Criminal Minds
TheCriminal Mindsepisode where Hotch ’s former wife Haley is killed by UnSub George Foyet , aka the Reaper , is one of the show ’s most memorable to date . Criminal Mindsdebuted in 2005 and arrange itself asunder from other jurisprudence - enforcement dramas of the time by put a nidus on a team of FBI agents profiling serial Orcinus orca . This psychological angle see the show attract a fanbase , and it rarely shied off from the wickedness inherent in the subject subject . The darker side ofCriminal Mindsis exemplified by its kitchen range of fictional in series grampus and criminal , but no other UnSub is quite as noted as The Reaper onCriminal Minds — thanks in no modest part to theCriminal Mindsepisode where Hotch ’s ex-wife - wife give way .
Criminal Mindshas plenty of rooter - favourite characters , from Matthew Gray Gubler ’s Spencer Reid to Kirsten Vangsness ' Garcia orShemar Moore ’s Morgan . The interplay and chemistry between the ensemble gaveCriminal Mindssome much - postulate levity . Arguably the most monstrous killer the BAU faced onCriminal Mindswas George Foyet , AKA The Reaper persona . Played byThe Hitcherstar C. Thomas Howell , The Reaper was a egotistic sequential Orcinus orca who tormented the team on more than one affair , include almost kill Hotch ( Thomas Gibson ) . In one ofCriminal Minds ' most acute episode , The Reaper direct Hotch ’s ex - wife Haley ( Meredith Monroe ) and their young son Jack ( Cade Owens ) .
Hotch’s Wife Is Killed In Criminal Minds Season 5 By The Reaper
InCriminal Mindsseason 5 sequence " 100 " , which cross out the show ’s 100th overall instalment , theCriminal MindsThe Reaper character has chase down Haley and Jack . Foyet poses as a U.S. Marshal to gain access to her house , before callingBAU chief Hotchto let him know there ’s nothing he can do . Foyet allows Jack to go out the room and let Hotch and Haley say goodbye over the phone before he frivol away her offscreen and prod her . Hotch get in at the home afterward and after a brute fight , tucker out The harvester to death before being pulled off the corpse by the BAU squad members .
The death of Hotch ’s ex-wife - wife Haley is really one of the most torturous scene inCriminal Minds , with The Reaper — and the showrunners — making sure to maximize the harm of the moment . It ’s still considered one of the most shocking scenery on the show , and needless to say , Haley ’s demise has a major impact on Hotch in the years later on . The sadistic joy The Reaper took in the build - up to the killing and his plan to also murder Jack cemented him as one ofCriminal Minds ' most memorable UnSubs .
The Reaper Returned In Criminal Minds (Sort Of)
It ’s a short reappearance , and it ’s a wonderment what the narrative significance of it was . It ’s also rather ironic , considering Hotch is n’t in the scene at all . Hotch ’s Thomas Gibson was discharge fromCriminal Mindsafter legion on - fix incidents . While fan were thrilled to see Foyet terrifying members of the BAU once more , it was still a uncanny second go out Foyet ’s Reaper character being attached to Reid rather than Hotch inCriminal Minds .
When Hotch’s Wife Dies Was Thomas Gibson’s Best Criminal Minds Moment
Though there is sure an argument to be madeagainst the “ fridging ” of love interests in fiction , the demise of Hotch ’s wife inCriminal Mindsmakes for one of the most poignant sequence in the series . It also provide for one of Thomas Gibson ’s well - acted scenes in the show . Gibson , as Hotch , is on the phone with his ex - married woman Haley and George Foyet throughout her entire decease , even getting the opportunity to tell his son to “ work the lawsuit ” and hide out until he gets there .
Much of the sequence sees Gibson face the camera head - on while listening to what ’s happening to his ex-wife - wife and their son , while he ’s taunted the entire time by The Reaper . Hotch is in the car , beat back to where Hayley and Jack are as the phone call continues . That mean that Gibson was mostly on his own while film that scene , respond to the contents of a phone call straight off for the camera . It ’s an incredibly worked up aspect for the actor to get through as he ’s a mankind losing his family while still adjudicate to be level - manoeuver enough to check a serial killer .
It ’s important for fan to remember that the only reason Hotch and his wife divorce inCriminal Mindsis for her safety . Because his phratry has been targeted so many times , Haley and Jack go from stay with her family to protective custody to completely separating themselves from Hotch to see to it their safety . In the end , all the measures that Hotch take to protect his family do n’t count because George Foyet tail them down anyway . Gibson gives a masterful performance in reacting to that knowledge , that Haley is going to die no matter what he does . While the rest of the squad members have chemical reaction shots during the phone call , it ’s Gibson ’s Hotch that truly rupture at the heartstrings of theCriminal Mindsaudience in episode 100 .
