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“ | Well, well, well. Does your mom know you're here? | „ |
~ William O'Brien taunting his son Connor in prison, and his last words. |
William O'Brien is the overarching antagonist of the Criminal Minds episode "Public Enemy". He is a con artist, serial arsonist, and murderer whose crimes inspired his son Connor to become a serial killer.
He was portrayed by Timothy Brennen.
Biography[]
Early life[]
William made a living as an arsonist, setting fires to collect insurance money for himself and occasionally for clients in return for a cut of the payout. A sociopath, he also derived sexual pleasure from the fires, having set them for fun since childhood.
As an adult, he married a woman named Judy, with whom he had a son, Connor. In 1993, he set a fire that killed Judy, and made it look like an accident so he could collect her life insurance. Connor witnessed his mother's death, leaving him irreparably traumatized. Connor testified against his father, sending him to prison for life. In 2010, however, William's sentence was reduced for good behavior, giving him the chance of parole in 2015. The news of his father possibly going free sent Connor's already fragile mind over the edge, and he decided to "outdo" his father as a serial killer.
"Public Enemy"[]
William does not appear in the episode until the very end, after Connor has been caught and imprisoned. Connor is sent to the same prison as his father, and immediately sets his sights on killing him and avenging his mother.
After getting a shiv from another prisoner, Connor approaches William in the lunch line. William mocks his son, saying, "Does your mom know you're here?" This enrages Connor, who then stabs his father to death.
External Links[]
- William O'Brien on the Criminal Minds Wiki