S4E15 - “Zoe’s Reprise”
We open on David Rossi, giving a book reading. He says: “At the core of these criminals is a need for control. Killing is an act that provided an act of release so sexually satisfying, that they were compelled to complete the fantasy with multiple victims again and again. It is this continuum of violence that we will explore in deviants, the secret desires of serial killers.” And everybody claps!
Cut to after the book reading, and Rossi is so done with his fans. They’re asking him embarrassing questions. He brushes them off and is bombarded by Zoe, who is a young girl with a notebook. Rossi makes the comment: “There’s not going to be a quiz, I saw you taking notes.” And she says: “Oh, no, it’s just for my own education.” She then asks him if anyone is the BAU is investigating the recent spike of homicides in Cleveland. “There’s been an uptick in homicides by 11% this quarter. The average uptick hasn’t surpasses 5% in the past 10 years in Cleveland.” Rossi is like: “I’m guessing that you’re studying criminology.” Zoe goes: “I am. Sir, I think there is a serial killer here.” She tells Rossi that she filed an inquiry downtown and no one has called her back. She says the coroner’s office hasn’t been this busy since the 1930s. Rossi asks for examples, and she lists: a man was shot in a park, a prostitute was found with her throat slashed, a couple was shot in their, and a woman was killed in a burglary.
Rossi asks her what three things profilers look at to link serial crimes. And she responds victimology, modus operandi and signature. He asks: “Were the victims similar” and she says “No” and he says “was the motive consistent” and she says “no” and he says: “was the signature consistent” and she says “not that I know of.” And Rossi is like, it’s not a serial killer. And Rossi says: “You’re bright, you obviously have a passion for this. If you get a reply for the police or even for career advice, I’m available.” And hands her his card. And he says: “Keep studying and don’t stop until you find all the answers you’re looking for.” And he gets in his car and drives off. And she goes: “I won’t.”
Cut to Zoe, she’s just left Rossi’s book signing. She drives to a local crime scene to investigate, just like Rossi told her to do. She literally sees police tape that says “Crime scene- don’t cross” and she crosses it. Also my grandfather once tried to copyright crime scene tape- as if it wasn’t already copyrighted. Anyways, Zoe tries to get into the house at the crime scene, but it’s taped off. She goes into the backyard and snoops around with a flashlight. And suddenly- someone’s there! A sexy guy is suddenly in the backyard, asking her what she’s doing.
Zoe, smart, pulls out pepper spray and demands to know who the sexy guy is. And he’s like, I’m a neighbor, look at these groceries I have, I live right down the street, what are YOU doing here? And she’s like, investigating Kayla James’ murder. And he’s like, all the neighbors are freaking out, can’t believe this is happening on my street. And she’s like, it’s not just you’re street. And he’s like, are you with the police? And she’s like, no, just investigating a few cases. She turns her back to him, and he shuts the fence door behind them and puts his groceries down. And we cut away, knowing full well, that this is the unsub.
Cut to the next day, Rossi is called in by local cops, Detective Dan Brady. Zoe’s body has been found in Kayla James’ yard. She’s been strangled with her own scarf. We learn that Zoe’s full name is Zoe Hawkes. Detective Dan Brady is like, Rossi, what information does the BAU have regarding this case? And Rossi is like, what case? And Detective Dan Brady is like, the resident who lived her was murdered. And Rossi flashes back to the book signing and how he shrugged Zoe off and told her to “Keep studying and don’t stop until you find all the answers you’re looking for.
Rossi calls the BAU, and we learn he was on his annual leave. He sends the BAU the list of cases Zoe had mentioned. He also asks for Zoe’s notebook, which was still in her car. Rossi insists that he go with Detective Dan Brady to notify Zoe’s family that she’s been killed. We meet Sheila Hawkes, Zoe’s mother, who is… distraught. I think this is one of the first times, or maybe even the first time, we see the police actually make the death notification to a family member who didn’t even know their loved one was missing. Mrs. Hawkes tells the BAU that she told Zoe to stop investigating, that it was too dangerous. Mrs. Hawkes tells Rossi: “She was so excited to meet you, you were like a hero to her.”
