S5E16 - “Mosely Lane”
We open to an outdoor festival of sorts, in Ashburn, VA. there are pony rides, food, a Ferris wheel. We see a family – parents and a young girl talking about the ponies. Its that bitch from grey anatomy. But all the fun ends when we hear a mother screaming for her daughter Lindsey. While the mother turns to look after the lady screaming, she turns and her daughter Aimee is now also missing – uh oh! And a single balloon soars into the sky.
Hotch and Rossi approach the mother – Mrs. Lynch to investigate. Back at the BAU JJ briefs the team – Aimee Lynch was taken an hour ago from a winter festival in Ashburn. Her mother Barbara was right next to her when it happened, but it is a temporary gathering with little security, so it is not super shocking that no one saw anything. Odds are they only have 22 hours to find her, so they do be rushing. We see Aimee being carried away into a dark room.
A strange lady comes into the BAU and asks Prentis to talk to JJ. Prentis tells JJ, and JJ sighs and is like “has she been drinking?” to which Prentis is like “yeah?” and JJ shares that this is Sarah Hillridge who lost her son Charlie 8 years ago, and is claiming that the same person who took her son is the one who took Aimee. So Sarah thinks her son is still alive, and she always stays with them the first 22 hours. JJ goes to meet with her, and makes nice with her. We learn that Sarah’s husband got remarried and took their daughter with them. The mother has a theory about sexual attraction, and prepubescence and gender. So it sounds like she may have a theory about the abductors MO. she also points out that it has now been 8 years since her son went missing.
We now see Aimee in a dark bedroom. There are letters and birds and shit o n the walls, and the only source of real light is a hole in the wall. She looks through it and someone behind it whispers to her. The voice is kind to hear and asks for her name, but before she can respond the voice of a woman bursts in, yells, and starts beating the other kid.
Back at the BAU Prentis tells JJ that Aimee’s mother was distracted by another woman calling for her daughter and she is blaming herself for looking away. This seems to surprise JJ, and she is like “wait. Sarah – Sarah said the same thing when Charlie was taken. There was a mother searching for her lost son.” – this is very specific. Maybe the woman was a distraction, and someone else took Aimee. So if this is the same group of people, they have had like a decade to practice this.
Now we see an older lady cleaning and taking care of the corpse of a young kid? She puts it in a box and lights it on fire. She is cremating the body.
Now we see Morgan and Reid meeting with Aimee’s father. Her father is like, really grumpy? Like he doesn’t seem super concerned? He’s dejected because she has been gone for over 24 hours. Aimee’s mother arrives in time for her to hear that since this abduction seems to have been meticulously planned, it is likely that whoever it was that took her is planning on keeping her. And she’s like…”for what?” Reid answers by saying that the thing to focus on is that if they are keeping her, it means she is still alive. Reid says that nothing would have stopped them from taking Aimee, to which Frank – the father – is like, “yeah, well, I never would’ve let go of her hand” – WHAT A DICK.
Now we see EVAN PETERS. He approaches Aimee – well kind of creeps up on her – and says that they want to call her Allison. She explains that that is not her name, and he’s like okay, so what is your name? And she says she’s not supposed to talk to strangers. However, he drops the bomb now, saying he is not a stranger, he is her brother, and they call him David. She tells him that her name is Aimee, and he’s an artsy boy so he takes a polaroid photo of her.
Back at the BAU, they have meeting. There are hundreds of people around looking, draining ponds, etc, but they don’t think that is how they will find Aimee. Morgan questions JJ about why she suddenly believes Sarah – thinking her son may still be alive – and he’s like “do you think its because you’re a mother?” and JJ is like “it’s – it’s because another woman just walked in here with the same rouse?” ???
So Prentis jumps in to clear the tension and talks about how this isn’t a ruse, it is a signature – and guys she is not a mother. Hotch points out that Charlie would now be 16, however preferential predators usually dispose of their victims before puberty, so maybe he serves another purpose? (Aimee did mention him being the one who took her?). Apparently Sarah said the unsub was “slight” so she is keeping him under her thumb and he is entirely submissive to her now – so yeah, he must be helping in some way. And this could also explain why his body was never found.
Back with Aimee and Charlie, he enters her room and tells her that they are home – he tells her to do what they say, because it will make it easier. The adults kick him out, and then they very eerily find her under the bed, where Aimee is hiding. She says she wants to go home, and they are like “you are home Allison”.
