When a show like Criminal Minds runs for a long time, it introduces many bad guys. Some, like Season 4’s Mason (Garret Dillahunt) and Lucas (Paul Rae) Turner, or Season 8’s John Curtis, also known as The Replicator, played by Mark Hamill, are unforgettable.
But others fade away, which is unfortunate because some of these lesser-known villains are the most terrifying. They might not have a flashy style or a high body count, but they are true monsters. One such overlooked killer is Season 3’s Stanley Howard, played by Michael O’Keefe.
Who is Stanley Howard in ‘Criminal Minds’?
Dr. Stanley Howard had a difficult childhood. His abusive mother often locked him in closets, leading to an overwhelming fear of the dark that stayed with him into adulthood. Despite this, his adult life seemed normal.
He married Jane (Stephanie Venditto), adopted a child, and became a psychiatrist, influenced by his mother. It appeared he had turned his trauma into a way to help others. He even started a charity for abused children, showing a desire to support those who suffered as he did. On the surface, Stanley seemed like a great person.
However, there was a darker side to Dr. Howard. After leaving his practice, he began distributing flyers under the name of The Goodman Institute, claiming to help people overcome their fears.
He attracted many young people new to the city and struggling with big fears. Stanley would gain their trust by talking with them for a few sessions before introducing them to a deadly form of exposure therapy.
The Fear Factor is High With Stanley Howard
This is what makes Stanley such a terrifying killer. Being murdered is horrifying, but being killed by your biggest fear, especially by someone you trusted, is extremely cruel.
Throughout the episode, Stanley attempts three murders, though his last victim, Missy (Danielle Sapia), survives. Each attempt becomes more horrifying, particularly because of Stanley’s lack of emotion.
His first victim is a claustrophobic woman named Jenny (Jennifer Keyes). Stanley locks her in a box, and as she screams, he calmly closes the window and covers it with magazines. The second is Patrick (John Bobek), who has a fear of water.
Stanley watches as Patrick drowns after he releases the safety hook he was holding onto. Lastly, he buries Missy alive. Each time, Stanley shows no remorse. He simply writes notes in his journal about their anxiety levels.
It’s all very clinical, which is confirmed when Stanley tells Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) that the victims “donated themselves to science” before he jumps off a building.
It’s not just Stanley’s use of fear and psychology that makes him so terrifying. It’s the fact that he’s a doctor. When we go to a doctor, whether for our mind or body, we trust them to take care of us. We believe they want to do good, follow ethical standards, and uphold their oath to protect us.
We trust that they care about our well-being and would never harm us intentionally. As a doctor, Stanley breaks all of these assumptions. He is malicious, hiding in plain sight as a professional. He has access to the most personal parts of his patients, which he then uses against them.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Missy could never trust another therapist again, fearing she might be hurt again. We fear betrayal, and Stanley embodies our worst nightmare.
‘Criminal Minds’ Stanley Howard is Similar to Some Real Killers
If that wasn’t enough to make your skin crawl, consider that Stanley might be inspired by real-world serial killers. There are many examples of doctors who have used their careers for evil rather than good. One such criminal, Christopher Duntsch, was the subject of the 2021 docuseries Dr. Death: The Undoctored Story.
Duntsch didn’t operate the same way as Stanley; as a surgeon, he intentionally botched surgeries and avoided detection by moving to different hospitals. There are many other examples of killer doctors, so it’s possible the writers of Criminal Minds drew from some of these real-life figures when creating Stanley.
However, the killer who most closely resembles Stanley is the Cleveland Torso Murderer, also known as the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run. Unlike Stanley, this murderer was never caught for the twelve murders they committed.
The Cleveland Torso Murderer targeted people who might not be missed, much like Stanley, who chose victims who lived alone and had no nearby friends or family. Both killers had victims of both genders, and all of the Cleveland Torso Murderer’s victims were found near bodies of water, similar to Stanley’s victims, except for Missy.
The Cleveland Torso Murderer was believed to be a doctor because of the condition of the bodies, and Stanley was profiled as someone with a background in psychiatry due to the method of killing, which aligned with common phobias.
While there’s no confirmation that Stanley was based on this killer, the similarities are so strong that it seems more than a coincidence. It makes Stanley even more terrifying to think that he could have been based on a killer who was never caught. How long would Stanley have continued to kill if he hadn’t been stopped?
There are many candidates for Criminal Minds’ most terrifying killer. With 324 episodes, and more if you include Criminal Minds: Evolution, the show has introduced many villains. However, the ones who seem the least threatening often have the most significant impact, and that’s why Dr. Stanley Howard stands out.
He uses people’s phobias against them, bringing to life the fear of dangerous doctors, and shares striking similarities with a real-life murderer whose identity remains a mystery.
Stanley blends into the crowd, making him even more dangerous. Hopefully, he didn’t inspire any copycats because he’s one killer who doesn’t need to change to be terrifying. Criminal Minds is available on Paramount+ in the U.S.
