Xander Cook's Most Jaw-Dropping Crimes On Days Of Our Lives
Xander Cook has become one of the most beloved characters on "Days of Our Lives" over the years. Xander, played by actor Paul Telfer, first came to Salem in 2015 and was introduced as the nephew of Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston), per Soap Central. He also shared a past history with Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan). Xander is one of those characters that flips from being sweet and loving to scheming and secretive — much like other "Days of Our Lives" characters such as EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel), Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney), Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker), and Gabi Hernandez (Camila Banus), per Nine.
During his time in Salem, Xander has been caught up in many romances, which have included the likes of Serena Mason (Melissa Archer), Nicole Walker, Chanel DuPree (Raven Bowens), and Gwen Rizczech (Emily O'Brien), per Soaps in Depth. However, the love of his life is Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey). Sarah keeps Xander grounded, reminding him that he can have the life he wants without reverting to the Kiriakis family ways.
Although many fans absolutely adore Xander, the character has endured many ups and downs. While he usually has good intentions despite some poor decision-making, Xander has been caught up in a lot of criminal activity since arriving in Salem.
Xander was the head of an international blood diamond smuggling ring
When Xander Cook first appeared in Salem, "Days of Our Lives" fans were intrigued to see another member of the Kiriakis family. It was soon revealed that, like his uncle Victor Kiriakis, Xander has also dealt in schemes and crimes (via Soaps in Depth). Shortly after his arrival in town, Xander ran into Eric Brady and his girlfriend Serena Mason. Fans then learned that Xander had met Eric and Serena while living in Africa and that Serena had come to Salem in order to exchange an elephant statue that she had once given Eric as a gift, per Soaps. Inside Eric's statue were blood diamonds that Serena and Xander were trying to get their hands on as he was the head of an international blood diamond smuggling ring.
Xander also ran a pharmaceutical company in Europe as a way to cover for his blood diamond crimes. He used the company to launder money (via Soaps). Of course, Victor also had a hand in everything Xander did and was the brains behind the operation.
Eventually, Xander and Serena's smuggling scheme came to light and Eric found out the truth. However, Serena's fate was sealed after she was killed by The Necktie Killer, Ben Weston. Meanwhile, Xander wasn't done with his life of crime.
Xander tried to kill Nicole and Eric
Nicole Walker was the first to find out about Xander Cook and Serena Mason's illegal activities and she planned to tell Eric Brady all about it. She had also toyed with Xander when she used him as a way to make Dr. Daniel Jonas (Shawn Christian) jealous. Xander wasn't happy with Nicole's tactics and immediately wanted revenge on her, per Soaps in Depth.
In addition, Xander knew that his plan would fail if Nicole spilled the beans about the blood diamond ring. So, he decided to take matters into his own hands. "Days of Our Lives" viewers were stunned when Xander plotted to kill Nicole by locking her in the furnace room at Titan Industries and cranking up the heat (via Soap Dirt). Of course, Eric came to her rescue and ultimately found himself locked inside the building with Nicole.
Things looked dire for Eric and Nicole for a while, and it appeared that they might not make it through the night. However, they were saved by Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) and Nicole went on to share her information about Xander and Serena's crimes. There wasn't enough evidence to arrest Xander for the crime, so Theresa Donovan (Jen Lilley) took matters into her own hands. Theresa seduced Xander and then later told police that he had assaulted her. Xander was arrested and put in jail, but that didn't stop his scheming.
Xander escaped prison and faked his death
While in prison, Xander Cook met up with and befriended two of the most dangerous "Days of Our Lives" criminals, Clyde Weston and Orpheus. The three men plotted a huge prison escape that would lead them to get revenge on the Salemites who had wronged them over the years (via TV Fanatic). Of course, Xander set his sights on Theresa Donovan, who had put him in prison under false pretenses. Xander broke into the home that Theresa shared with her then-fiance Brady Black. Theresa was busy getting her wedding dress ready for her wedding when Xander saw his chance.
