<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> ← Previous Season 5 Next → Season 7 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> List of Criminal Minds episodes </Td> </Tr> <P> The sixth season of Criminal Minds premiered on CBS on September 22, 2010 and ended May 18, 2011 . </P> <P> Before the filming of the season began, it was announced that A.J. Cook had been let go from the series, reportedly due to budget cuts on the show relating to the launch of the Criminal Minds spinoff . Thanks to letters and petitions by fans, Cook was allowed to return for two episodes to wrap up her character's storyline . She later returned as a special guest star in two subsequent episodes of this season . Paget Brewster was a regular for eighteen episodes and was let go from the series as well . Rachel Nichols appeared as a guest star for two episodes and was then promoted as a regular, but was fired after the season finale . </P>

Who dies in season 6 episode 2 of criminal minds