This article discusses sensitive topics, including torture, murder, suicide, kidnapping, and exploiting children.
Criminal Minds follows the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit or BAU, who work on some of the most disturbing and prolific serial killers. The team used behavioral analysis and profiling to investigate crimes and capture criminals. The show stood out from other police procedurals at the time by leaning into the psychology of the criminals, as well as the more horrific aspects of police work.
Criminal Minds is best known for its standout villains. The BAU team calls them unknown subjects, or “unsubs,” a catchy name for some dangerous people. The unsubs are all uniquely terrifying, with a variety of backstories and motivations for their crimes. While there are many unsubs from the show’s fifteen seasons and its revival titled Criminal Minds: Evolution, certain villains stand out as particularly dark.
Updated on September 25, 2024, by Michael Colwander: Criminal Minds features some of the darkest criminals in procedural shows. While there is no shortage of goofy and bizarre Criminal Minds unsubs, there are plenty of others that can keep viewers awake at night. More terrifying Criminal Minds unsubs and villains have been added.
25 Diane Turner’s Obsession Prevented Reid And Maeve From Having a Future
Season 8, Episode 12, “Zugzwang”
SSA Spencer Reid has had a rocky road in the romance department. His many fans long wondered if he’d ever find someone that’s perfect for him. That changed in Season 8 when Reid began speaking to Maeve Donovan over the phone. The two got along fantastically with fans, and the BAU, on the edge of their seats waiting for the two to finally meet. The problem is, that Maeve had a stalker in Diane Turner.
Diane was a former University research assistant whose thesis was rejected. Blaming Maeve for her failure, and her belief that she was a brilliant mind, Diane stalked Maeve. In the process, she began dating Maeve’s ex-fiance Bobby Putnam. Maeve constantly lived in fear, especially considering she nor Reid had any idea who was stalking her. Diane eventually abducted both Maeve and Bobby and used them to get Reid to provide her with the affirmation she needed, ultimately leading to Bobby’s death and a hostage situation. Reid was able to finally meet Maeve face-to-face, but the meeting was short-lived as Diane killed Maeve in a murder-suicide.
24 Ian Doyle Was A Menacing Prescene That At Times Felt Untouchable
Season 6, Episode 13, “The Thirteenth Step”
Ian Doyle is one of the longest-reoccurring antagonists in Criminal Minds. An Irish terrorist, Doyle has a significant role in Emily Prentiss’ backstory. Back when she worked with Interpol, Prentiss worked undercover as “Lauren Reynolds.” Her work helped lead to his arrest. Doyle was later imprisoned in Camp 22 in North Korea – a notorious concentration camp, which he later escaped from.
Now knowing Prentiss was undercover and believing that his son, Declan, was dead, Doyle sought revenge on the Interpool agents who led to his arrest. Doyle was intimidating and powerful. It always felt like he was multiple steps ahead and he began to set his eyes on the BAU – to take away from Prentiss what matters to her the most. Each Doyle scene was intense as fans of Prentiss watched as her life was in constant danger, ultimately leading to her death being faked for her safety.
23 Randall Garner, The Fisher King, Was The First Major Antagonist
Season 1, Episode 22, “The Fisher King, Part 1”
Randall Garner, The Fisher King, was a notable milestone in the Criminal Minds series. He served as proof that the members of the BAU were never truly safe. He stalked members of the BAU and hacked their technical infrastructure by befriending Penelope Garcia in an online game. Garner set up a “quest” so to speak for the BAU in order to find a missing woman named Rebecca Bryant – who was actually Garner’s daughter.
He framed Elle for the murder of Marty Harris and he sent mysterious packages to numerous other members of the BAU including one to Gideon containing Marty’s head. The BAU was in a race against time to not only save Rebecca, but to capture Garner so he could no longer threaten their own lives. Garner made the BAU feel vulnerable even in their own offices, giving him a lasting legacy in the series as he’s not the last person to do so.
22 Tommy Yates Killed Over 100 Women – And Most Will Never Be Found
Season 7, Episode 22, “Profiling 101”
Tommy Yates, known as “The Womb Raider,” was a terrifying unsub who murdered high-risk women after harboring years of disdain for his abusive grandmother. Yates was placed under the care of his grandmother after his mother died in childbirth and his grandmother held that against him. Yates has one of the highest victim counts in Criminal Minds with over 100 victims and was scary even while in prison.
