristen. By the end of the night, Kristen Blake was dead.
Laura appeared to be exceedingly pleased following Kristen's demise, confidently informing everyone she met that Kristen's death was the most beneficial event for Salem. At Kristen's funeral, Laura attended dressed in red to celebrate Kristen's death. Shortly thereafter, Jennifer was thought to be dead, having orchestrated a car accident to lure Peter out of seclusion. At Jennifer's funeral, she reemerged, leading to Peter's arrest. Laura was elated. However, suspicions began to arise regarding her involvement in Kristen's death. Stefano suspected she was concealing something and soon accused her of murder. Roman and Abe discovered a button from Laura's coat near the pool, along with a bottle of her prescription medication. Additionally, Laura's firearm was located in the Salem River. Although the evidence was circumstantial, it was sufficient to warrant Laura's arrest. Some of this evidence had been submitted by Marlena, prompting Laura to engage in a conflict with one of her closest friends. Faced with the possibility of imprisonment, Laura ultimately disclosed the events of the night Kristen died. She had gone to the Blake residence with the intention of killing Kristen. Upon her arrival, she confronted Kristen, berating her, and fired three shots, all of which missed as Kristen fainted. Laura departed, leaving Kristen on the floor, only for it to be later revealed that Kristen was alive and another individual had been killed.
Despite this, Laura was convicted of attempted murder and mandated to undergo institutionalization for a psychiatric assessment. Marlena intervened to facilitate Laura's return home as an outpatient, which deeply moved Laura and led to a reconciliation of their friendship. With the encouragement of her family and friends, Laura concentrated on her recovery and eventually became well enough to join Jack, Jennifer, and Abigail Deveraux DiMera in Africa.
In 2003, Laura attended the wedding of Jack and Jennifer, a significant event for her as she had missed their first wedding due to her stay in the sanitarium. By this time, she and Jack had moved past their previous romantic feelings, and her primary concern was her daughter's happiness.
In 2010, following Alice's passing, Laura returned to Salem with Bill to support Jennifer. During this visit, she had a confrontation with Kate Roberts at the Horton House and seemed to harbour hopes of rekindling her relationship with Bill, although they departed the town separately after the funeral.
In 2013, Jennifer sought out Laura's counsel during a challenging period in her life.
By 2016, Laura returned to discuss her granddaughter Abigail with Jennifer. Abigail, who had been thought to be dead, had previously struggled with severe mental health issues, akin to those experienced by Laura and Carrie. It was revealed that Abigail was alive and that Laura had collaborated with André DiMera to keep her hidden while she healed from the trauma inflicted by Ben Weston. Eventually, Abigail would reach out to Laura for assistance when she was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, with one of her protective personalities named Laura after her grandmother.
In 2021, Laura arrived in Salem and disclosed that Gwen Rizczech was the daughter of Jack. It was revealed that Jack had a previous relationship with Gwen's mother Tiffany Rizczech. When Tiffany arrived at the Horton House to tell Jack about Gwen, Laura impersonated Jack's secretary and kept Gwen's existence a secret from him. During a confrontation with Gwen, Laura suffered a fatal head injury. Although Gwen claimed it was an accident, Abigail remained skeptical and took drastic measures to demonstrate that Gwen had intentionally caused Laura's death. Despite her efforts, Abigail could not extract a confession from Gwen and ultimately had to relent. After Gwen was apprehended for unrelated offences, she confessed to Abigail that she had deliberately killed Laura. However, when confronted by Abigail at the police station, Gwen maintained her initial narrative, asserting that her admission was merely intended to inflict emotional pain on Abigail. When Abigail pressed for the truth once more, Gwen declared that she would never reveal what truly transpired. Tragically, Abigail met her own demise a year later at the hands of the villain Clyde Weston.
