For years, Jennifer “JJ” Jareau and Will LaMontagne Jr. were the heart of Criminal Minds. They weren’t chasing killers or outsmarting unsubs—they were the couple who gave fans hope that love could survive even in the darkest world. But Criminal Minds: Evolution shattered that illusion in a way no one saw coming.
It all started in the kitchen. Will looked at JJ and whispered, “I just feel kind of weird.” Moments later, he collapsed. Fans watched in horror as JJ frantically dialed 911, only to learn later that Will had suffered a sudden brain aneurysm. Just like that, the man who had been by JJ’s side since Season 2 was gone.
But here’s the twist: that heartbreaking collapse wasn’t filmed fresh for Season 3. Showrunner Erica Messer later revealed the footage had actually been shot years ago during an abandoned cancer scare storyline.
“We thought it was too much back then,” A.J. Cook confessed. “Little did we know we’d use it for Will’s final goodbye.”
What came after was even more gut-wrenching. JJ, usually the calm voice in chaos, was shattered. She blamed herself, telling Garcia, “If I had just noticed the signs… if I had made him go to the doctor…” Those words captured the guilt that so many viewers recognized from their own lives.
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