Each year, on David Rossi’s birthday, he provides the name of an undiscovered victim in exchange for not receiving the death penalty, which consumes Rossi. Yates was later one of “The Thirteen Unsubs,” unsubs who escaped prison during a prison break. This massively increases the stakes as now he’s actively killing again. While holding a woman hostage, Rossi killed Yates. The woman’s life was saved, but many of Yates’ victims will remain undiscovered.
21 Elias Voit Is At The Center Of Criminal Minds: Evolution
Evolution Season 1, Episode 1, “Just Getting Started”
Bringing back Criminal Minds so soon after its original finale was a tough sell given how good the original ending was. It needed a compelling villain that could top Everett Lynch – the “final boss” of the original series. Elias Voit perfectly fits the bill. Voit comes across as a normal everyday father with a perfectly normal family and lifestyle. Deep down, he’s a twisted and sick individual who created and maintained a network of serial killers.
Voit created a series of bunkers across the country and provided means for serial killers to achieve their desires. He established a set of rules that included demands that killers commit suicide when on the verge of capture. Evolution’s first season was unique as it devoted a lot of time to Voit and his family life, before slowly unraveling his past that led him down this dark road. As the BAU began closing him, viewers watched Voit spiral and put his family in greater and greater danger. Despite his capture, Voit still maintains a prominent role in Evolution in Season 2.
20 Sera Morrison Killed Her Own Mother and Sister out of Jealousy
Season 8, Episode 14, “All That Remains”
“All That Remains” introduced audiences to Sera Morrison, a teenage serial killer. The Morrison family was already the subject of a police investigation when Bruce’s wife disappeared, and while Bruce was the prime suspect, there was no evidence to convict him. The BAU arrives when Bruce becomes a suspect a second time, this time after his daughters, Katie and Sera, disappear. The police eventually find Bruce’s youngest daughter Katie dead, but are able to find Sera alive.
Things aren’t so easy in this Criminal Minds episode, though. JJ notices there’s something off about Sera, and the BAU realizes it was Sera who killed both her mother and her younger sister, and let her dad become the prime suspect. Sera’s reasoning behind the killings is that she believed her mother loved Katie more than her. Sera Morrison was a teenager, yet her crimes and lack of remorse make her extremely disturbing. She also took advantage of her father’s alcoholism and dissociative identity disorder to make him the perfect suspect, effectively taking down her whole family at just eighteen. This easily makes Sera one of the darkest Criminal Minds villains.
19 Frank Breitkopf Was a Scary Psychopath Who Lacked Any Remorse
Season 2, Episode 13, “No Way Out”
Frank Breitkopf is one of the most disturbing criminals the BAU has faced, one that directly influenced Jason Gideon’s departure from the BAU.Frank was a psychopath who got away with his crimes by taking a hostage a school bus, all in the hopes the police would give him one of his earlier victims, Jane Hanratty. Jane was “the one that got away,” as she was the only one to survive after being taken by Frank, and Frank believed to be in love with Jane. However, the BAU was quick to point out that Frank wasn’t capable of feeling love.
Frank gets away and eventually returns once Jane escapes him again. This time, Frank takes things further by posing as Jason Gideon and attacking previous victims that Jason had helped and saved. Frank’s crimes, and his lack of any feeling or remorse, make him one of the darkest Criminal Minds villains. He not only killed past victims that Jason helped, but also killed Jason’s girlfriend, Sarah, something that traumatized Jason and eventually made him leave the BAU.
18 Pablo Vargas Attacked the Mothers of His Previous Victims
Season 1, Episode 19, “Machismo”
Pablo Vargas is one of the earlier Criminal Minds unsubs that left a long-lasting impression on viewers. He only appears in the episode “Machismo,” where the BAU travels to Mexico to investigate a series of murders. However, they later realize these crimes are connected with a series of sexual assaults that have been unsolved, and that Vargas is now attacking the mothers of his previous victims.
The unsub in “Machismo” doesn’t appear much, as most of the investigation revolves around the victims and around the lack of investigation into the sexual assaults by the police. Vargas’ last victim was able to fight him off, which triggered him to go after the victim’s mother. Yet what makes him one of the darkest Criminal Minds villains is the impunity with which he operated, attacking fourteen women before going after their mothers. Eventually, Pablo Vargas suffered the rage of the women he had victimized, proving just how much damage he had done.