Rossi looks through Zoe’s room. There’s a Silence of the Lambs poster and lots of crime books. Specifically books written by David Rossi. Also a red laptop with a flower on it. Rossi is, really feeling all the emotions now.
Cut to BAU Headquarters in Quantico, VA. The BAU is on the horn with Rossi, Garcia hacks into Zoe’s computer. Apparently her internet home page is a the Cleveland Crime Column. They also find lots of statistics and data that Zoe has been keeping tabs on.
JJ tells us about the victims:
Travis Bartlett was last seen at a gay bar, he was shot at night in a park.
Lily Nicks, 34 year old prostitute. Her throat was slashed.
June Appleby and Troy Wertsler were shot in their car in a parking lot outside of a movie theater.
-28-year old single woman, Kayla James, killed in her home. She was bound, suffocated with a bag over head, evidence of rape.
Zoe Hawkes.
The BAU later states that there may be additional victims, even before Travis Bartlett, that Zoe didn’t notice.
Reid points out that the victimology, cause of death and signature are all different, so they’re uncertain whether this is serial or not. Prentis does notice that there is a progression of violence with every kill, because they do get more intense as they go along. The team quickly realizes that they’re dealing with a copycat killer. Travis Bartlett murder was a copycat of the Butcher of Kingsbury run, he found his victims in gay bars and shot them and dumped their bodies in the Kingsbury area. Lily Nicks, the sex worker, is a copycat of Jack the Ripper. The couple that was killed in their car was Son of Same. Kayla James was BTK, as she was tortured and killed in her home. And Zoe Hawkes was just, collateral damage? He’s a serial killer, studying other serial killers.
The BAU meet Dave in Cleveland. Rossi asks JJ to help him with something, but asks that it’s confidential. More on that later.
Prentis and Reid talk to Detective Dan Brady about the unsub. Brady asks if the unsub was copying the Butcher of Kingsbury Run, why he didn’t cut up the victims like the original killer did. And Prentis says: “That was seven weeks ago, he was just getting started. Beginning killers are often frightened of the crime itself. They are more interested in getting it over with and fleeing the scene. By the time he killed Kayla James three days ago, he progressed. He came very close to copying BTKs MO.”
The BAU believe that because his MO has changed and he is progressing that the unsub is likely young, maybe even a student. Cut to the unsub sexily eating a twizzler at a hardware store. Picking up tape, a new knife, you know, guy stuff. I would let this man strangle me. Speaking of strangling, the BAU thinks that because Zoe’s murder was unplanned, the unsub did what “came naturally” ie, he really is a strangler.
Back at Cleveland headquarters, we’re doing the profile! But before we do, Rossi asks to step out to get some air. Hotch follows him and finds Rossi sitting on a bench looking down at a picture of Zoe. Rossi feels really, really bad that he ignored Zoe.
PROFILE
There are 6 homicides in a 7-mile radius in east Cleveland. This small zone indicates that he’s a geographically stable offender (whatever the fuck that means)
This type of offender is characterized as young, socially immature, of average intelligence with psychopathic personality traits
They also usually live alone and have an anti social nature
A serial killer’s first murder is very telling, this unsub’s first murder, he chose the MO of Cleveland’s own Butcher of Kingsbury run.
The Butcher isn’t as well know as other famous serial killers, but he is a local legend
Because he picked the Butcher to be first, we believe he is a native of Cleveland and probably grew up hearing stories of the Butcher.
This is someone who is obsessed with serial killers. His computer will be filled with research on them. He’ll have abundant images of murder on is computer and possibly even snuff films. He uses these like pornography, they provide some sort of sexual release.
Cut to the sexy unsub. He attacks a jogger.
