'Criminal Minds: Evolution' Boss on Not a 'Dry Eye' After Killing Off a Fan-Favorite Character
As if there isn't enough grief on Criminal Minds: Evolution, in Episode 2 of Season 19, which premiered today, there's another death of a fan-favorite character. Last season saw the loss of JJ's (A.J. Cook) husband Will (Josh Stewart) and this season, it's the death of Luke Alvez's (Adam Rodriguez) beloved Belgian Shepherd Roxy.
For many, the loss of a human and a dog aren't equated, but viewers have to take into account how special Roxy was to Luke. She saved his life when he was at a mental crossroads trying to adapt to civilian life, and her death from a tumor resulted in his coming home to an empty house.
"It was a devastating character loss for sure," showrunner Erica Messer exclusively told Parade. "It really kicks off a great season for Adam, and a different kind of loss than what JJ had the year before. I think it's a universal loss. Any of us who have lost pets, we can all immediately go back to what that was for us when that happened. There was not a dry eye in the read through. Everybody was crying. It was really sad."
As someone who watches television and is constantly yelling at the screen, "not the dog," it was clear from the first moment that Luke appeared at the cemetery and flashed back to speaking with the doctor – who turned out to be a vet – that it was going to be his beloved canine.
The episode, written by longtime Criminal Minds staffer Breen Frazier did tie in Roxy's death with the case of the week in which the unsub also had suffered from a brain tumor and it was Luke's experience with Roxy that sent him on the right track in locating the unsub.
Roxy was introduced in Season 12 and we saw Luke take Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) to task when she tried to give Roxy treats because he had her on a special diet, trying to give her the healthiest life possible.
"I'll tell you at the beginning of the next season, we're putting the pressure on him to get a new dog," Messer added. "Season 19, he remains in mourning for Roxy, which also feels like that happens. But we all here behind the scenes want a puppy on set. So, we're like, ‘how can we do it?'"
Criminal Minds: Evolution began streaming new episodes today exclusively on Paramount+, with new episodes dropping each Thursday through the season finale on July 23. There are 10 episodes this season.
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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 3:42 PM.