‘Criminal Minds’ Season 12 Latest Spoilers: Episode 1 Featured Hotchner Going After Mr. Scratch; Hotchner Soon To Exit BAU?

"Criminal Minds" Season 12 premiere episode saw Thomas Gibson as Aaron Hotchner who lead his BAU team to chase after  Mr. Scratch (Bodhi Elfman). However, there is apparently no hint yet as to how Hotchner will exit "Criminal Minds" Season 12.

Hotchner was seen going after "The Crimson King" who turned out to be Mr. Scratch in "Criminal Minds" Season 12. The sadistic serial killer brainwashed a group of dissociative men with identity disorders to kill. The premiere ended with Hotchner looking at a photo of Mr. Scratch and quoted a line from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. He said  "The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their bones," Digital Spy reported.

Meanwhile, the first episode of "Criminal Minds" Season 12 gave out no clues on how Hotchner will leave his BAU team. Even CBS has not officially confirmed how they plan to write off Gibson's character in the show. However, TV Line previously reported that Gibson's final appearance on "Criminal Minds" will be the second episode of Season 12. Hotchner is said to temporarily leave his BAU duties for an important mission.

Since Gibson is reportedly dismissed from "Criminal Minds" Season 12, his temporary mission turns out to be permanent in real case. Previous reports claimed that Gibson will only stay until "Criminal Minds" Season 12 Episode 2 as his physical altercation with the show's writer that apparently caused his dismissal happened on the set of its second episode.

"Criminal Minds" Season 12 also welcomed its new cast, Adam Rodriguez. Rodriguez is the new head of the Fugitive Task Force. CBS will air "Criminal Minds" Season 12 Episode 2 on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 9 p.m. EDT.

Watch "Criminal Minds" Season 12  Episode 1 "The Crimson King" teaser below.