Children of Passions - Sam Bennett

Sam Bennett

Unknown actor (January 2008)

Samuel Herbert "Sam" Bennett is the newborn son of Jessica Bennett and Herbert "Spike" Lester, born sometime on or between August 15, 2007, and January 6, 2008. Jessica has just left her husband of ten months, Spike, and moved back to her father's home when she discovers that she is pregnant. Though she is thrilled to be expecting, Jessica also realizes that having Spike's child will bind her to her abusive husband, who has also been her pimp When Spike discovers Jessica's pregnancy, he attempts to sell their child, but when Jessica refuses, he abducts her and again forces her into prostitution.

Jessica eventually escapes after Vincent Clarkson, masquerading as the Blackmailer, attempts to rape her, but Vincent then orders Spike to dig up all of the dead johns that Jessica has supposedly killed and bury Jessica alive. In her unmarked grave in the woods, Jessica and the unborn baby Sam die of asphyxiation; however, Jessica's sister Kay discovers that Jessica has died and encourages the rescue party to quickly say a prayer for Jessica and Sam, thus allowing Jessica and Sam's spirits to return to their bodies. Upon her rescue, Jessica names Spike as her would-be murderer, and when he is proven to have murdered all of Jessica's johns, he is arrested and sent to jail (he is later released, however, when Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald is forced to delete Spike's criminal record in order to recover his missing son, Marty).

After Spike is sent to jail, Jessica leaves Harmony to give birth; she eventually finds refuge off-screen at a convent with her cousin, Charity. There, in either late 2007 or early 2008, Jessica gives birth to her first child, whom she names Samuel after her father and grandfather in the hope that her son will identify with honorable men. Jessica and Sam return to Harmony on January 7, 2008, when Jessica introduces her father to his namesake. Spike also finds his way into the Bennett home and threatens to kidnap Sam if Jessica does not let him see his son, pointing out that he has Alistair Crane on his side; he also demands that Jessica name the baby after him. Because she has already put "Samuel" on his birth certificate, Jessica reluctantly makes "Herbert" Sam's middle name. As of the series finale, with Alistair Crane dead, Spike's threats were for naught, and his fate is unknown. Jessica resumed her relationship with her former boyfriend Reese Durkee, apparently ending her marriage with the abusive Spike once and for all.