Ceremony of Innocence

what happens

One of Sam's first profiles resulted in a man being sentenced to death. Ten years later when the man is about to be executed, murders begin happening that match the m.o. of the prior killings. Ballistics evidence proves the same gun was used for all the crimes. Sam, feeling culpable for what might have been a deadly mistake, reopens the investigation. Evidence leads to a lowly bicycle courier who is mortally wounded when he resists arrest. Once the dying man is in custody, the death row inmate is released from prison. Though a wrong seem to have been righted, Sam still feels something is amiss. A chess set is found in the prisoner's cell helps her to realize that the whole thing was an elaborate ruse. The man originally convicted was indeed the first killer. The second killer was only a pawn doing his bidding. Sam, Bailey, and the team re-arrest the now pardoned killer at the hospital bed of his wounded puppet, just as he attempts to kill the only loose end in his elaborate plan.

guest cast

Billed for this episode only — the turn people remember an episode for.

• Alonzo Bodden as Guard #2
• Richard Beymer as Martin Fizer
• Gary Anthony Williams as Father Earl Stevens
• Tegan West as Seth
• Mary Beth Fisher as Carla
• Dan Gerrity
• Alberto Vazquez as Hector Lopez
• CChris Paul Davis as Guard #1