What Did Patty Williams Do to Summer Newman on Y&R?

As Patty Williams is making herself at home in Genoa City, longtime viewers will remember that Traci Abbott isn’t the only one with reason to fear her.

Years before Patty became connected to the tragic death of Colleen Carlton, she nearly cost Phyllis Summers someone she loves most: her daughter, Summer Newman.

For newer viewers, references to what Patty “did to Summer” may seem vague, but the truth is pretty disturbing. Patty intentionally exposed a young Summer to peanuts, despite knowing the little girl had a severe allergy, setting off a chain of events that nearly ended in tragedy.

Patty Returned to Genoa City as Mary Jane Benson

In 2009, Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) returned to Genoa City under the alias Mary Jane Benson after undergoing plastic surgery arranged by Victor Newman (Eric Braeden).

Determined to win back the man she believed was her true love, Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman), Patty inserted herself into the lives of the people closest to him.

At first, Mary Jane appeared harmless. She befriended Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford), and spent time around Phyllis’ young daughter, Summer Newman (then played by Samantha Bailey). She even babysat the little girl.

Patty Targeted Summer to Manipulate Phyllis

Patty viewed Phyllis as an obstacle standing between her and the future she imagined with Jack.

After noticing that Phyllis still shared a connection with her ex-husband, Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow), Patty convinced herself that pushing the former couple back together would clear the way for her to pursue Jack.

One day at the Restless Style offices, Summer asked for cookies. Phyllis immediately threw them away after realizing they contained peanuts, since Summer had a severe peanut allergy.

Patty noticed, of course. While Phyllis was distracted, Patty retrieved the discarded cookies from the trash. She deliberately ate one, leaving peanut residue and crumbs on her lips.

Before leaving, Patty asked Summer for a goodbye kiss. The little girl happily kissed “Mary Jane” on the lips. Summer had no idea she had just been exposed to something that could put her life at risk, and neither did Phyllis.

Summer Nearly Died

Later, Phyllis discovered Summer unconscious and immediately called 911. Believing that Summer had somehow eaten one of the discarded cookies, Phyllis desperately tried to understand what had happened as paramedics worked to save her daughter’s life.

At the hospital, Summer fell into a coma. Nick and Phyllis could do nothing but wait and hope their little girl would wake up. It was every parent’s worst nightmare.

Patty Tried to Frame Phyllis

As Summer fought for her life, Patty took her manipulation even further. Still posing as Mary Jane Benson, she began suggesting to the district attorney, Heather Stevens (Vail Bloom), that Phyllis had deliberately exposed Summer to peanuts to get Nick’s attention.

Before long, a devastated Phyllis found herself under arrest while her daughter remained hospitalized. Now, Phyllis wasn’t just fighting for Summer’s life; she was fighting to clear her own name.

The Truth Finally Came Out

Eventually, Phyllis, Jack, and others began to suspect that Mary Jane had been responsible for Summer’s allergic reaction. The motive, however, remained difficult to understand.

Summer eventually woke from her coma, and doctors determined that any neurological damage appeared to be minimal and would likely improve over time. Meanwhile, Patty continued committing crimes while attempting to evade capture.

When Paul Williams (Doug Davidson) finally caught up with his sister and discovered that Mary Jane Benson was actually Patty Williams, Patty confessed to exposing Summer to peanuts. She insisted, however, that she had never intended to seriously harm the little girl.

Patty has maintained that she hadn’t meant for Summer’s reaction to become so severe, but for Phyllis, that distinction hardly mattered. Patty knowingly used a child’s life-threatening allergy as part of a scheme designed to manipulate the adults around her, and Summer could have died.

Even though Summer survived, the trauma of nearly losing her daughter wasn’t something Phyllis simply moved past. It’s one of the reasons Patty’s return to Genoa City still raises alarm bells for so many people.

Patty’s Obsession Had Collateral Damage

One of the most tragic aspects of Patty Williams’ story is that Jack Abbott was often the focus of her obsession, but he wasn’t always the person who paid the highest price.

Colleen Carlton lost her life, Summer Newman nearly lost hers, and the people who loved them were left to deal with the aftermath. Understanding what Patty did to Summer helps explain why Phyllis, Traci Abbott, and others continue to approach Patty with caution.

For them, this isn’t and never will be ancient history, especially because Patty always returns to be a living reminder of the dangerous choices she makes to get what she wants.