17 Eric Olson Used His Victims To Find Out What He Liked
Season 4, Episode 15, “Zoe’s Reprise”
Eric Olson was an unsub that was hard to profile, as he seemed to be a copycat trying to emulate the crimes of past serial killers. However, the BAU soon realized that he was not doing it out of admiration or respect, like other copycats, but because he didn’t know what he liked. Eric was using different methods, trying to find the one that worked best for him, and killing several victims in the process. One of the victims was Zoe Hawkes, who had tried to get the BAU involved in the investigation.
Eric Olson killed and took photos of the disposal sites to relive his crimes, and even took his girlfriend to those sites. Eric’s M.O. made it hard for the police to connect the crimes, meaning he could’ve continued his crimes undetected if he hadn’t found his own signature. Eric’s need to understand his own actions and the lack of any remorse make him a disturbing serial killer, and one of the darkest Criminal Minds villains.
16 Carl Buford Pretended To Be an Upstanding Member of the Community
Season 2, Episode 12, “Profiler, Profiled”
Carl Buford is one of the most disturbing criminals the BAU has apprehended, one that also attacked one of the BAU members, Derek Morgan. Buford pretended to be an upstanding member of the community, helping kids with his community center. But what others didn’t know was that Buford abused his power and position to molest the kids he was pretending to help, and even killed a few of his victims to silence them.
Carl Buford molested over fifty kids, yet somehow he was able to become a hero to the community due to his work at the Youth Center. His lack of accountability and the shameless way he pretended to love those kids make him one of the darkest Criminal Minds villains. He even went as far as to say to Derek that he could’ve “just said no,” a scene that is just as heartbreaking as infuriating, as Carl Buford clearly proves he has no remorse for what he’s done.
15 Cat Adams Was a Master Manipulator
Season 11, Episode 11, “Entropy”
Cat Adams, also called “Miss .45” first appeared in the season eleven episode “Entropy,” but she would become a recurring antagonist for BAU member Spencer Reid. Portrayed by Agatha All Along star Aubrey Plaza, Adams was a “black widow” assassin, meaning she would seduce her targets before killing them. While she initially worked as a hitwoman, Adams’ quest to punish abusive men led her to become a serial killer.
Even though the BAU captured Cat Adams in her initial appearance, she remained a problem for the team, even from behind bars. Adams reappeared in seasons twelve and fifteen, each time with a scheme to hurt Spencer Reid. While these ploys were unsuccessful, they proved Adams was a danger even while incarcerated. Adams’ romantic interest in Reid and her ability to manipulate others into doing her dirty work demonstrated her frightening influence over others and her insatiable desire to bring others pain.
14 Mark Hamill’s John Curtis Had Inside Knowledge
Season 8, Episode 23, “Brothers Hotchner”
John Curtis, also known as “The Replicator,” appeared in several of season eight’s episodes. Played by Mark Hamill, Curtis stalked the BAU team for weeks. His M.O. was to replicate the killing styles of other serial killers that the team had dealt with. Curtis begins his killing spree to get revenge against Erin Strauss, a BAU section chief who had sabotaged Curtis’ career with the FBI.
John Curtis used his background studying and stopping serial killers to copy their styles. Curtis’ clever tactics initially led the BAU to believe there were multiple copycats. This allowed Curtis to continue his crimes in secret for a while. Curtis’s versatility and personal vendetta against the BAU team made him dangerous, but it was his inside knowledge that made him a horrifying adversary.
13 Charles Holcombe Created a Torture Dungeon
Season 2, Episode 22, “Legacy”
Charles Holcombe was the unsub of “Legacy,” the twenty-second episode of season two of the show. This villain was known for kidnapping people, freeing them in his meat-packing plant ridden with Jigsaw-like traps, and eventually performing vivisections on them.
Since all of Holcombe’s victims were people in vulnerable positions, such as vagrants, drug addicts, and prostitutes, they were never reported as missing. This allowed him to kill 64 different victims until Maggie, his last victim, managed to escape. He’s one of the most prolific Criminal Minds serial killers and the scary part is it was never determined why he decided to kill all of those people.
12 George Foyet Was Active for Decades
Season 4, Episode 18, “Omnivore”
George Foyet, also known as “The Boston Reaper” and simply “The Reaper,” first appeared in the season four episode “Omnivore.” Foyet was a serial killer active in the late nineties and was the first case Aaron Hotchner worked on. While Foyet disappeared for several years, he later resurfaced a became a huge threat to the BAU team. Foyet’s signature mark was taking an item from one crime scene, and leaving it at the next, mocking the police who couldn’t find him. Foyet would also don a menacing black mask and hood while killing.
