Mr. Carpenter

Mr Carpenter (first name unknown) is an unseen former resident of Woodsboro, California. He is the ex-husband of Christina Carpenter and father of Tara Carpenter in the Scream (2022 film) reboot.

During the events of the film, he is mentioned as having abandoned his only biological daughter off-screen ten years before. He is also the ex-stepfather of Samantha Carpenter, whom he also abandoned and disowned after raising her as a teenage parent with his wife.

Background
Mr. Carpenter's high school sweetheart was Christina, Tara Carpenter's mother. Sometime in September 1996 she cheated on her boyfriend with Billy Loomis, shortly before or during his mass killing spree as Ghostface.

Scared, she convinced her boyfriend that he was the biological father. His future wife, still only a teenager, gave birth to Samantha Carpenter in the late summer of 1997. Around five or six years later, she became pregnant with her second child, her husband's first biological child, unbeknownst to him.

In late 2010 (possibly early 2011), Samantha was thirteen years old and her younger sister was about to turn eight the following year (see Timeline). She was looking for Christmas gifts in the attic (if leftover gifts, this may have been January) and found her mother's diaries instead.

Thinking they were going to be romantic, she read the diaries and confronted her, while Mr. Carpenter was standing nearby and overheard the entire conversation. As a result, Mr. Carpenter had abandoned his wife and their two daughters sometime within a short timeframe, sometime when Tara turned or was turning eight (2011).

2021 Woodsboro Attacks
He is currently missing during the events of the "requel" attacks. His backstory was brought to the light when Samantha tells Tara while in the hospital about her true paternity and how he found out.

In late 2010 (possibly early 2011), Samantha was thirteen years old and her younger sister was about to turn eight the following year (see Timeline). She was looking for Christmas gifts in the attic (if leftover gifts, this may have been January) and found her mother's diaries instead.

Thinking they were going to be romantic, she read the diaries and confronted her, while Mr. Carpenter was standing nearby and overheard the entire conversation. As a result, Mr. Carpenter had abandoned his wife and their two daughters In late 2010 (possibly early 2011), Samantha was thirteen years old and her younger sister was about to turn eight the following year (see Timeline). She was looking for Christmas gifts in the attic (if leftover gifts, this may have been January) and found her mother's diaries instead.

Thinking they were going to be romantic, she read the diaries and learned of her true paternity when she found out her mother had an affair with Billy Loomis, and she is in fact his child. She confronted her, while Mr. Carpenter was standing nearby and overheard the entire conversation. As a result, Mr. Carpenter had abandoned his wife and their two daughters.

Trivia

 * It has not been confirmed if he or his ex-wife attended Woodsboro High School like the original teenagers in Scream (1996), but it is very likely as he lived in and raised his daughters in Woodsboro for a time.
 * If he attended Woodsboro High School, he is very likely acquainted with Sidney Prescott, Billy Loomis, Stu Macher, Tatum Riley, Randy Meeks, Steven Orth, Casey Becker, and Judy Hicks.
 * If he found out prior that Christina cheated on him with Billy, he and Billy would naturally be enemies. If they had acquaintance during high school, it may have been likely they were not on good terms.
 * His surname is a reference to horror movie director, John Carpenter.
 * His backstory is heavy referenced to Nancy Loomis. Once he find out his wife was unfaithful, he abandons his family much like she did when she found out Maureen Prescott sleep with her husband, Hank Loomis.
 * He has some references to Neil Prescott.
 * He is innocent while his spouse wasn't faithful to him.
 * His daughter(s) don't know where he is.
 * Both are red herrings in the killing sprees.