I think the posts make many good points. There is however one angle that may have been overlooked. That is Mama C's physical appearance. The woman was morbidly obese and as far as we can tell she had no marketable skills. If she lost Mr.Don her prospects were bleak. Of course she may of had true affection for a serial killer but she may also have smart enough to know to keep her mouth shut and go for the ride.
As a young woman she was good looking, she only chunked up after 40.