S2:E9 "The Last Word"

Background: In this episode Gideon, Hotchner, and their team must profile two serial killers in St. Louis, Missouri who are competing to outdo each other.  The "Hollow Man" murders prostitutes in the city and the "Mill Creek Killer"  kills middle-class women and hides them in Miller Creek National Park.

"Mill Creek Killer"

This episode is about two separate cases that are closely connected.  The "Hollow Man" kills his victims by shooting them.  The BAU infers that this means that the killer seeks power, but at the same time keeps his distance from his victims.  He kills to become famous like his "teacher," the "Mill Creek Killer."  The "Mill Creek Killer" couldn't be more different. His victims die of blunt-force trauma suggesting that he wants to be close to his victims.  He then buries his victims in the Miller Creek National Park, which is 1.5 Million Acres of land.  This suggests that he wants to be alone and private with his victims as well.  Both of these serial killers see themselves as artists.

"Hollow Man"

Motivation: Motivation is the process by which activities are started, directed, and continued so that physical or psychological needs or wants are met. The motivation of these two serial killers couldn't be farther from the same. The "Hollow Man" is motivated by external factors (in search of power), where the "Mill Creek Killer" is internally motivated (emotionally).  Internal motivation, also known as intrinsic motivation, is a type of motivation on which a person performs an action because the act itself is rewarding or satisfying in some internal manner. External motivation, also known as extrinsic motivation, is a type of motivation in which a person performs an action because it leads to an outcome that is separate from or external to the person.


From this episode, it seems to me that the "Mill Creek Killer" was in search of an emotional connection with a woman that he had previously lost.  All of the women that he killed had similar traits, such as brown hair.  He would lure them in publicly and hide them in the National Forest.  He would later go back to the bodies.  He would comb their hair and put lipstick on their lips as if they were still alive. He has one sick mind.

The "Hollow Man" on the other-hand, was killing prostitutes.  He may have chosen prostitutes, figuring that they were lowlifes and not important to society.  While watching this episode it seemed that the BAU team made a huge effort for this case especially, to prove that even though someone is a prostitute, they are still human and all humans are important.  Anyways, the "Hollow Man" killed in search of fame.  He saw the Newspaper headlines about the "Mill Creek Killer" and wanted to be recognized too.  When he was not recognized he would go on killing sprees. That to me is one messed up mind.