Cut to Paula McConnell: Cleveland’s Number One Source of Crime News. The BAU assume that the unsub also feels this way about Paula’s writing. Rossi and JJ ask her to write that the BAU knows what the unsub’s signature is- even though they don’t actually know what it is. They’re like, you gotta do a good job, Paula. And Paula’s like, I know how to write, I’m Cleveland’s Number One Source of Crime News.
Reid and Morgan go to the crime scene of the most recent victim, the jogger. Reid believes that while the murder does closely mimic the Bike path Rapist, because the unsub has strangled two victims in a row, he likes strangling? Girl we ALREADY KNOW!
Cut to the unsub, trying out some strangling at home. He’s got wires and ropes and shit. He’s hot. Whatever. Cut to the unsub reading Paula McConnell’s column?? And he reads that the BAU knows about his signature (which of course they don’t), and we see him flashback to kissing the top of a victim’s forehead, I think it’s Zoe? So that’s his signature? Wish that was me!!!!
Cut to- a funeral home. Mrs. Hawkes is trying to pay for Zoe’s funeral, and she learns it’s been paid for by an anonymous donor. She shows up at the Cleveland Headquarters to scream at Rossi: “I don’t want or need your money. I have taken care of my daughter for 22 years and I don’t want or need any help from you.” And Rossi says: “I’m sorry I offended you.” Right after she leaves, Detective Dan Brady comes in to announce that another body has been found.
Hotch, Reid, and Detective Dan Brady go to the latest crime scene, and it’s a homeless woman who has been strangled. Detective Brady asks which serial killer the unsub is mimicking now, and Reid says: “I don’t think he is mimicking anymore.” The victim is quite dirty, and the scene where she was killed is very dirty, but there seems to be an apparent clean spot on the top of her forehead. Hotch asks the medical tech on the scene to swab the spot on her forehead. And we remember from the flashback, that the unsub always smooches his victims on the top of her heads. And shortly afterwards, the results come back from the homeless woman’s body, and they find that the spot on her forehead has been sanitized and disinfected.
The BAU believe this sanitization must be part of his signature, but all the other bodies have been buried or cremated, so they won’t have the evidence on them. The only body that has not been touched is Zoe’s body. So we have a quick scene or Rossi begging Zoe’s mother to allow them to test her forehead for evidence. And she does relent.
Cut to Rossi sitting… in his hotel room I guess? Reading Zoe’s notebook. We get montages of him flipping through interspersed with her reading things like “March 22nd, couple shot in car, no apparent motive.” Just then Garcia tells Rossi that the lab is basic with Zoe’s test results, and they found saliva on her forehead from where the unsub gave her a smooch. And… it’s a match! The sexy unsub is Eric Ryan Olson, 23, Cleveland Native, he did 2 and ½ years for attempted sexual assault. He was paroled 6 months. When he was in jail, he took independent correspond classes in forensic science and criminology from an out of state school. The BAU storm Eric’s apartment. Rossi is dismayed to find that Eric is also a fan of his books. There are several in his apartment.
Cut to Eric at a bar, eying a waitress who is checking him out as well. The BAU show up shortly thereafter, and find out that the unsub left the bar right after a waitress named Linda Jones left. Cut to the unsub following Linda, stalking her, stopping her in a park. We then see him on top of Linda and start to strangle her. He’s about to have sex with her, when the BAU shows up. Morgan tackles Eric and Prentis rushes in to save Linda. And Linda is like- what the fuck are you doing, that’s my boyfriend!
The BAU bring both Eric and Linda to the police station. And Linda tells Prentis that Eric can’t possibly be the killer, he’s too attractive. Meanwhile, Eric lawyer’s up, but wants to talk to Rossi. Eric’s lawyer is like “Against my council, my client would like to talk to Agent Rossi.” You guys… he’s a fan!! Eric tells Rossi that he’s willing to answer questions on the 8 homicide victims, but asks if Rossi is sure it’s only 8 victims? Rossi is like, we had a feeling that you killed more than 8 people. Eric’s lawyer tells Rossi that Eric wants to negotiate a deal with the BAU, and in return, he’ll tell Rossi about the other victims.
