When an innocent family of four is abducted while vacationing in Barbados, Hotch and Cruz enlist the assistance of the FBI's most elite team in handling international cases. They realize that this situation closely resembles a case that the BAU once handled in Florida. Upon this discovery, the BAU contacts Jack Garrett, (Gary Sinise) the unit chief of the team with whom they will be working. The BAU will need to pool together their skills with Garrett's elite team in hopes to save this family. This will serve as the backdoor-pilot episode for the new spin-off, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.

When a member of the BAU gets in trouble in Mexico, they enlist the help of the International Response Team.

In the wake of a devastating attack, the BAU works with former International Response Team member Matthew Simmons to save one of their own from escaped serial killer Peter Lewis.

Following the final incident with Scratch, the team has been taking a mandatory break to decompress. In addition, Reid has gone through his reinstatement evaluation, he who has been conditionally reinstated without the possibility of negotiation on that condition. In their time off, there has been a backlog of cases. However, they depart to Naples, Florida on a case of some currency, as a female has just been discovered murdered, her body stuffed into an old suitcase and placed in a public location. She is the second victim, the first as of yet an unidentifiable Jane Doe whose body had decomposed beyond a state of visual identification. By the time the team lands in Naples, a third victim is discovered. Beyond the suitcase in a public locale, the other similarities between the two identified victims is gender, that they were strangled, and that the same old fashioned shade of lipstick had been smeared on their mouth area. The lipstick and the suitcases indicate that there is some vintage aspect to the unsub's psyche, and that a probable stressor is being abandoned by a female, probably the unsub's mother when he was a child. They also discover that both women were in the process of a romantic evening, friends who can attest that they were careful women not prone to reckless dating. JJ surmises that the unsub is able to lure his victims unwittingly using a Florence Nightingale complex, in that they are attracted to some "broken" aspect to his personality. It isn't until the first victim is identified that a tie between all three victims is discovered. By that time, the team believes that the unsub probably has an ultimate victim in mind, who they have to discover before she becomes an actual victim. In the process of the case, Reid will demonstrate, at least in this case, if the evaluation committee was correct in their concerns about him.

The BAU team members head to Detroit, Michigan where two men in two weeks have been discovered dead. Both were married, Caucasian, mildly successful professionals. Both were found in very public places hanging by a meat hook, naked and their private parts cut off pre-mortem. The authorities eventually receive a snuff movie of the second victim, Curtis Wyler, including the entire time it took him to bleed out to death. The team analyzes the video in order to find any clues as to the unsub's whereabouts. Garcia discovers that both men had been systematically withdrawing large sums of money from their bank accounts, small enough not to be questioned by the banks. In questioning the Wyler's wife, the team believes that both men were probably using the money for the services of an escort. What Garcia finds is that it is not an escort service, but rather an online dating site, Blue Siren, where members arrange their own meetings. Both victims had been involved with the same member, a woman with the online handle Dasha, who had recently discontinued her membership. The team is able to locate Dasha, who admits to her involvement with the victims, but does not know why anyone would want to kill them. She is concerned that the unsub may be after her. The unsub is after her, but not in the way that she anticipates.

The BAU investigates a workplace shooting committed by a state-of-the-art drone in Silicon Valley.

When Garcia experiences anxiety over a case that's personal to her from her past, Morgan visits to lend emotional support.

The BAU must find out what several missing women have in common to find them.

The team heads to Austin, Texas, where two women are abducted and disfigured, only to be located a day later with no recollection of what happened to them. A third emerges shortly after the team's arrival in Austin.

The BAU is called in to investigate when a criminal sensationalizes his crimes by giving the local media exclusive footage.

The BAU is called to investigate when two members of a conspiracy group in Roswell, N.M., perish in quick succession.

When a series of backyard pool homicides are reported in California, the BAU team searches for an UnSub with a puzzling past.

The BAU team's investigation into the home invasion and attempted homicide of a police chief's wife uncovers a world of secrets in a small town in Virginia.

The BAU is called to New York when several brutal casualties are reported in Central Park.

The BAU is called to investigate a series of D.C. homicides where cryptic messages are found inside the mouths of each victim.

The BAU is called when the New Orleans P.D. discovers a mass grave inside a vandalized above-ground crypt in a local cemetery.

The FBI's assistant director of national security, Linda Barnes, joins the BAU as they investigate a quadruple homicide of a group of roommates in St. Louis.

Away from the watchful eye of the FBI's assistant director of national security, Linda Barnes, the BAU meets in secret to investigate an UnSub who appears to be kidnapping and photographing young women.