George Foyet returned in season five, beginning a vendetta against Aaron Hotchner. This rivalry culminated in Foyet killing Hotchner’s ex-wife and threatening his son. This sends Hotchner over the edge, who kills Foyet during a brutal confrontation. While he wasn’t the most grisly killer the BAU faced, Foyet became a staple of Criminal Minds because he created chaos by ruthlessly taunting the police with their failures.
11 David Wade Cunningham Infected His Victims with Rabies
Season 9, Episode 18, “Rabid”
David Wade Cunningham only appeared in the season nine episode “Rabid,” but he left quite the impression. This unsub wanted to cure rabies after a childhood incident. Cunningham would infect his victims with the disease, and then keep them captive till they died.
What makes Cunningham so terrifying is his use of the rabies virus. Cunningham initially used rabid animals to infect his victims. Once he had an infected human, he used them to spread rabies. Cunningham’s decision to use a deadly illness as his weapon made him stand out from other villains who opted for physical weapons.
10 Adam Rain Had the Team Believe He Used Medieval Torture
Season 8, Episode 10, “The Lesson”
The son of a renowned puppeteer, Adam Rain was forced to see his father’s murder when he was a child. Following an accident in his adulthood, he fell into a coma and woke up with a child-like mentality. He wanted to replicate his father’s murder, but using people instead of puppets.
Adam Rain is the infamous unsub of “The Lesson.” The worst part about Rain’s modus operandi was that his victims were alive during the puppeteer show, but they had all their limbs dislocated without anesthetics. The pain eventually killed them. Rain’s victims were in such a terrible condition for his actions that the BAU initially believed he was using medieval torture methods.
9 Samantha Malcolm Used Paralyzed Women as Dolls
Season 5, Episode 12, “The Uncanny Valley”
Samantha Malcolm appeared in the season five episode “The Uncanny Valley.” Malcolm would turn her victims into “living dolls.” Using a powerful drug cocktail, she sedated and immobilized them. These drugs eventually killed the victim, leading Samantha to kidnap new “dolls.”
Malcolm’s tactics proved particularly grisly compared to the methods used by other Criminal Minds villains. She kidnapped several innocent women and held up to three alive and incapacitated at a time. Malcolm’s “living dolls” were enough to give anyone nightmares, putting her a head above the other “unsubs.”
8 Peter Lewis Created a Boogeyman Alter Ego
Season 10, Episode 21, “Mr. Scratch”
Peter Lewis first appeared in season ten of Criminal Minds but returned many times to cause problems for the BAU. Also called “Mr. Scratch,” Lewis used a powerful drug to cause hallucinations in his victims, almost like the fear toxin used by the comic book villain Scarecrow. These hallucinations caused his targets to kill their loved ones without realizing it.
Peter Lewis returned in season eleven when he created a conspiracy against BAU member Aaron Hotchner to provide cover for a mass breakout of serial killers. Throughout seasons twelve and thirteen, Lewis served as a criminal mastermind and main antagonist to the BAU team. Lewis’ capability to manipulate other dangerous killers, paired with his nightmarish attacks on his victims, made him stand out from other unsubs. This ultimately became one of the biggest driving forces behind Hotch leaving the BAU and going into witness protection.
7 Roger & Anita Roycewood Kidnapped Kids Together
Season 5, Episode 16, “Mosley Lane”
Roger and Anita Roycewood were a married couple who committed their crimes together. Appearing in the season five episode “Mosley Lane,” the pair abducted and later killed several children. The couple even forced some of their abductees to help in their misdeeds.
Anita and Roger’s shared purpose made them terrifying. Working together, the couple proved twice as dangerous. Add in their forced accomplices, and it became difficult for the BAU to determine where the threat was coming from. Their episode remains one of the most difficult to watch in the series.
6 Stanley Howard Abused His Power as a Psychiatrist
Season 3, Episode 13, “Scared to Death”
As a kid, Stanley Howard’s mother punished him by locking him in a closet for hours, which made him develop an irrational fear of the dark. As an adult, this psychiatrist digs into the minds of his patients and then kills them using their worst fear, using them as a replacement for his own mother.
Stanley Howard is one of the worst Criminal Minds villains because he abused his place as a medical authority. Patients trusted that he would help them defeat their worst fear, but he put them through their own personal hell instead.