Who Did William Afton Kill First

Okay, picture this: You're at a dimly lit bowling alley. Sticky floors, the smell of stale pizza hangs in the air, and a gaggle of kids are celebrating some poor kid's birthday. But there’s this one dude in the corner, just… staring. Uncomfortably staring. That's kinda how I feel diving into the whole "Who did William Afton kill first?" debate in the Five Nights at Freddy's (FNAF) lore.

It's a rabbit hole, my friends. A deep, dark, animatronic-filled rabbit hole. And trust me, getting lost is almost guaranteed. So, grab your flashlight (metaphorically speaking, unless you're reading this in the dark, in which case, go for it!), and let's try to untangle this particularly gruesome thread.

The question, at its core, seems simple, right? William Afton, the absolute villain of the FNAF universe, definitely offed a bunch of kids. But pinpointing the very first victim? That’s where the theories get wild.

The Frontrunner: Charlie Emily

Most people point to Charlotte "Charlie" Emily as Afton's first kill. Why? Well, the games, books, and generally accepted timeline all suggest it. The incident, often referred to as the "Save Them" massacre, shows a shadowy figure (heavily implied to be Afton) lurking outside Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, eventually leading to Charlie's demise. She’s locked outside, can't get in, and then… yeah. Not a fun birthday for anyone.

Plus, Charlie's influence on the rest of the timeline is massive. She becomes the Puppet, a protector of the other lost children. So, narratively, it makes sense for her to be the starting point of Afton's reign of terror. See, the story wouldn’t be the same without her. The Puppet's actions directly influence the other animatronics and the spirits trapped within. Without Charlie, the whole haunting situation gets completely thrown off!

But hold on, because this is FNAF. Nothing is ever that straightforward. Do you really think Scott Cawthon would make it that easy?

A Complication: The Missing Children Incident

Before we get all cozy and comfy in the idea that Charlie was first, we have to address the elephant (or rather, the bear) in the room: The Missing Children Incident. This event, which involves the disappearance of five children at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, is a HUGE deal. Details surrounding the event are murky, and the exact timing in relation to Charlie's death is debated.

Some theorists argue that Afton had to have killed these children first, since their spirits are possessing the core animatronics (Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, Foxy, and Golden Freddy). If these kids were already dead and inhabiting the animatronics, that puts a serious wrench in the timeline of events. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

However, a lot of the evidence suggests the Missing Children Incident happened after Charlie's death. The Puppet, being Charlie, played a role in helping those spirits attach to the animatronics. Meaning…Charlie had to be around before them. It's confusing, I know. We're basically playing detective with possessed robots. Fun, right?

The Book Lore Factor

And then there are the books. Oh, the books! The FNAF book series adds another layer of complexity (or, some might say, confusion) to the whole equation. While not strictly canon to the game timeline, they provide insights into Afton's character and motivations.

The books hint that Afton was experimenting with remnant (the lingering energy of souls) long before the events of the games. Did he practice on animals first? Or maybe even other, less documented victims? We simply don’t know for sure! This makes the question of who was first more nuanced, and possibly… more tragic.

So, who did William Afton kill first?

While there's no definitive, 100% guaranteed answer, Charlie Emily remains the strongest contender based on the most widely accepted interpretation of the games and supplementary material. However, with FNAF, you can never truly say never. Maybe Scott Cawthon will drop a bombshell in the next game, and everything we thought we knew will be flipped on its head. (Wouldn’t be the first time!) Until then, the debate rages on, and the FNAF lore continues to be a captivating, albeit terrifying, puzzle to solve.

And you know what? That's what makes it so darn interesting!