Criminal Minds2005

Dr. Spencer Reid:
The wounds on the thigh show hesitation marks. An unsub this experienced wouldn't display that.

Derek Morgan:
I don't think the unsub did. The angle indicates left-handed dominance. The file says this guy was left-handed, too.

Dr. Spencer Reid:
You know, if he'd been given trilamide, the unsub could have forced him to cut himself. It makes sense for a sadist with abandonment issues, but wouldn't he finish the job?

Derek Morgan:
The victim must have gotten a chance to escape and took it.

Dr. Spencer Reid:
But how? The trilamide kept him compliant enough to hurt himself. It overcame his self-preservation instinct.

Derek Morgan:
Well, then another instinct must have been stronger.

Dr. Spencer Reid:
Like what?

Derek Morgan:
A protective one. This guy was mentally and physically compromised, but he still went after the unsub with everything he had.

Dr. Spencer Reid:
Who would he fight that hard for?

[cut to Morgan on the phone with Garcia]

Derek Morgan:
A child, Garcia. Search nationwide missing persons reports for men traveling with their kids.

Penelope Garcia:
Am I looking for a son or daughter?

Derek Morgan:
We don't know yet.

Penelope Garcia:
No, no, I'm sorry, honey. No dice. Hey, what if they're not reported as missing yet?

Derek Morgan:
Yeah, of course not. When the unsub met them, they were starting over. All right, baby girl, new deal. USPS changes of address notices, people moving into Florida and South Carolina.

Penelope Garcia:
Done.

Derek Morgan:
All right, eliminate women, wives, couples. Narrow it down to men only.

Penelope Garcia:
So... so we're thinking divorced dad here, right?

Derek Morgan:
Yeah, but not just any divorced dad. This guy wants as much distance between his son and his ex-wife as possible. So look for custody disputes, injunctions, allegations. The messier, the better, Garcia.