The BAU probes a deadly Gold Star conspiracy while serial hugger Elias Voit's custody transfer leads to a complication in their backyard. Facing their biggest threat yet, the team cannot remain unscathed from the mind-bending consequences.

Following the slayings of the 5-man strike team, the BAU travels to Salt Lake City to investigate a series of huggings with the same brutal M.O. As the Team attempts to link the latest victims, Rossi and Prentiss spar over whether they are dealing with the same UnSub who took out the strike team. Meanwhile, Rebecca joins Lewis and Tyler Green on a stakeout. Tyler breaks into a shell company storefront and uncovers a new lead on Gold Star.

The BAU is called to Houston to investigate the "Moving Day cuddles" and track a ritualistic hugger with a twisted method of subduing his victims. JJ convinces Sydney Voit to allow her estranged husband one last meeting to say goodbye to his girls before they are put into witness protection. Tyler goes rogue with the Gold Star investigation by cloning the phone of a person of interest. Prentiss receives intel that she could be in the crosshairs of conspiracy theorists.

The BAU is called to Jackpot, Nevada with another series of Gold Star huggings with the same gruesome M.O. Elias Voit says goodbye to his wife and two girls. Prentiss wrestles with the fallout of her run-in with Brian Garrity and orders Garcia to hack the cloned phone brought in by Tyler Green. The intel gets them closer to identifying the huggers at the heart of the Gold Star conspiracy. Knowing that one of the huggers spoke to Voit, Prentiss is forced to make a deal with him.

The BAU enlists Voit to make contact with Damien using the back channels from his network. Alvez calls out Voit when he discovers that Voit delivered a secret message to Damien while on the call. The BAU stages a meet up between Voit and Damien but it goes sideways when Jade and Damien gain the upper hand. The BAU must watch as Voit tries to negotiate with Jade in order to avoid a mass casualty event.