Meanwhile the rest of the BAU is on the other side of the door like FUCK we gotta find something out! Reid goes to Eric’s apartment to investigate, and notices that the only art Eric really has on his wall is a set of framed black and white photos. Reid believes they might be originals.
Prentis asks Linda about her sex life with Eric. And Linda is like “It’s completely normal to experiment with sex. We were just role-playing. Every couple has fantasies.” And Prentis says: “Did you ever think it was strange that your boyfriend has fantasies about strangling and raping women.” And Linda responds: “Not women. Just me.” Prentis then goes: “Did he kiss you on the forehead too?” And Linda is SHOOK!
Rossi asks Eric if he was sick much as a kid, and Eric is like, yeah I got strep all the time, did you just profile that?? And Rossi says: “Well, that’s why I asked if you had been ill much as a child. You see you’re slight, pale, sickly. Most parents, they kiss their children on the forehead to see if their temperature’s warm. Now my theory is that you, somehow in your development, warped that caring gesture into something perverse. So, did you sit next to Zoe, to see if she got cold? Is that why you kissed her?” And Eric says: “That’s a really interesting theory. It’ll make a great chapter in one of your books.”
Cut back to Reid, still at Eric’s apartment, and now he’s looking on Eric’s computer. He found a super secret folder full of black and white photos that seem to be of just nature settings. Reid recognizes three of them from crime scenes, but there are some photos he doesn’t recognize.
Cut back to Cleveland Headquarters. Linda tells Prentis that the only way Eric could get aroused was having sex in public places. Prentis is like GIRL WHERE? And Linda says… the first time was at Kingsbury Park. Then at a movie theater parking lot in her car. Prentis asks if Eric ever took her to the second street bridge and Linda says- yeah. The BAU realizes that Eric is bringing Linda to have sex at the places where he’s murdered people. Hotch rushes into the interrogation room and asks her to write down all the different places she and Eric would go to have sex. And she does it!
Rossi then gets the Outdoor Scenic Sex List, and Hotch tells Eric that the BAU does not have to negotiate with him, because they know his lil secret about banging Linda at his crime scenes. Eric is like “How’d you find out? Is it something that I did?” Rossi says: “You needed to revisit the crime scenes because it was the only way for you to get a gratifying release. But revisiting the scenes wasn’t enough. You had to capture it on film, put it on a computer, display it on your wall, so you could look at it every day.” And Eric says: “I always knew I’d end up back in prison, just a matter of when. You can come interview me if you want. I read in one of your books that’s how you built your behavioral database, right? Maybe you can learn something from me. I got a lot of questions myself. I’ll be honest with you, if you’re honest with me. Cause the one thing that you always ask is the one I don’t understand- why. I have no idea why. I see a guy walking down the street with a stupid look in his face, and I wanna bash him over the head with a bottle. To met that’s normal. It’s weird to me that no one else feels that way. It’s all I think about. I can’t stop.”
Rossi cancels the rest of his book tour. He asks JJ why people want to hear him talk about serial killers. He wonders if it’s doing more harm than good. And JJ says: “My senior year at Georgetown, I was graduating and I did not have a clue what I was gonna do with my life. And one day I was in the campus bookstore and you were there, promoting your second book. I sat through your whole talk. I asked you what it was you were most proud of. And you showed us a picture of a boy from Charleston. He was found alive, one of the few. That night I bought your book. Applied to the Academy the next fall.”
In the last scene, Rossi is visiting Zoe’s grave. He puts flowers on them, and is caught in the act by Ms. Hawkes. And she’s like: “I hear you caught him.” And Rossi says: “We did.” And Ms. Hawkes says: “It doesn’t make me feel better. He’s alive, Zoe’s not. But she’d be pleased that you caught him.” Rossi says: “I hope so” I’M NOT CRYING YOU’RE CRYING!!
Rating Criteria:
Criminal/Serial Killer: 20/20
Character development/ character arcs: 20/20
Forensics/Context: 20/20
Script writing: 20/20
Background characters: 20/20
Overall: 100/100