23 Heartbreaking "Criminal Minds" Moments That Actually Tore My Heart To Shreds

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We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which scenes from Criminal Minds never fail to make them cry. Here's what they said:

Warning: There are major Criminal Minds spoilers ahead. 

Some entries also contain topics of sexual assault, drug addiction, and suicide.

1.When Reid thought he was going to die after being exposed to anthrax and he asked Garcia to record a message so he could say goodbye to his mother.

Screenshot from "Criminal Minds"

2.When JJ tried to save kids from burning alive inside a warehouse fire, but she could only save one. Later on, she tells Will that she chose to save the little boy first because he reminded her of their son.

Screenshot from "Criminal Minds"

"Absolutely heartbreaking."

cescamac

Where to find the episode: Season 12, Episode 2, "Sick Day"

CBS

3.When three girls were abducted and were told the only way they could see their families again was if one of them was sacrificed.

Screenshot from "Criminal Minds"

Suggested by: sondere

Where to find the episode: Season 2, Episode 7, "North Mammon"

CBS

4.When JJ and Hotch told the rest of the team that Emily died in surgery.

JJ telling the team "she never made it off the table" and the rest of the team are shocked

"I sobbed so hard. Like. A. Baby."

carolinelee7185

Where to find the episode: Season 6, Episode 18, "Lauren"

CBS

5.When Spencer gets sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit.

An inmate asks Spencer what he's in for and he replies, "I'm innocent." He gets his mugshot taken

Suggested by: Lauren Garafano

Where to find the episode: Season 12, Episode 15, "Alpha Male"

CBS

6.When a woman who's wrongfully sentenced to death begs Gideon to let her go through with it because she'd rather die than ruin her son's life.

Screenshots from "Criminal Minds"

Suggested by: littleweirdo222

Where to find the episode: Season 1, Episode 14, "Riding the Lightning"

CBS

7.When Emily listened to Garcia's voicemail begging her to come home.

Garcia begging Emily to stay safe and come back home over a voicemail

"That one gets me every time."

stella93

Where to find the episode: Season 6, Episode 18, "Lauren"

CBS

8.When Will felt guilty for letting hostages die during a bank robbery, so he entered the building and got shot. Meanwhile, JJ had to be held back from running in and getting herself hurt, too.

Screenshots from "Criminal Minds"

Suggested by: samiw404c6984a

Where to find the episode: Season 7, Episode 24, "Run"

CBS

9.When Kristy stopped Matt from killing the man who held her hostage, and they finally reunited after he thought she was dead.

Matt nearly strangling the kidnapper but Kristy running in and yelling at him to stop. He stops and they embrace

Suggested by: Tessa Fahey

Where to find the episode: Season 13, Episode 19, "Ex Parte"

CBS

10.When Derek said goodbye to Reid, and he revealed that he named his newborn son after him.

Derek telling Spencer he's sorry he can't stay, but Spencer telling him he understands why he has to leave and he's so happy for Morgan and his new baby

11.When Garcia forgave and helped set free the man who killed her parents while drunk driving.

Garcia telling a judge that her parents death was the hardest day of her life, but she also was always taught to forgive. She says that mourning their lives won't bring back her parents, and neither will keeping their killer in jail

Suggested by: mslm90

Where to find the episode: Season 13, Episode 20, "All You Can Eat"

CBS

12.When Hotch's ex-wife Haley was killed just as the FBI was on their way to save her, and the entire team listened to it happen over the phone.

Screenshots from "Criminal Minds"

13.And then, when his son Jack was found alive because Hotch taught him how to "work the case" and hide from danger.

Screenshot from "Criminal Minds"

Suggested by: theck713

Where to find the episode: Season 5, Episode 9, "100"

CBS

14.When Garcia was shot by a man she went on a date with and was rushed to the hospital.

Screenshots from "Criminal Minds"

15.When a woman, who was held hostage for years, finally gets freed only to be killed by a different serial killer, who was posing as Agent Gideon.

Screenshots from "Criminal Minds"

16.When a boy named Stephen, who'd been abducted years before, was killed for protecting a little girl, then his parents realized that if the kids had been rescued a day earlier, Stephen would've still been alive, too.

Screenshots from "Criminal Minds"

17.When JJ finally learned that before her sister Roslyn died by suicide, she was sexually assaulted by her teacher. She also realized that the necklace Roslyn gave her was actually meant to protect her against Roslyn's abuser.

JJ having a flashback of a conversation with her sister Roslyn. Roslyn gives JJ a necklace and tells her that it'll protect her from the Tall Man

18.When Tara's ex-husband finally admitted that she saved his life and that he'd always love her.

Tara's ex-husband telling her that she was the one who made him get help for his addiction. She saved his life

Suggested by: Taylor Owens

Where to find the episode: Season 14, Episode 9, "Broken Wing"

CBS

19.When the BAU found out that Gideon was murdered.

The BAU arrives at Gideon's house and Garcia asks "Are you sure?" and Hotch confirms "It's Gideon.

20.When JJ and Spencer were being held hostage at gunpoint, and she admitted that she "always loved" him.

JJ admitting to Spencer that she's in love with him while they were both being held hostage

Suggested by: laurend45cad4394

Where to find the episode: Season 14, Episode 15, "Truth or Dare"

CBS

21.When Morgan finally confronted his childhood abuser, Carl Buford, after finding out Carl was still assaulting kids.

Screenshots from "Criminal Minds"

22.When Spencer finally met the love of his life in person, only to watch her get killed in front of him.

Screenshots from "Criminal Minds"

23.And finally, when the BAU gang had their last dinner together before going their separate ways.

Garcia toasting to the rest of the BAU as they have their last drink together as a team

"I sobbed for days."

maddiec4dbdcafdc

Where to find the episode: Season 15, Episode 10, "And in the End"

CBS

We obviously couldn't include them all, but in the comments, tell us which other Criminal Minds scenes made you sob uncontrollably.

Submissions were edited for length and clarity.