Xander attacked Theresa and attempted to strangle her. In addition, Xander couldn't forget about the pain that Nicole Walker had caused him. He eventually made a creepy phone call to Nicole and claimed that he was stalking her in order to scare her.
After regrouping with Clyde and Orpheus, the trio held Kayla Brady (Mary Beth Evans) and her son, Joey, hostage. When Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) came to rescue them, he was shot. Later, Xander decided to leave Salem, per Soaps in Depth. His uncle, Deimos Kiriakis (Vincent Irizarry), helped Xander fake his death. However, Deimos reminded Xander that he was now in his debt.
Xander blackmailed Nicole into marriage
In 2017, Xander Cook surprised "Days of Our Lives" fans when he showed up in Canada to ambush Nicole Walker and Brady Black at the request of Deimos Kiriakis. The couple had been staying in a cabin when Xander found them and held them at gunpoint. Xander still had bad blood with Nicole but pointed his gun at Brady instead, per Soaps in Depth. Xander shot Brady and left him for dead all the while kidnapping Nicole and her young daughter, Holly Jonas. Xander forced Nicole to go with him to a Greek island, where Eric Brady eventually showed up to save the day. Xander took the full blame for the situation and was put into a Greek prison.
Shortly after, Deimos was murdered and Xander became a suspect, even though he was incarcerated in Greece at the time. When Xander returned to Salem, he tried his best to blackmail Victor Kiriakis into giving him the job of CEO at Titan Industries. When that failed, he opted to steal cash from the Kiriakis mansion. While pillaging for cash, Xander got his hands on a recording of Nicole confessing to killing Deimos. He used that recording to blackmail her into marrying him. Nicole agreed to keep herself and her daughter safe (via Soap Dirt).
Meanwhile, Xander's most horrific evil deed was still to come.
Xander switched Sarah's baby with Kristen's daughter
After yet another return to Salem, Xander Cook attempted to go on the straight and narrow. "Days of Our Lives" viewers watched him fall head over heels for Sarah Horton, and he even pretended to be the father of her daughter when she didn't want to tell Eric Brady the child was his (via Soaps in Depth). However, fans soon learned the heartbreaking truth about Sarah's child.
The night that Sarah gave birth to the baby girl, whom she named Mickey, she and Adrienne Kiriakis got into a terrible car accident. Adrienne was killed, and Sarah's baby later died from the injuries she sustained. It appeared that Victor Kiriakis' wife, Maggie Horton — who is also Sarah's mother — caused the crash. So, Victor and Xander set it up to look like Will Horton (Chandler Massey) caused the accident. They also swapped Sarah's child with that of Brady Black and Kristen DiMera's (Stacy Haiduk) daughter, Rachel (via Soap Dirt).
For over a year, Sarah raised the baby as her own, and Brady and Kristen believed that their daughter had died. Xander and Victor's horrific scheme was later exposed and Sarah was forced to hand over the little girl she believed to be hers, per Celebrating The Soaps. Of course, her relationship with Xander was fractured as a result.
Xander kidnapped Susan and Bonnie
Xander Cook and Sarah Horton eventually reconciled and even got married. However, Xander's schemes continued to get in the way of their romance. Sarah was furious when she learned that Xander had accepted money from Sami Brady to ruin Nicole Walker and Eric Brady's anniversary party by revealing that Nicole had cheated on Eric with Xander (via Soaps Spoilers). The bombshell resulted in Eric and Nicole's divorce.
Meanwhile, Xander also took money from Ava Vitalli (Tamara Braun) when she wanted him to kidnap Susan Banks and Bonnie Lockhart while dressed in a creepy clown costume, per Soaps in Depth. Xander did what he was told, but never had any intention of hurting either of the women. Sadly, Ava's scheme ended with Susan Banks' death. When Sarah learned about Xander's part in the kidnapping, she had enough of his irresponsible behavior and lack of consideration toward her. She ranted to her family about the mess her marriage was in and even revealed that she planned to divorce Xander for his evil deeds, per Daytime Confidential.
Xander continues to walk a fine line between good and evil, and although he's tried to stay on a more righteous path, it has proven hard for him to leave his criminal past behind him.