Joseph Svenson

"The town demanded blood for blood."

- Mr. Svenson to Archie and Veronica

Joseph Svenson (born Joseph Conway) was a recurring character on Riverdale. He was portrayed by Cameron McDonald.

He was the janitor at Riverdale High School, and notably the only survivor of the Conway family massacre forty years ago by the hands of the Riverdale Reaper. He was subsequently killed by Sheriff Keller and revealed to be the Black Hood, the serial killer who was terrorizing Riverdale. With Joseph being the last remaining member of the Conway Family, the Conway bloodline ended with his death.

Early Life
Joseph Conway grew up in Riverdale where his family lived in Fox Forest, where the Conway House use to be. He grew up with two other siblings, a brother and a sister, along with his parents. On night, his families home was intruded, by the Riverdale Reaper, who came into his home and killed his entire family. Joseph, was the only member of the family who survived that unfaithful night, where he snuck out of his bedroom window, later running outside, as he stayed and watched from afar as his family was murdered.

After news of his family's murder spread, Joseph identified the Reaper to a group of towns people, one of which was Betty Cooper's grandfather, who then took the law into their own hands by executing the alleged killer in Pickens Park. Soon thereafter, Joseph was placed into the Sisters of Quiet Mercy group home, where he lived for an unknown period of time. While there, he received a surprise visit from the same group of men, who executed the Reaper. However, this time they were joined by a woman with striking white hair, save for a cherry-red stripe, later to be identified as Rose Blossom. During his time with the Sisters, Joseph admitted that in his terror and shock, he may have accused the wrong man of killing his family. At the time, the Sheriff was Sheriff Howard, who was investigating the Conway's families case. It wasn't long after, Joseph was adopted, where he had to change his last name for his own safety, as he continued to remain a resident of Riverdale, where he lived with his adoptive family, while he attended Riverdale High.

Season 2
In "Chapter Twenty: Tales from the Darkside", Josie McCoy was practicing in a music room late after school hours, but she was interrupted by Mr. Svenson. He said was about to lock up, asking Josie if she'll be fine by herself, presumably so that he knows she regularly stays late after school to practice on her music. He reassured her, telling her to not inform Principal Weatherbee or "he'll have my head."

Josie was receiving disturbing letters and gifts from a deluded obsessor, declaring their love for her in an unsettling manner. After Josie went on a date with Chuck Clayton, her friend Cheryl Blossom suggested that he could be the mystery person, more so because he had stated he had began taking art classes, and Josie's obsessor sent her a detailed drawing of her. Josie and Cheryl claimed that Chuck was the one sending her all of the gifts and letters, and so Mr. Svenson forcefully removed the boy from Josie's sight.

Archie Andrews and Veronica Lodge were researching and finding facts on a serial killer that loomed over Riverdale forty years ago, known as the "Riverdale Reaper". He broke into a house that was at the edge of Fox Forest. In there lived the Conway family. The Reaper shot Jim and Mary Ellen Conway dead, as well as their two children. However, Archie and Veronica discovered that there was a third child that survived, finding his initials to be "J.C.", along with a photo of the surviving child. After looking through photos from over the years in Riverdale High, they found a boy that looked the exact same, and underneath his name was said to be "Joseph Svenson".

They realized that the janitor, Mr. Svenson, was the child. They went to confront him and he ran off in terror, but was pinned against a locker by Archie who wanted answers. They suspected that he could possibly be the current Riverdale serial killer, wanting revenge and blaming the town for what happened to his family. Mr. Svenson revealed that he heard gunshots the night of the massacre and that he escaped through his bedroom window, later seeing the Reaper leave covered in his family's blood. The next day, a group of men took Joseph to the motel the Reaper was apparently staying at because he was "a con man, a preacher passing through town."

He pointed the gunman out. The group of men took the Riverdale Reaper away and killed him in revenge, claiming it to be "justice". Joseph Conway later changed his name to Joseph Svenson to hide his identity. Veronica accused Mr. Svenson of being the Black Hood, but Archie disproved it due to having seen the Black Hood's eyes, describing them to be green.