REVEREND MATHER

Reverend Mather was a highly respected clergyman, psychologically stable, with no political leanings, and a completely clean background. Because of his outstanding reputation, he was chosen as one of the keynote speakers at the International Peace Through Science Symposium, a large, formal, black tie reception held at the Exhibition Center in Los Angeles to promote international relations and the peaceful use of technology. Although MacGyver dislikes formal events and attire, he reluctantly agreed to attend the gala in a rented tuxedo as a favor to Pete Thornton, and Pete attended with Viktoria Tomanova, a Russian defector whose presence made her a target of Soviet agents who had planted a mole within the DXS. Also attending where MacGyver's friend and coworker, Craig Bannister, and his wife Ingrid.

However, Reverend Mather had been previously programmed by Soviet agents to assassinate Viktoria Tomanova. As Mather began to deliver his remarks, Anton Lem, a known Soviet agent, activated a small remote device that triggered Mather's programming. His words became uncertain and confused, then he suddenly reached for a gun that had been concealed at the podium and began firing toward Viktoria. MacGyver pushed Viktoria out of harm's way and used an ultrasonic beam to shatter Mather's glasses before disarming him. Mather was still disoriented and unaware of what had happened, but his programming had failed, prompting Lem to activate a second remote signal which triggered a heart attack. MacGyver and Bannister attempted to administer CPR, but they were unsuccessful, and Reverend Mather died.

Following his death, Mather was brought to Wilshire Memorial Hospital where Ed, the pathologist, performed an autopsy to determine why such a respected clergyman would suddenly pull out a 9mm handgun and begin shooting at someone whose identity was meant to be top secret, and then suddenly have the world's most convenient heart attack. The pathologist discovered a blockage of the left inferior artery and determined that the cause of death was cardiac arrest due to an arterial embolism. However, the blockage was a complex mass of fibrous tissue, not cholesterol, and traces of adipic acid were also found in his blood and fatty tissue.

Ed agreed to share a small sample of the fibrous material with MacGyver, who was able to recreate the suspicious substance. Adipic acid with hexamethyline diamine and iron particles, when exposed to a magnetic field, will produce nylon. Soviet agents had introduced the chemicals into Mather's bloodstream as a failsafe and had programmed him as an assassin, but he was a weapon that failed, and he was eliminated by an artificially induced heart attack.

Portrayed by: Douglas Dirkson

Cross Reference: Craig Bannister, Ingrid Bannister, Ed, International Peace Through Science Symposium, Anton Lem, Viktoria Tomanova, Wilshire Memorial Hospital

Episode Reference: The Enemy Within