Criminal Minds: Evolution shocked fans and characters alike in Season 18, Episode 2 by abruptly killing off Josh Stewart’s Detective William LaMontagne Jr. in a devastating twist.
Will spent the majority of Season 18’s first two episodes away on a case, but before Episode 1802 concluded, JJ found him standing in the kitchen complaining of a migraine. “I just feel kind of weird,” Will said, holding his head. When JJ asked if he was OK, he replied, “Yeah, I just need a minute,” then collapsed to the floor, prompting a worried JJ to call 911. Before the end credits rolled, he was dead.
Longtime fans of Criminal Minds will recall that Stewart’s character was introduced back in Season 2, Episode 18, instantly hit it off with JJ, and the two got married in Season 7. Will has been a permanent fixture on the series for nearly two decades, so viewers are not only mourning his loss but wondering why the series killed off Stewart’s character.
Wondering why did Josh Stewart leave Criminal Minds? Why Criminal Minds killed Will off? And what Will’s death could mean for the future of the series? In post-mortem interviews that followed the heartbreaking installment, Criminal Minds: Evolution‘s cast shed some additional light on Stewart’s departure, what the show has in store for JJ, and more.
Here’s what to know about why Josh Stewart and Will are leaving Criminal Minds.
Right before the episode concluded, viewers and BAU members who raced to the ER learned that Will suffered an aneurism and doctors found signs of a rare “spontaneous rupture of the inferior thyroid artery.” While everyone hoped he’d pull through, JJ walked into the hospital waiting room and emotionally revealed, “He’s gone. Will’s dead.” UGH!
As of Criminal Minds: Evolution Episode 1802’s premiere date on Thursday, May 15, Stewart hasn’t explained his departure nor have the showrunners explained the reasoning for Will’s death. However, Decider noted in a previous piece that Stewart confirmed in January 2024 that he wouldn’t be returning to the series as Will. And when asked about Will’s departure from the show in a 2024 interview with TVLine, showrunner Erica Messer explained, “We tried to make it work for this year and it just didn’t work out. We love Will, JJ loves Will… and that’s always a part of her world and her character.”
In an interview with TVLine, Aisha Tyler, who portrays Tara and directed the emotional episode, said, “That was a very seminal moment for the characters, for the series.” When asked about the impact Will’s death will have on the series, she explained, “[JJ’s] going to have to work through this incredible loss, and how does it affect her work, how does it affect her children… For anybody out there who has lost a loved one, it’s obviously very devastating, and then the question becomes, ‘How do I go on? Can I go on?'”
Kirsten Vangsness, who portrays Garcia, told TV Insider, “Of course it’s horribly sad. When we have things happen, whether we want them to be happening or not, there’s a delicious kind of alchemy that the writers do is they make something cool from that thing, and that’s what you’re supposed to do with writing or with acting… It’s fun [and] it sucks because you always want the people that are so great there, but [you’re] excited for their next adventures. It’s a mixed bag.”
When speaking to Us Weekly about Will’s death, Adam Rodriguez, who portrays Luke teased, “It gave AJ the actress a chance to really demonstrate the level of talent that she has… Because I think she’s a great actress and having this to play really gave her an opportunity to sink her teeth into something substantial. Her character — and fans of the show — are tough. This was an opportunity to let JJ’s guard down. Obviously she has to be strong for her family but you really get to see that vulnerable side of her. She’s had an opportunity to get some great stuff to do and I’m glad people are getting to see that.”
And Criminal Minds star Paget Brewster, who portrays Emily Prentiss, told The Independent, “[It] was a really difficult episode to shoot, because we were saying goodbye to Will, and we were saying goodbye to Josh Stewart, who’s played Will for what, maybe 17 years?” Addressing Stewart’s exit, Brewster continued, “It’s always shocking, but it’s always exciting too, even if it’s bad news. We know, as actors, that we and our crew and our writers can come together and make it happen, even if it’s difficult. So, we’re just very lucky that our writers are working so hard.”
In addition to putting the team — and crucially, JJ — through the emotional ringer, longtime fans of the series will also be wondering if Will’s death is what brings Matthew Gray Gubler’s Dr. Spencer Reid back into the picture. Back in December 2024, Gubler told Italian publication Ansa, that he recently “shot a new episode of Criminal Minds.” And per TVLine, the actor is expected to appear in only part of one Season 18 episode. A source confirmed that “fortunately, schedules aligned,” but considering Gubler’s upcoming CBS series Einstein, set to premiere in the 2026-2027 series, it’s unlikely he’ll have time to become a series regular again right now.
Stay tuned for more Criminal Minds: Evolution updates and be sure to tune into Episode 1803 to see what the series has in store for JJ and the team.
New episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution premiere Thursdays on Paramount+.