JJ goes to visit Sarah, and walks into her home – Sarah has the TV news on, which is covering Aimee’s abduction. JJ walks through the house looking for Sarah, and sees that Sarah never touched Charlie’s room after he was taken. This is SAD. Sarah finds JJ, and she is drinking whiskey and smoking. JJ tells her that she thinks it is the same people who took Aimee and Charlie – and Sarah is very moved by it, saying she wants to show her something.
Garcia does some research; we learn that Aimee was taken from Ashburn, and Charlie from Leesburg. Both within a half mile of the highway. We learn that there were others – Karla Hartway, abducted in 1999, age 8 from Garrisonville, Stephen Shepard, Abducted in 2003, also 8, from Arlington, Danny Kenman, abducted June 12th at 4:00 from the mall, parents divorced, and he is still missing. Sarah is showing JJ a whole wall of maps, flowers, and children, all of whom were abducted. JJ tells her to stop drinking, and she can totally help them then, which she promises she can do.
We cut and now Prentis and Hotch are visiting the crime scene. They suspect that someone may have grabbed her and had her face tucked into the abductor's chest. So it was three – one yelling, one grabbing, and one driving. The biggest question is – how do they keep the children hidden.
Now JJ introduces Sarah to Hotch. JJ presents all of Sarah’s research to the rest of the team; showing the different abduction sites – malls, theme parks, parades – all places where families should feel safe, despite there not being loads of security. There were 12 children taken over 10 years, and Hotch believes they should interview them all if possible. Thankfully Sarah knows some of them already because of a support group. She then tells them that she also believes she saw Charlie a couple years ago – at first it was normal, but then she saw a teenage Charlie across the street. She called out for him, but a truck came by and when it drove by they were gone. And that was the day her husband left her. No one believed her.
The parent of the other missing children arrive. They talk to Stephen’s parents. He had been abducted at a toy store. He has been gone for 7 years – he would be 15 now. Stephen’s father believes Sarah is crazy, since they knew her from a support group. Morgan defends Sarah, but then quickly moves on to learning more about Stephens abduction. Turns out it was the exact same ruse that was used on Charlie and Aimee. They start to get hopeful believing that Stephen could be alive.
Now we see Aimee and the other girl. She tells Aimee that there are four of them, and the others are in a better place. Now we see Aimee’s mother, and she tells Garcia that she is upset because she let go of Aimee’s hand.
So we sort of get a profile?
11 families have confirmed the same thing
40-50 year old woman calling for children, in some cases she even has had a child with her
We don’t believe she is a mother
Most predisposed female offenders are not, but they are the most violent
She is working with a subservient male; but she separates herself from her partners, she chooses the victim while they do the riskiest part – they grab the child and manage the getaway.
Charlie is likely the one managing the getaway – because he either has Stockholm or he is being threatened.
They are likely in an isolated home
Then Aimee’s mother realizes she recognizes Charlie because he was there at the winter festival. She yells at Sarah, and it gets tense. JJ tells her not to feel bad because Charlie is just trying to survive.
We see Aimee getting her hair brushed by the other girl, and Aimee asks her to stay with her. The other girl says okay, just for a minute, and they crawl in bed together, but very soon the Parents come in and take the other girl away. The mother comes into the room and has a super fucking creepy smile. She sits on the bed and pats the space next to her for Aimee to join her. This is honestly the creepiest thing I’ve ever seen on criminal minds.
Next Garcia joins the rest of the team saying there have been 107 families visited by social services in the last year, which is obviously way too many to go door to door with; they need to narrow it down and figure out why specifically they are staying in Northern VA. The team deliberates and thinks maybe it could have to do with their work; maybe they have a child-care facility and that is kind of the cover for them. Reid brings up that it is probably a single income family since someone would have to be at home with the kids. Hotch also says they have been questioned before, so they will probably have very rehearsed responses. With all of that criteria as a filter, Garcia is able to narrow the list to 23. Morgan points out that they do not have a warrant, so if they knock on the door and get it wrong, that family will then destroy any evidence they have, including the children. Hotch “fixes” this dilemma by asking for an article of Aimee’s clothing to use for the dogs.
We see Aimee’s mother approach Sarah, and is like “8 years?”. They talk a moment, and Aimee’s mother kind of thanks Sarah saying if she hadn’t believe for 8 years that he was still out there then none of them would be there.