The BAU is called to Oklahoma to investigate a murderous clown terrorizing the sleepy town of Guymon.

The BAU travels to Chicago to investigate an unsub who leaves red roses on each victim. Also, Rossi gets an unexpected visit from his ex-wife, Krystall Richards.

The BAU takes charge of a hostage situation at a law firm in D.C., where Matt Simmons' wife, Kristy, works.

The BAU is called to investigate a series of deaths in Virginia suspected by the Center for Disease Control to be caused by bio-terrorism; Garcia visits her stepbrother to take care of a family issue.

The BAU is called to Taos, N.M. to investigate an UnSub who is targeting his victims' temporal lobes.

When Reid discovers former FBI Special Agent Owen Quinn locked inside a storage unit, the BAU questions the credibility of Quinn's bizarre accounts of searching for an UnSub that he named "The Strangler".

Penelope is the victim of an abduction.

When the mummified remains of numerous victims are found in the walls of an elderly couple's remote South Carolina home, Rossi, J.J., and Simmons are dispatched to track down a trail of clues that date back over 20 years. The hunt becomes urgent after BAU learns the killer has a specific ritual of when to strike, and like clockwork another person goes missing. Also, Rossi reconnects with his ex-wife, Krystall.

The BAU must determine what connects six people that each received a mysterious package in order to identify the Unsub. Also, Simmons and his wife Kristy must deal with their son, who got suspended from school.

Soon after the BAU steps in to help local law enforcement isolate a prime suspect for a ritualistic murder in Tallahassee, Fla., a second person who is related to the first victim is killed under similar circumstances. Also, Prentiss is concerned about Garcia's behavior in the aftermath of her abduction and has an idea of how to help with the healing process.

The BAU investigates a spooky local ghost story of the "Tall Man" and the clues it provides when two people go missing in the woods of East Allegheny's Dead Man's Conservatory, and a third mysteriously surfaces the following day with limited details as to what happened to her friends. To assist with the case, JJ reluctantly returns to her hometown, triggering emotional flashbacks to age 11 and her older sister's tragic death.

The BAU heads to Bethesda, Md., to investigate four murders in the span of three days along the eastern seaboard. The crimes become personal for Alvez, when the team discovers there are ties to his time spent five years ago working alongside the DEA and the Mexican police force in pursuit of the most notorious hitman in Mexico. Also, Alvez and his girlfriend, Lisa, decide to move in together.

It's a race against the clock for the BAU to capture the vigilantes behind a series of attacks taking place every 27 minutes in the nation's capital. Prentiss and Unit Chief Andrew Mendoza lead the effort to identify the Unsubs and what's motivating them.

The BAU investigates a double homicide and kidnapping in New Hampshire. Also, Rossi's plans to elevate his relationship with Krystall don't go as planned.

A professor from Lewis' past tips off the BAU to an alarming number of overdose deaths of patients who just completed rehab.

Prentiss plans a first date with Mendoza but the evening is cut short. Prentiss faces her past when the team investigates murders of businessmen who have had their hearts taken.

The BAU team heads to Portland, Ore., to investigate a chilling abduction that may be linked to a local couple killed in their home a week earlier.

Prentiss and the BAU team fly to Iowa to investigate the disappearance of three 10-year-old children who appear to have been abducted from their homes in the middle of the night, with surveillance video from a neighborhood park as their only lead to finding the children's whereabouts.

Rossi questions his actions in the aftermath of a near-death struggle with a serial killer who appears to have outsmarted the BAU.

The BAU leads the investigation into a string of murders taking place in supposedly haunted houses in Lewiston, Maine.

Wedding bells are ringing as Rossi prepares to marry Krystall. But first, the BAU team travels to Los Angeles to investigate a series of fatal shootings in broad daylight following car accidents.

The team search for multiple serial killers. One who removes women's faces and another who cuts up men's torsos. J.J. and Spencer are still reeling after her admission. J.J.'s life is put in danger.

JJ is in the hospital clinging to life having been seriously wounded in Everett Lynch and his daughter Grace Lynch's successful escape from custody. Besides Will, Reid is standing vigil at the hospital, he who is angry at himself for not realizing sooner that JJ was in trouble. If JJ doesn't make it, Reid will not only lose arguably his best friend, but he and she will not have been able to clear the air about the strain that has existed between the two of them since their previous case. Reid is also torn in two different directions emotionally as he is called by the facility where he recently moved his mother, they wanting him to come right away. With the Lynches, the team knows they they have disrupted Everett's plans - he a highly organized man - and thus Everett and Grace will be working on the fly. The team believes they have to find any connection that either Everett and/or Grace would have in the DC area for that support they need, including financial, to go off the grid. If Prentiss is able to speak to JJ about the shooting, they may get another piece to what is happening with Everett and Grace. Also working for them is the fact that they still have Roberta in custody, who, despite being a criminal in her own right, would probably want to protect Grace at all cost, perhaps even at Everett's expense.

