Temperance Brennan’s parents, Matthew and Christine Brennan, disappeared when she was 15, leaving her and her brother to think they had abandoned them. Later, it’s revealed that they were in hiding to protect their children from a criminal gang they had previously been involved with.
In the TV series “Bones,” based on Kathy Reichs’ novels, Temperance “Bones” Brennan’s backstory is gradually revealed throughout the show. Her parents’ disappearance was a traumatic event in her life, leading her to be raised in the foster care system along with her brother, Russ. As the series progresses, Brennan discovers that her parents were not who they seemed. Her father, originally known as Max Keenan, was actually a bank robber and her mother, whose real name was Ruth Keenan, was an accomplice.
The Keenans changed their identities to Matthew and Christine Brennan and led a normal life to escape their criminal past and protect their children from a gang of criminals they had previously associated with. However, when the gang threatened their family, Brennan’s parents decided to go on the run again, but this time without their children, to keep them safe. They planned to return for Temperance and Russ, but Christine was murdered before she could do so, and Max remained in hiding for years.
Max eventually resurfaces and becomes a recurring character in the series, trying to reconnect with his children. The storyline involving Brennan’s parents is a significant part of her character development, as it influences her views on family, law, and her own identity. Brennan’s complex relationship with her father and the resolution of the mystery surrounding her parents’ disappearance are central themes in the show.