Netflix’s serial killer drama Mindhunter is one of the best shows the streaming giant has produced. Mindhunter‘s premature cancelation, due to its high production costs and low viewership, still stings even five years later. Created by Joe Penhall and produced and directed by David Fincher, the series followed FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) during the early days of the bureau’s real-life Behavioral Science Unit. The agents interviewed and analyzed serial killers to gain insights into their behavior in an effort to prevent similar crimes.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the show is that the Mindhunter team interviewed well-known killers in prison, based on real interviews conducted by the actual Behavioral Science Unit. Episodes featured chilling portrayals of killers like Charles Manson, Ed Kemper (the “Co-Ed Killer”), and David Berkowitz (the “Son of Sam”), among others. Season 2 introduced a major subplot involving Bill Tench’s son Brian and an unsettling murder the young boy became entangled in. Like all the cases on Mindhunter, this disturbing crime is loosely inspired by a true, gruesome murder.

Brian Tench Is Involved In The Murder Of A Toddler

Bill Felt There Was Something Off About His Son

Brian Tench (Zachary Scott Ross) is the adopted son of Bill and Nancy Tench. While the young boy only has a small role in the first season, Bill confides in Holden that something feels off about Brian and mentions that his son doesn’t talk much. Brian’s role is significantly expanded in season 2, when a toddler is found murdered in a house that Nancy represents as a realtor. The child was tied to a cross in the basement of the house, and the police suspect Brian because of his connection to the property.

Later in the season, it is revealed that Brian met two older boys at the park and brought them to the house because he knew it was empty. While there, he watched the older boys suffocate the toddler. Although Brian was not directly involved in the killing, it was his suggestion to tie the child to the cross. Nancy believes that Brian was attempting to resurrect the toddler, like Jesus. While Brian isn’t charged with a crime, he is required to see a psychologist, and the family becomes pariahs in their community.

Bill secretly fears that Brian might share the same tendencies as the killers he interviews, while Nancy blames Bill’s job and his frequent discussions of work at home for Brian’s behavior. This subplot is one of the show’s strongest and encapsulates many of the series’ main themes. Ultimately, Mindhunter explores whether the grisly work the agents do affects them and their loved ones directly, as well as the unsettling idea that some of the worst criminals are hiding in plain sight — even in unsuspecting homes.

Brian Tench Is Not Based On An Actual Person, But The Case Is Real

The Mindhunter Case Is Based On the “Crucifixion Murder”

The writers of Mindhunter took significant creative liberties with the Brian Tench storyline. While Bill Tench is loosely based on FBI profiler Robert Ressler, Ressler’s children were never involved in any legal trouble. However, the case itself was heavily inspired by a similar killing that occurred in San Francisco in 1971, which the press dubbed the “Crucifixion Murder.”

Five days later, one of the brothers led police to the crime scene, where they discovered the deceased toddler with his arms and feet bound to a crude wooden cross

According to Frontline, the real case involved two brothers, aged 7 and 10, who encountered a 20-month-old toddler wandering down the street after straying from a nearby park. The brothers led the young child to a dingy, unfinished basement. When the toddler began to cry, the brothers tried to get him to stop. When that didn’t work, they beat the toddler, eventually attacking him with a brick.

Five days later, one of the brothers led police to the crime scene, where they discovered the deceased toddler with his arms and feet bound to a crude wooden cross, covered in paper and debris. Speaking to Frontline years later, one of the brothers admitted—

“I don’t remember being very religious, but I felt like putting the baby on a cross was the only thing to do…I wanted the baby back alive. I wasn’t absolutely sure it was dead, but it wasn’t moving and it was bruised.

While the murder sparked significant public uproar and debate, the boys ultimately spent only a few months in juvenile detention before being placed in a special home, where they received intensive therapy for two years. Afterward, they returned home. While one of the brothers went on to lead a quiet, law-abiding life, the other struggled with substance abuse and was later convicted twice for physically abusing children, including his own.

Brian Tench’s Story Remains Unresolved

Due to Netflix Canceling Mindhunter, Fans Will Never Know If Brian Becomes A Killer

Unfortunately, fans of Mindhunter will never know if Brian Tench becomes a serial killer. His storyline is one of many that remain unresolved due to Netflix’s decision to cancel the series after two seasons. While many viewers have their own theories about what future seasons might have explored, the creative team has remained silent.

However, given that much of Robert Ressler’s research focused on killers exhibiting signs of criminality at a young age, there’s a good chance the writers would have pursued this storyline. That said, series star Holt McCallany has his own opinion. Speaking to Vulture before season 2, McCallany said,

I don’t know if we’ll be dealing with that particular story line going forward. They might consider it a little too on the nose in a certain way. But the kid is troubled, and I have great difficulty communicating with him. And you have to remember, in 1978, fatherhood was different for many of these men.

There is always the hope that Netflix resurrects Mindhunter in the future to give fans the answers they crave.