Belinda Montgomery

I think the powers that were in charge wanted Sonny to be free to get involved with different people.  Any continuing marriage/ divorce/ family drama was not what they were trying to show.  If the ex-wife and child had continued to appear regularly or even semi-regularly, I think it would have taken the focus away from the challenges of undercover life and raised issues of why Sonny neglected his family.  If they moved away and were thus out of the picture, he didn't have to be so careful not to expose them to the dangers of a relationship with an undercover cop/ transport specialist with a fast boat who wasn't too particular about  his cargo... 

This makes a lot of sense. Thanks.

Such a beautiful woman.

Anyone watch "Die Hard" and think they based John McClane's failing marriage from Caroline and Sonny's. A cop who puts his job first, won't listen to his wife and is a heavy drinker etc. Holly his wife even sort looks like her, the same hairstyle and everything, even has the same attitude. 

It was also a very standard trope from cop shows of the time. Nothing new about it, really. And to be expected given Yerkovich's Hill Street Blues background.