The BAU discovers Samantha was the victim of horrific abuse by her father, Dr. Arthur Malcolm. He molested her and other patients, giving her dolls as "gifts" after each assault and using electroshock therapy to repress her memories and keep her silent.
" The Uncanny Valley " (Season 5, Episode 12) of Criminal Minds is widely considered one of the series' most unsettling yet heartbreaking episodes. It explores the tragic case of Samantha Malcolm, an "unsub" who abducts petite women and uses paralyzing drugs to transform them into living dolls, recreating a childhood doll collection she lost years prior. [S5E12] The Uncanny Valley
The episode features a notable performance by Jonathan Frakes (of Star Trek fame) as the predatory Dr. Malcolm, and a chillingly moving performance by Jennifer Hasty as Samantha. S5E12 - “The Uncanny Valley” The BAU discovers Samantha was the victim of
The team identifies the unsub as a "collector" with a deep-seated psychopathology, likely stemming from damage to the pre-frontal cortex that prevents her from distinguishing between living beings and objects. " The Uncanny Valley " (Season 5, Episode