The eighteenth season of Criminal Minds was announced on June 5, 2024, and began filming in August 2024.[1][2] Season 18 serves as a renewal ("third season") of Criminal Minds: Evolution, the title of the continuation of Criminal Minds after its revival in 2022.[3]
The season premiered on May 8, 2025, and consisted of ten episodes.
Cast
The eighteenth season of Criminal Minds will see the return of every main character from the seventeenth season, including the multi-season suspect Elias Voit.
In January 2024, Josh Stewart announced that he would not return to the show after first appearing as William LaMontagne Jr. in the second season of the show in 2007.[4] Showrunner Erica Messer revealed that the final scene featuring Stewart's character was shot "several seasons ago, long before Stewart's decision to exit the show."[5] Stewart was not credited in episodes 2 and 3 for his appearances.
Many fans have been anticipating and pushing for the return of Spencer Reid, an original character of the series played by Matthew Gray Gubler who last appeared in the fifteenth season. The showrunner, Erica Messer, along with Gubler have both emphasized a willingness for Spencer Reid to return, yet it is unclear if and when that may occur due to scheduling conflicts.[1] He was confirmed to reprise his role in one episode of this season, and returned in the third episode, "Time to Say Goodbye".[6]Aimee Garcia recurred throughout the season as Dr. Julia Ochoa.[7]
When a body washes up on shore in Ocean City, Maryland, the BAU investigates it and four other drowning murders on the East Shore. Rossi is questioned over the prison attack that left Voit comatose.
Voit wakes up from his coma, seemingly with severe amnesia. A dormant member of the Sicarius network, known by "The Zookeeper", reappears with another victim held captive.
The team mourns LaMontagne following his death from an aneurysm. Alvez and Green visit Ramona Havener, Voit's only known survivor, to see if they can find a way to unlock his memory.
348
4
"I'm Fine, It's Fine. Everything Is Fine"
Anthony Vietro
Jayne A. Archer
May29,2025(2025-05-29)
The team investigates a pair of murders in Tucson, Arizona believed to be connected to organ trafficking. JJ discovers a video posted on the former BAU-gate website that shows a masked member of Voit's network.
JJ assists Dr. Ochoa in helping Voit deal with his troubled past, and informs him that a follower received a message from an unknown person who seems to be uniting the surviving members of Voit's killer network.
350
6
"Hell Is Empty..."
Jackeline Tejada
Charles Dewey
June12,2025(2025-06-12)
The BAU enlists Voit's help to find a Warrenton, Virginia member of the Sicarius network who buries his victims alive. Federal prosecutor and Rebecca's ex Evan Delray arrives to investigate another unsub's suicide.
Voit works with the BAU to stop a pair of network unsubs who are killing victims and attempting to get Voit to revert to his murderous ways. The team also learns Evan Delray has been appointed as Voit's liaison.
Having been shot the previous episode, Tara experiences visions of her late mother while undergoing surgery. The other members of the BAU search for her shooter and the network's new head, dubbed The Disciple.
A network unsub, the Engineer, kidnaps a young boy and sends him to the BAU with a message. Voit's behavior puts the investigation at risk of failure, but both he and the BAU are unaware the Engineer is working at the hospital Voit is in.
The Disciple and the Engineer kidnap Voit and Ochoa and attempt to have Voit return to his murderous ways. The BAU works to locate and apprehend them as well as shut the Sicarius network down for good.
Release
The season premiered on May 8, 2025, and consisted of ten episodes.[11]
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