Marion Cavanaugh

Marion Cavanaugh is the mother of Toby Cavanaugh. She first appeared during a flashback in the first episode of Season 4. She died on October 24, 2007 (according to Toby in The First Secret).

Season 3
Dead to Me

Spencer defaces Marion Cavanaugh's crypt by carving Toby's name on it.

Will The Circle Be Unbroken?

Eddie Lamb reveals to Spencer that Toby's mother was a patient at Radley Sanitarium.

Season 4
'A' is for A-l-i-v-e

Marion makes an appearance in a flashback of Toby's. Toby was home with Alison and she walked in. She had just waken up at four o'clock in the afternoon and couldn't remember anything. Toby tells her she is getting sick before she trudges off to make him a snack.

Turn of the Shoe

Toby reveals to Spencer that his mom killed herself, by jumping out a window after stealing a key that belonged to it. The details of her death, and the day leading up to it, is documented in a report that her therapist at Radley wrote. Marion made it clear that the only bright spot in her life was Toby, and the visits he had with her and his loving and kind patience as she struggled to get well, and repay everyone who had supported her through that time.

Cat's Cradle

As Spencer and Toby visit Radley for answers they discover the place where she killed herself. How Spencer views the window and the ground makes her believe she did not jump out of the children's ward window but somewhere else.

Face Time

Toby visits Dr. Louis Palmer, who treated Marion at Radley. He goes to a medical clinic outside Saratoga to question him about his mom’s supposed suicide. Dr. Palmer tells Toby that Marion loved him very much, but the “air was too heavy” for her and that she just couldn’t take it. He then reveals that he studies the heaviness of air and Toby realizes that Dr. Palmer has some form of dementia and is delusional. As Toby leaves, Palmer tells him to tell his mom not to see “that blonde girl” anymore, and says that the "air" was definitely wrong around her, too.

Appearances (2/95)
Season 4 (1/24)
 * 'A' is for A-l-i-v-e