Early to mid-thirties, about 5'10, blonde, blue-eyed.Widowed, and has a daughter (Chloe) age 7. [Apparently she was pretty much a free spirit when she was younger, as she had Chloe a year before she and Tom got married. In 'Doppelganger' it was mentioned that Sam shot DeRhodes 6 years ago, and in one of their talks he mentioned that the time they spoke after she shot him she was just about to walk down the aisle.] Worked as a profiler for the FBI until shortly- before her husband (Tom) was murdered by "Jack", a serial killer whose case she had been working on. Retired from the FBI because of Jack's harassment, she lived in relative isolation for 3 years with her daughter and a friend (Angel) until Bailey Malone talked her into returning to work. Together they created the FBI's VCTF (Violent Crimes Task Force) which is based in Atlanta. She is a Ph.D. in psychology. Tom was a Professor, but not sure where. She's from Silver Springs, MD (was baptized in the church there), probably lived in the southern MD area, and worked under Bailey at the BSU (now ISU) basement in Quantico until Jack killed Tom, at which point she moved. (This would explain why Jack was living in the DC Metro area until he found out she was in Atlanta.) She appears to have a lot of trouble dealing with her abilities. Very forthright, tends to say what she thinks. Catholic but is very open-minded. She reads her horoscope, and has a Native American spirit guide, a black panther ('Sorcerer's Apprentice'). Still wears her wedding ring. Has driven several different vehicles, including an old green truck, and a newer 4WD vehicle. Has a habit of flipping her hair when annoyed. She is extremely protective of Chloe, to the point of obsession. Very emotional, tends to let things get to her, which makes her profiling abilities doubly difficult. She has recently started a relationship with Nick Cooper, but is having a hard time letting him close, since she's afraid of losing him, on several levels. She fears Jack might kill him, and she fears that he might leave voluntarily, neither of which she's emotionally ready to handle. She has an often-repressed sense of humor, but has begun opening up lately. It's most evident away from the VCTF.

Name changed from John O'Doyle (in Lincoln, NE). Born in Boston, Mass to Patrick and Noreen O'Doyle. Father is a big-time loan shark. His mother took John and left Patrick O'Doyle, his childhood was spent on the run from his father. She was later killed in an automobile accident that John doesn't think was an accident, he seems to think his father had something to do with it. ('Field Training Exercise') A driven professional who is uneasy with Sam's methods. A bit chauvinistic, rather 'in-your-face'. Good sense of humor. About 6' (or a bit over) tall, muscular, handsome. Dark brown hair, blue eyes. Single, seemed interested in Sam but also has shown interest in Angel ('Blue Highways'). He's had at least one "outside" relationship since joining the VCTF. Is still fairly uneasy about crossing the line between cop and agent, likes his role of devil's advocate. Likes "his scotch straight, his women in heels and himself definitely on top," according to Sam's profile. He likes Chinese food. Seems 'married' to his job, bonds well with other male team members.Also Catholic. Likes basketball, especially Charles Barkley (Formerly w/the Suns, now w/the Rockets). Formerly a detective with the Atlanta P.D., and Nathan Brubaker's partner. He and Brubaker are close friends. he's a weapons specialist (in addition to the sniper thing in `Doppelganger', he recognized the rifle mount in `I'll BeWatching You') and he's afraid of dogs (`Cruel &Unusual'). Has a vacation cabin in the woods, decorated in "cabin chic" complete with antler lamps, he inherited the land from his (maternal?) grandfather, and built the cabin himself, with help from friends. Drives a black or dark gray Porsche 911 (leased). Favors leather coats.

Nathan Brubaker

Michael Whaley

African-American, about 6' tall. Thinning hair, worn very short,almost shaved. Somewhat short-tempered. Enjoys restoring classic cars. Lives on a farm (active?) possibly with an orchard.Married, but has been estranged from his wife. As of 4/12/97 ('Field Training Exercise') they are apparently reconciled. Wife Michelle Brubaker, a corporate attorney, lives in Denver. Earned a law degree from Yale University. He worked as a corporate attorney in the same firm as his wife, until he decided he would rather use his talents in law enforcement, and joined the Atlanta P.D., where he was a detective, and John Grant's partner. Snappy dresser, very nice suits. Very close relationship with John Grant.

Grace Alvarez

Roma Maffia

A gifted forensic specialist. Late-thirities to early forties, of Hispanic descent. Long, wavy brown hair, brown eyes. About 5' 6" or so, average build. Seems to be very good-natured, kind of a 'real person'. She is married to a man named Morgan Ballard, they were high school sweethearts, and have been married for 22 years. They have tried for years to have children, and recently Grace discovered that she is pregnant. . She has a standard poodle named "Futzy." She's been a forensic examiner for ten years. Former member of the Atlanta P.D.

George Fraley

Peter Frechette

A "world-class computer hacker" (Has a felony conviction for hacking). Wavy brown hair, brown eyes, about the same height and build as the other men on the team, though a bit less "buff." Jewish, but seems to be into the I-Ching & possibly other "New Age" spiritual pursuits. Wears loud shirts. George is openly gay, and his partner's name is Rich Warren. George is insecure about his role on the team, feels inadequate about his contributions. Braves fan. Former employee of the Atlanta P.D. Good with high-tech toys. George has an excellent sense of humor and seems very relaxed, even under stressful circumstances, although he can have an explosive temper when pushed and isn't all that shy about "romancing the technicalities" of the law. (NOTE: The character's name according to the original NBC website was George *Findley*, but the new website lists his name as George *Fraley*.)

