[s13e7] Dust And Bones Apr 2026

The unsub subdues victims using venom from an Eastern Brown Snake , which incapacitates them without killing them.

From snake-venom abductions to the extreme world of body modification, here’s our breakdown of the episode that gave every viewer a serious case of the "heebie-jeebies."

While the case was the main course, "Dust and Bones" gave us some fantastic character moments: [S13E7] Dust and Bones

According to fan reviews on IMDb and Reddit , this episode is polarizing. Many viewers found the tongue-splitting scene so visceral they had to look away. Critics noted that while the atmosphere was top-notch, the resolution felt slightly rushed, with Desi meeting a quick end in a "suicide by cop" scenario after charging Simmons with a scalpel.

The BAU is called to Austin when a series of prominent women are found drugged and disfigured. The unsub’s signature is impossible to ignore: victims are left with their faces intricately sliced—resembling a form of scarification—and a white plastic mask placed beside them. The unsub subdues victims using venom from an

The BAU identifies the mask as a symbol for peeling away the "fake" public personas of the victims to reveal the "monster" underneath. The Unsub: Desi Gutierrez

Did you have to look away during the tongue-splitting scene, or are you team "Classic Criminal Minds"? Let us know in the comments! Criminal Minds Season 13 Episode 7 Review: Dust and Bones Critics noted that while the atmosphere was top-notch,

In a refreshing twist, the unsub is revealed to be a woman, (played by Doris Morgado). Desi’s rage is fueled by a deep-seated "mother wound." Her mother, Laura, a successful realtor, was physically and emotionally abusive, famously locking Desi in a shed with snakes as a child.