The BAU investigates seemingly random fatal explosions throughout Kentucky and Tennessee.

The members of the BAU enjoy a Saturday off in vastly different ways. While Rossi and Prentiss help Simmons assemble a new crib, Garcia leads a hacking competition, and Dr. Reid strikes up a conversation with a woman named Maxine

Following a series of fatal shootings, the BAU team travels to Des Plaines, Ill to investigate what appears to be a copycat serial killer. There efforts are thrown off track when members of the BAU are targeted.

After a father and daughter get kidnapped, a former foe of the BAU returns with very specific demands for Dr. Reid that give a whole new meaning to the phrase "wheels up".

When the BAU team travels to Denver to investigate several murders, Prentiss is forced to evaluate her relationship with Special Agent Andrew Mendoza (Stephen Bishop).

Prentiss and J.J. decide about their future as the BAU goes to Beaumont, Texas, to investigate a series of killed businessmen.

It has been a year since Rossi nearly died at the hands of Everett Lynch, a.k.a. "The Chameleon," and he has developed some new theories, with inspiration from his former partner, Jason Gideon. The BAU team sets out on an epic hunt to capture Lynch.

Series Finale. Following an explosive face-to-face encounter with Everett Lynch, Dr. Reid suffers from a brain injury and, while experiencing hallucinations, is visited by ghosts from his past. Also, the BAU makes a shocking discovery about Lynch that affects Rossi personally, and the entire BAU team comes together to celebrate Rossi's retirement.

The BAU takes charge of a hostage situation at a law firm in D.C., where Matt Simmons' wife, Kristy, works.

Following a series of fatal shootings, the BAU team travels to Des Plaines, Ill to investigate what appears to be a copycat serial killer. There efforts are thrown off track when members of the BAU are targeted.

The BAU investigates seemingly random fatal explosions throughout Kentucky and Tennessee.

When a series of backyard pool homicides are reported in California, the BAU team searches for an UnSub with a puzzling past.

The BAU must determine what connects six people that each received a mysterious package in order to identify the Unsub. Also, Simmons and his wife Kristy must deal with their son, who got suspended from school.

The BAU team members head to Detroit, Michigan where two men in two weeks have been discovered dead. Both were married, Caucasian, mildly successful professionals. Both were found in very public places hanging by a meat hook, naked and their private parts cut off pre-mortem. The authorities eventually receive a snuff movie of the second victim, Curtis Wyler, including the entire time it took him to bleed out to death. The team analyzes the video in order to find any clues as to the unsub's whereabouts. Garcia discovers that both men had been systematically withdrawing large sums of money from their bank accounts, small enough not to be questioned by the banks. In questioning the Wyler's wife, the team believes that both men were probably using the money for the services of an escort. What Garcia finds is that it is not an escort service, but rather an online dating site, Blue Siren, where members arrange their own meetings. Both victims had been involved with the same member, a woman with the online handle Dasha, who had recently discontinued her membership. The team is able to locate Dasha, who admits to her involvement with the victims, but does not know why anyone would want to kill them. She is concerned that the unsub may be after her. The unsub is after her, but not in the way that she anticipates.

The team heads to Austin, Texas, where two women are abducted and disfigured, only to be located a day later with no recollection of what happened to them. A third emerges shortly after the team's arrival in Austin.

When an innocent family of four is abducted while vacationing in Barbados, Hotch and Cruz enlist the assistance of the FBI's most elite team in handling international cases. They realize that this situation closely resembles a case that the BAU once handled in Florida. Upon this discovery, the BAU contacts Jack Garrett, (Gary Sinise) the unit chief of the team with whom they will be working. The BAU will need to pool together their skills with Garrett's elite team in hopes to save this family. This will serve as the backdoor-pilot episode for the new spin-off, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.

Soon after the BAU steps in to help local law enforcement isolate a prime suspect for a ritualistic murder in Tallahassee, Fla., a second person who is related to the first victim is killed under similar circumstances. Also, Prentiss is concerned about Garcia's behavior in the aftermath of her abduction and has an idea of how to help with the healing process.

The members of the BAU enjoy a Saturday off in vastly different ways. While Rossi and Prentiss help Simmons assemble a new crib, Garcia leads a hacking competition, and Dr. Reid strikes up a conversation with a woman named Maxine