Now we see as the BAU makes their rounds to the different families on their list. Finally, Prentis speaks to the Father, who plays off as a very…innocent? Man? Morgan notices a photograph of all the missing children in their home. Morgan and Prentis comment on how quiet the house is given the amount of children, and the father says that his wife has taken them out. Prentis asks if she took them to the Winter Festival, and he seems a little stunned/off put by the question, and he’s like, no, but that’s a wonderful idea- I’ll mention it to my wife. Prentis asks if the kids take after his wife, and he’s like “some say they do. How can I help you?” Morgan says how they were hoping to see the wife and kids, and as we hear the fathers answers, the camera pans down to the basement where the mother is sitting with her hand over Aimee’s mouth whispering for her to stay quiet and if she makes a sound she’ll kill her mom.
Evan Peters and the other Kid approach and we see the mother drug Sarah with some sort of syringe.
Upstairs, Prentis excuses herself and steps outside, and the Father says he could “get her back here” referring tot he wife, and Morgan is like, great, how about you call her.
Outside Prentis calls Hotch and says that only the father – Roger Roycewood is there, and they are on Mosely Lane. Prentis says this place matches the profile; lots of property, a minivan, extra locks on the doors, and a photo of a boy who looks a lot like Charlie. However, Roger is without a doubt already onto them. Hotch tells them to get the warrant and the dogs and the rest of the team is on their way.
Roger tells Morgan “voicemail again” and suggests that they come back later, however Morgan is like, yeah you know that’s not happening. We see the Mother sneak out of the basement?? With the kids. Aimee is asleep in Evan Peters’ arms, and we watch as they all drive away in a hearse. Again, the music slaps.
The rest of the BAU rolls up to the home, and Roger is quaking in his lil pink tie. Morgan is like, we also have ground penetrating radar, so we will find where you buried them, to which Roger is like “will that hurt the roses?” Morgan is like ??? and roger is like “the radar?” priorities man. JJ and Rossi explore the basement, and realize there is a security camera on the front door. JJ realizes that one of the bookshelves is a hidden door to the rest of the basement.
We now see the Mother and the kids at a crematorium. She throws the belongings of the kids into the chamber, and we see it all begin to burn. JJ finds all the polaroid pictures that Charlie took, and she realizes that he took all the photographs for proof, since there are no photos of him.
Garcia is researching the Roycewoods, and she sees that all of their taxes, employment, etc, is legit. Roger is an electrician and has been for forever, however the mother seems to be unemployed. However, Garcia looks into her more – Anita Weld Roycewood – and sees that her family owns a funeral home in Leesburg, which is less than 10 minutes away. Garcia is horrified, because this is the perfect way to hid children – and in a million ways as well, hearses, coffins, vans, etc. especially, since there is a crematorium, they don’t have to bury coffins.
We see Anita preparing to put more in the crematorium, and she asks Charlie to put Aimee in a makeshift coffin? The other girl realizes what is about to happen, and starts to have a meltdown. Anita goes to comfort/hurt the other girl, and she resists. While this happens, Charlie grabs a gun from Anita’s purse, points it at her and says “let her go!” to which Anita is like “You gotta be kidding –” but before she can even finish, he shoots her straight in the chest, and she falls. Charlie grabs Aimee who has already kind of woken up, and Morgan and Prentis enter.
Back at the house, they get a call saying it is time to arrest Roger, but before they can do so, they realize he has hanged himself in the bathroom.
Back at the PO the parents are anxiously awaiting. Sarah tells Reid she is a bit terrified, especially since Charlie might not remember her. Reid assures her that since Charlie was 8 when he was taken, he will probably be okay. He also says this is as close to a miracle as he has ever seen.
Stephen’s parents arrive, as well as Charlie’s father. And then he kids arrive, we see Sarah and Charlie reunited, and we see Aimee and the other girl reunited as well. Charlie approach’s Stephen’s parents and say “I knew Stephen, he was like a brother to me
“Did he remember us?”
“You didn’t doubt that, did you? Remembering you was the only way we survived.”
The father asks “How old was Stephen when – when he died?”
And Charlie says “He died protecting that little girl”, and he points towards Aimee.
And there is the money line – the one I see quoted on reddit literally all the time “He was alive yesterday?”
And it is just so sad. Sarah comes to thank the BAU, and thanks them for believing in her. And we end the episode with a quote form what happens to actually be my favorite Emily Dickinson quote:
“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without words
And never stops at all”
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