It’s reasonable to assume that Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness), one of the devoted agents of the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI that we’ve grown to know and love on “Criminal Minds,” is the group’s rock. As the crew looks into the worst serial killers in the nation, Garcia acts as both a data-gathering wizard and an emotional support system. Garcia was a brilliant hacker who was apprehended by the FBI and given a position by Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson), where she used her abilities to further the law. She tends to be more independent than the other members of the team because of her experience in both the technological industry and hacker culture.
Despite this, she has grown to be a vital member of the BAU team. Before Garcia was apprehended by the FBI, we didn’t know a whole lot about her past, particularly in regards to her family. But in the 13th season of “Criminal Minds,” we learned a lot more about Garcia’s past and the catastrophic incidents that would follow her for years.
A devastating loss would haunt Garcia for years
We find out that Penelope Garcia’s parents were killed by a drunk driver when she was 18 years old in the Season 13 episode “All You Can Eat.” Even worse, she had stayed out beyond her curfew, and her parents had gone hunting for her. Garcia’s descent into depression following the passing of her parents saw her leave the California Institute of Technology and transition into a career as a full-time hacker. However, Garcia had a strong sense of social justice and attacked businesses she believed were engaging in wrongdoing. As a result, she discovered the BAU and Hotch’s offer of atonement. The team works on a case without her as Garcia meets with her stepbrother Carlos (Sebastian Sozzi) to talk about Jesse Wilson (Chris Dougherty), the drunk driver who killed their parents, and his forthcoming parole hearing. At Wilson’s parole hearing, Carlos asks Penelope to make a victim impact statement.
