Heather's plans to get rich by killing Edward are stalled when he gives away his entire fortune to be with her. After Heather and Tracy have Edward committed, Luke helps bring Heather's schemes to light. Edward has the marriage annulled in November 2004. Due to Luke's tricks, Heather accidentally admits to killing police officer Ross Duncan and framing Edward's granddaughter, Skye for the murder. Heather kidnaps Skye. Luke tricks her into releasing Skye by pretending to marry her. Luke tells the authorities of Heather's crimes. She is declared insane and sent off to Ferncliff Sanitarium. 2012–2016 Heather is being held at Ferncliff when Sam Morgan shows up, looking for information on serial killer Franco, who has developed an obsession with Sam's husband, Jason. Heather tells Sam that Franco is Jason's twin brother. Heather is later released with the help of her son Steve, after convincing him that she's changed. However, from the minute she leaves Ferncliff, she stirs up trouble. Heather is obsessed with Steve, even upset about his girlfriend, Olivia Falconeri. She also is fixated on Luke, who is now dating Anna Devane. When Steve is arrested for murder, she murders his colleague, Maggie Wurth, and stages it as a suicide so Maggie will be blamed for the murder. Steve doesn't suspect Heather is involved. Heather also becomes fixated on Sam, intent on ruining her life. She taunts Sam after she finds out Sam's unborn baby is not Jason's, but Franco's. Heather faces the wrath of Monica when she walks into the Quartermaine mansion uninvited, having had a restraining order placed against her in order to protect the ailing Edward. When she comes to see Luke, and runs into Tracy Quartermaine and Anthony Zacchara, she realizes Anthony is dead. Heather later steals Anthony's body, thinking she'll help Luke not go down for murder. While she's burying his body, she runs into Todd Manning, who is carrying Téa Delgado's newborn son Victor Lord III. Todd asks for Heather's help, because Victor isn't breathing. Heather tells Todd that Victor can't be saved. Meanwhile, Sam shows up, looking for help after delivering her newborn son. Sam passes out, and Todd finds her unborn baby. Téa comes by then, and believing Todd is holding her son, asks for him back. Heather convinces Todd to let Téa think the baby is hers, and leaves Téa's stillborn baby in place of Sam's. Sam is devastated