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I want him to believe in love because it is the most important thing... but you need to show him. Promise me!
Haley's last words in "100"

Haley Hotchner (née Brooks) was the late ex-wife of SSA Aaron Hotchner and the mother of their son Jack. She first appeared in the pilot episode of Criminal Minds, "Extreme Aggressor." She divorced Hotch and took Jack with her during the third season and continued appearing throughout the series, until her death at the hands of George Foyet in the Season Five episode "100".

Background[]

Haley was born on July 16th, 1972 to Roy Brooks, a store owner, and an unnamed mother, and she had a sister named Jessica. She and Hotch met in high school. She was in the theater club and was rehearsing a role in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance when Hotch walked in by mistake and fell in love with her, even taking a minor part as "Fourth Pirate" to be close to her. They later married as adults.

Before Season Five[]

Together, Haley and Hotch have a son named Jack, but their relationship began to suffer due to Hotch's commitment to his demanding job. Their marital issues were a running theme throughout the show's early seasons. By the end of "In Name and Blood", it looks as though Haley and Jack have left. At the end of "Scared to Death", Hotch mentions to Morgan that he isn't sure if Haley is coming back. At the end of "Birthright", Haley has Hotch served with divorce papers as he is leaving the office for the day. After some reluctance, he signed them in "Damaged". Haley continued using her married name, Hotchner, following the divorce, but it is revealed that Hotch kept her listed under "Brooks" in his personal information just in case it got into the wrong hands.

Season Five[]

Nameless, Faceless[]

In the season premiere, Haley and Jack are suspected to be potential targets of George Foyet. After Hotch is found at a local hospital, the team races to find Haley and Jack. Haley is found folding clothes in her bedroom and listening to music while Jack is spending time at a friend's house on a "play date". Morgan goes to pick up Jack. When the two are safe, they are taken to Hotch's hospital room. Hotch tells Jack that he loves him and that they will have to go away for a while. He tells Haley that he will spend the rest of his life making it up to her and that once Foyet is caught, they can return home. They are later placed in the protective custody of U.S. Marshal Sam Kassmeyer.

100[]

In the episode "100", Haley is found by Foyet after he tortures and kills Kassmeyer. He calls her, posing as a Marshal, and informs her that Kassmeyer and Hotch are both dead. Horrified, Haley and Jack meet Foyet at their old home. However, she discovers the truth when Foyet calls Hotch and puts Haley on the phone. Foyet holds a gun to Haley's head and makes it plain that he is going to kill her. He allows Haley to say goodbye to Hotch as he and the rest of the team race to the house. Hotch tells her not to show fear in front of Foyet and that she is brave. Haley tearfully asks Hotch to look after their son and explain what happened between them, saying that she wants him to understand that she still loved Hotch. Hotch apologizes to Haley for putting her and Jack in danger.

Haley's Goodbye

Haley saying goodbye to Hotch, moments before her death.

Moments later, Foyet shoots her through the neck with an M1911, killing her, and repeatedly stabs her post-mortem off-screen.

Haleydead

Haley's lifeless corpse.

Hotch finds Haley's blood-soaked body on the floor of their old bedroom. After a brief fight, an enraged Hotch beats Foyet to death in revenge of the deaths of Haley and all of Foyet's other victims. He then finds his son safe, and after getting him out of the house, Hotch then cradles Haley's body, sobbing.

The Slave of Duty[]

510 GOODBYE

Haley and Jack in a videotape.

Her funeral was held in "The Slave of Duty", at which Hotch delivers the eulogy, reciting a passage from Act II of The Pirates of Penzance as well as a quote by one of its writers, W.S. Gilbert. She is also briefly seen in a videotape celebrating Jack's birthday

Season Nine[]

Haley reappears in "Route 66" as a hallucination fabricated by Hotch when he begins having severe complications brought on by his stabbing at the hands of Foyet. She first appears in a movie theater, greeting Hotch and inviting him to sit down next to her. He does so, and together, they watch a movie about Hotch's recent life, in which she compliments Beth Clemmons, Hotch's current love interest. They are joined by Foyet himself, and despite him shooting her in the stomach with his revolver (not visibly affecting her), she displays a welcoming attitude towards him. When the movie ends, Hotch declares that he wants to come with her, but Haley tells him that Jack and Beth need him. After Foyet leaves, Haley tells Hotch that Beth is "a keeper" and that he "better not mess it up". She then tells him she still loves him before leaving. In season nine Hotch puts up a photo of Haley during a "Day of the Dead" celebration hosted by Garcia.

Appearances[]

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