  |
This article's content is marked as Mature The page contains mature content that may include coarse language, sexual references, and/or graphic violent images which may be disturbing to some. Mature pages are recommended for those who are 18 years of age and older. If you are 18 years or older or are comfortable with graphic material, you are free to view this page. Otherwise, you should close this page and view another page. |
| “ | No one will ever believe I got shot. | „ |
| ~ William Pratt. |
William Pratt, also known as The Mirror Man or The Selfie Killer, is a teenage serial killer and the main antagonist of the Criminal Minds episode "Hashtag".
He was portrayed by Ian Nelson.
Biography[]
Early life[]
A year before the events of the episode, Pratt lost his parents in car accident and was sent to live with his aunt. This is implied to have scarred him forever and led to his villainous behavior.
Sometime later, he helped in the creation of the Creepypasta creature "The Mirror Man" alongside his best friend Connor Holt. The Mirror Man became a famous Creepypasta but William wasn't satisfied. He became desperate to gain fame and wanted to please Connor, who he saw as a mentor figure. Thus, he turned to murder to make the Mirror Man real.
The Mirror Man Killings[]
Pratt's first victim was rising social media teen Tara Harris; he bashed her head into a mirror and slit her throat with a shard. He then he posed a selfie of Tara and posted it online with the hashtag #FearMe. The media later named him "The Selfie Killer."
After killing Tara, he sets his sights her friend Alexander Chase, who worked with her in videos. Pratt shoots him in the back with a nail gun and later executes him. He then posts another selfie under the name Mirror Man, not liking his his other name The Selfie Killer. Hours later, William watches a video of his friend Daniel Osbourne making fun of the Creepypasta, which angers him. He then goes to Daniel's house and murders him, further cementing his fearful place in the media.
Defeat[]
William is identified by the BAU during his work at a local mall. When the team assembles to arrest him, he grabs his nail gun and takes shopper Kimmy hostage. The BAU attempts to talk to him and make him surrender, but a news van pulls into the area to film the standoff. Knowing this could be his final attempt at fame, Pratt shoots Kimmy in the neck with the nail gun. Morgan then shoots him in the back, heavily wounding him.
Both Kimmy and Pratt survive. Pratt is shown in a hospital with Connor, and he states how because he is a minor, he should be out of juvenile prison soon. With a shocked Connor watching, Pratt takes one last selfie, saying that "No one will ever believe I got shot."
He was institutionalized soon after.
Personality[]
William Pratt is an unlikely but remorseless killer who will do anything for Internet fame. It is implied that his parents' death in a car accident affected his mental stability and thus he attempts to find solace in Creepypasta and other Internet communities. The BAU's UnSub profile states that his psyche is fracturing over the course of the episode, causing him to kill people who insult him. He is also a narcissistic sadist, committing 3 murders over an Internet legend he created and posting disturbing selfies of his crimes.
Pratt is shown to be technologically proficient, being able to digitally manipulate images and post them online without being caught.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- William Pratt is inspired by multiple real-life criminals:
- Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser, two 12-year-old girls arrested for stabbing a friend 19 times to allegedly please Slenderman, the famous Creepypasta and Internet phenomenon character. In both cases, the criminals felt a duty to serve the legend they created and gain fame through violent murder(s). Also, both are mentally disturbed and committed the crime without remorse.
- Shinichiro Azuma, a.k.a. "Boy A", a Japanese violent killer of children in Suma, Kobe, Japan (compared to the unidentified Zodiac Killer in California), responsible for mutilating two kids to death in thrill murders and taunting police and the news with letters. Azuma was even furious about the confusing of the moniker he was going by for himself, just like Pratt got angry when his calling cards were misappropriated or misinterpreted.
- Alfredo Galán, a.k.a. "The Playing Card Killer", a Spanish serial killer of random people for the sake of attention, leaving behind playing cards at the scenes to identify himself just because the media picked one out by chance at a previous murder scene.