Angel Brown

Erica Gimpel

African-American, about Sam's age, slim and muscular. Longish hair worn in ringlets. She is a "found object" metal sculptor and teacher. A close friend of Sam's since childhood, she moved to Atlanta w/ Sam when Jack began stalking Sam again, and he visited the farm where they were living. The farm has been in Angel's family for 100 years. Single, and dating occasionally, she is apparently interested in John Grant ('Blue Highways'). Jack made an attempt on her life in 'Doppelganger' but she was rescued by a truck driver. Very loyal to Sam, but doesn't seem to like Sam's job or Bailey very much. Has a degree in art therapy and teaches at-risk kids. Is like a second mother to Sam's daughter,Chloe.

Chloe Waters

Caitlin Wachs

Sam's daughter, age 7. Apparently saw Jack when her father was killed,but Sam refused to have her questioned until 'The House that Jack Built'. Once she was asked about it, it became clear that Chloe saw Jack in disguise, and did not witness Tom's murder. Seems like a fairly ordinary child -- goes to school, and spends time with her grandmother (probably Tom's mother-- we've speculated that Sam's parents are dead, since she was once close to at least her mom but never mentions her now and doesn't seem to be concerned for family members w/r/t Jack.). Adores Denzel, the "family" dog (a German Shepherd). Very outgoing, and seems very adaptable to new situations.

"Jack"

Dennis Christopher

Is a serial killer who seems to think that Sam somehow belongs to him, and who has targeted people Sam has known. Appears to be in his mid-thirties, with a slim, wiry build and fine light- brown hair, occasionally seems to have a goatee. Has a narrow, rather roman nose and brown eyes, has been seen wearing glasses but that could have been a disguise.We have seen him several times wearing jeans, workboots & T-shirt. In `Shattered Silence' his jeans had a bleach spot on the inside right leg near the ankle, and he appeared to be wearing a flannel shirt. Wore a large silver ring with a symbol on it('Modus Operandi') which could be the letter "U", a horseshoe, or an Omega. Has no discernable regional accent. Chain smokes a special blend of tobacco containing rose petals ('Crisis'). At his `lair' at the St. Angela's Orphanage ('HTJB'), he kept hundreds of copies of what looked like a High School yearbook photo of Sam on his ceiling, also has one of her baby pictures. He took Tom's wedding ring when he killed him, but later returned it attached to a bouquet of roses left in Sam's bedroom at Angel's farm ('Ring of Fire'). Jack is fixated on roses, used human bodies to "fertilize" the ones he was growing at St. Angela's ('Blue Highways'). He spoke with his mother on the phone ('Cruel & Unusual') and claims her as a dependent on his income taxes ('Field Training Exercise').

Jack keeps trophies, probably from victims, and may have taken body parts on occasion. [I noticed a necklace, a box (jewelry box?) and a few other things in his collection. He seemed to keep them in a freezer.] On more than one occasion, Jack has strangled or tied up his victims with orange electrical cords. He always leaves a cryptic message at the scene, sometimes in paint or ink visible only under black light. He likes anagrams, and Cheetos, there's always a jar of them on his work table, along with a bottle of something that might be Jack Daniels (it's a fifth of something anyway), and those little magnetic letters that spell out JACK (though they never seem to be in order, hmmm....)

His nickname comes from a misquote Sam made to an LA paper--they said she called him a "homicidal Jack-of-all-trades" because his Modus Operandi changes from crime to crime. He does, however, have a fairly constant signature. He likes to leave messages at crime scenes. Since Sam took on his case, they've been found mostly with black light. Some messages have also been sent directly to Sam. May have a residence within a local call of a radio station in Maryland (the call in `I'll Be Watching You'). So far as we can tell, he has never targeted a child. He has at least three times chosen *not* to kill people close to Sam (Nate Brubaker, Bailey Malone, and Chloe Waters) when he had the opportunity.

The VCTF discovered that he had been living at a Catholic orphanage in Atlanta, using the name Carruthers and working as a gardener and handyman (`The House That Jack Built'). In `HTJB' we are led to believe he may have a medical degree, however that may or may not be the case, since in the follow-up episode, `Shadow of Angels' it is discovered that the degree may have been planted there to make the VCTF think that Austin Keller, another serial killer, is Jack. Has excellent computer skills (hacker-level), as evidenced by his ability to get into the VCTF's computer systems ('Learning From the Masters').Must have some reasonably reliable source of income, as he seems to have no trouble obtaining residences, computer equipment, and other items he needs. Jack has, at least once, hired a professional killer to do his work for him. In this case, the man, Andre Kostos, was apprehended after he kidnapped John Grant as part of a torture and murder scheme set up by Jack(The House that Jack Built).

He may have a God complex... he quotes scripture, lived in a Catholic orphanage and worked in the church, burns candles in an altar-like setting, and the pictures of Sam on his ceiling appeared to have a cross-like pattern in the way they were laid out. Also, the scenario he scripted between Kostos and Sam (THTJB) made several god-like references ("I will teach you humility."He told Sam to "Fall on your knees" and he said "I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life."), and Kostos stood in a "cruciform" stance. Sam has also commented on this idea ("He's made himself a god. He wants to control everything, especially me."). However, we have seen Jack pray (Crisis) so at this point this idea is just speculation.