‘Criminal Minds’ Season 12 Spoilers: Joe Mantegna’s Daughter Returns As Lindsey Vaughn In Episodes 20 And 21

Well, this is unexpected. “Criminal Minds” series star Joe Mantegna’s daughter Gia is returning to the CBS show in Season 12, episodes 20 and 21. Gia played a girl named Lindsey Vaughn in Season 3, episode 12, titled “3^rd Life,” of the series.

In that episode, Lindsey and her father Jack (Fredric Lehne) were part of a witness protection program. Jack was a former hitman of a corporation for several years. He agreed to testify against the corporation which resulted in him and his daughter entering the witness protection program.

In “3^rd Life,” Lindsey and her friend Katie get kidnapped by a man hired by this corporation. The kidnapper kills Katie. In the end, Jack and Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) locate the kidnapper and rescue Lindsey. However, Jack shoots the kidnapper. Instead of going to jail, the invaluable witness and his daughter are sent to Atlanta to restart their life.

So, what is Lindsey doing in “Criminal Minds” Season 12, years after we last saw her?

READ: Check out photos of the “Criminal Minds” cast goofing around on set.

TVLine quizzed the series’ showrunner, Erica Messer, on Gia Mantegna’s return. Messer was caught off-guard with the question and said, “That’s a bit of a spoiler.” Then, she chose to remain tight-lipped on the subject.

Episode 20, which premieres Wednesday, April 26, revolves around a case in which several government employees, including a close friend of Stephen Walker’s (Damon Gupton), succumb to symptoms of a heart attack. The Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) is called to investigate the case while Reid anxiously awaits his trial date.

Moreover, many fans were left wondering if Mr. Scratch (Bodi Elfman) will feature in “Criminal Minds” now since Reid remembered that he actually killed that doctor in Mexico. Is the show done with the mind-altering murderer? “No, I would not rule Scratch out,” Messer revealed. In fact, Peter Lewis will remain an important factor until the last frames of the season finale.

“Criminal Minds” returns on Wednesday, April 26 at 9 p.m. EDT on CBS.