Chicago PD Fully Reframes Voight’s Villainous Debut With 1 Franchise-Changing Twist

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Be warned, this article contains spoilers for Chicago PD Season 13, Episode 4, “Root Cause.” This season of Chicago PD is continuing to deliver strong storylines, and a surprising revelation about Hank Voight is a key part of it. The One Chicago shows – including Chicago PD – have become incredibly popular on television due to their interconnected stories that still feel unique. While big crossover events are less common now, the shows are working to strengthen the connections between them.

Though not every episode will focus on crossovers, as the firefighters of Gaffney and Firehouse 51, along with the Intelligence Unit, have their own stories to tell, it’s worth remembering how this interconnected universe began. Ten years ago, the character of Voight was first introduced in Chicago Fire. At that time, he hadn’t yet become the strong leader of District 21’s elite team, and surprisingly, he was initially portrayed as an antagonist, facing off against Matt Casey.

After 13 seasons, Chicago PD has revealed a surprising detail about Voight that changes how we view his first appearance and explains some of his questionable actions over the past ten years.

Chicago PD Season 13, Episode 4 Reveals That Voight Was Abused As A Kid

NBC via MovieStillsDB

The episode begins with Voight finding a disturbing photo on his windshield – a young boy, injured and in the hospital. This unsettling image becomes a central mystery, with Eva Imani pressing him for answers. Voight is clearly shaken and refuses to discuss it, even asking Trudy to investigate who left it on his car.

While the Intelligence Unit investigates a troubled man and uncovers possible connections to his father, Imani continues to question her boss about a mysterious image. The image turns out to be of Voight from the 1970s, a surprising reveal at the end of Chicago PD season 13, episode 4. This is the first time this past detail has been mentioned, despite previous discussions about Voight’s childhood.

Voight’s Childhood Explains Why He Would Do Anything For Justin

We don’t know for sure what happened to Voight when he was a child, but evidence suggests he was physically abused. Given a similar storyline in the episode “Root Cause,” it’s possible his father was the abuser. A hospital photo seemed to show a police officer alongside him, adding to the mystery. However, although his father was talked about, there’s no direct proof he was abusive.

Regardless of the situation, Voight’s unwavering loyalty to Justin was immediately apparent – even going so far as to pressure Casey in the first season of Chicago Fire to hide his son’s drunk-driving accident, which resulted in someone being paralyzed. This incident was how viewers first met the Intelligence leader, and he came across as a villain, especially given how much fans already loved Firehouse 51.

From the very beginning of Chicago PD, Voight prioritized protecting his son, Justin, no matter what. Justin often found himself in trouble, constantly getting involved in questionable activities that created problems for his father. Throughout the series, Voight’s most significant wrongdoing occurred after Justin’s tragic death – a secret that remains largely hidden.

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2025-10-23 17:48