"What were you going to do? What if I hadn't shown up? Were you going to kill her? Huh?"
William "Will" Harris is a serial rapist-turned-killer who appeared in Season Four of Criminal Minds. He is one half of a killing team that also includes Steven Baleman.
Background
William was born sometime in 1965 and grew up in Columbus, Ohio before moving to Atlanta, Georgia, where he lived for twenty years. At some point of his life, he married a woman named Sharon and had a daughter, Andrea, with her. Sometime prior to Soul Mates, he was charged with rape and abduction in Atlanta, but the victims had refused to testify and the charges were dropped. As a result, on July 2008, he moved to Sarasota, Florida, claiming that it was to escape the stigma that had been placed on him and his family. Soon after arriving, William and his family participated in a neighborhood block party, where William met Steven Baleman. Through careful suggestion and innuendo, the two realized that they shared the same predatory personality. They would soon begin their mutual killings.
Soul Mates
William is first seen giving Andrea a driving lesson. When he is interrupted by a page, he tells her that he has to go. Andrea is upset, but William reassures her by stating he plans on giving her the car as soon as she gets her license. As they exit, another neighborhood girl approaches, showing them a "missing" poster featuring the photo of a girl named Missy DeWald. Shortly after, local police and one Detective Linden pull up and confront Harris. He is told that he is being arrested for the abduction of Missy DeWald and three other teenage girls. The BAU is awaiting the officers when they arrive at the local PD. At the police station, Rossi explains that William matches the profile of their unsub: a successful family man who lives and works in the area. The probable cause for the arrest was there - they just don't have the evidence they need to prosecute the man, as Linden didn't believe that the unsub wouldn't keep the victim nearby. Now they must dig through all areas of his life while Morgan and Rossi handle the interrogation. Another reason behind the arrest was that the unsub holds his victim for 48 hours before killing her, and Missy was just abducted yesterday; as long as they hold William, he won't be able to finish her off. Harris points out that by the time the authorities realize he is telling the truth, Missy could be dead. Reid gets into William's computer, with Garcia on a remote connection. Garcia says that William has covered his tracks well, but she can follow them.
After hacking awhile, Garcia finds blog entries to and from another individual that appear to be correspondence between a pair of lovers. Reid realizes that the messages are only coded to appear that way and that the collaboration may be between a killing team. Back at the PD, Rossi tells William that they have found the messages and demands to know where Missy is. William says nothing. Then, Det. Linden bursts into the room, telling the group that Missy's body has been found. William smiles, saying, "I told you so" (referring to his earlier statement). At this point, after the ME tells the BAU that Missy had only died several hours before, they realize that William's partner must had killed her. They tell William that if he and his partner had only had sex, they would never had the urge to kidnap and kill the previous young women. Later, a call is received saying that Andrea Harris is now missing. It is assumed that William's partner, Steven Baleman, must have taken her. Sharon Harris says that Baleman had been checking in on them while William was in custody, and she believes Andrea had followed Baleman after he had an argument with his wife. William is then convinced to lead the team--wired--to their hideout, a warehouse near the docks. William bursts in and removes Andrea's gag. He asks Steven why he had taken Andrea, telling him that their family members were always off-limits. The BAU now has enough to arrest them both. Andrea backs off, confused, and runs out. The BAU comes in and arrests both William and Steven. Andrea reunites with her mother as both leave the scene.
Profile
William was feeling incomplete - he didn't begin killing until he met his "soul mate". The longer the two got away with their crimes, the stronger their relationship grew. They are not just addicted to rape and murder, these two are addicted to each other. Harris is dominant, self-confident, and the other is willing to be led.
-Spencer Reid, Derek Morgan, and Aaron Hotchner
The initial profile given to the Sarasota Police Department said that the unsub would be a highly functioning, successful family man who lives and works in the area and has a record of similar crimes.
Modus Operandi
No in-depth details, other than rape and strangulation, were mentioned about cause of death. The victims were always black and white college girls who the two abducted (with the exception of Missy DeWald, who attended a local high school). They took turns raping them before killing them.
Known Victims
- Pre-July 2008, Atlanta, Georgia: Two unnamed women (raped only)
- November-December 2008, Sarasota, Florida:
- Kim Groves (raped and killed)
- Unnamed victim (raped; was also killed by either him or Baleman)
- Unnamed victim (raped; was also killed by either him or Baleman)
- January 10, 2009: Missy DeWald (abducted and presumably raped; was killed by Baleman the next day)
Appearances
References
- ↑ Because only one victim can be positively attributed to him, with the perpetrator of the other two murders up in the air, William isn't individually classified as a serial killer. However, he is considered a serial killer alongside Steven.