<P> When she returned, a case involving a serial rapist affected her deeply, to the point that she panicked during an undercover operation, an action that prevented the team from obtaining probable cause to hold the assailant in custody . Upon seeing the suspect leaving the station Greenaway accused Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner of getting her shot . While her colleagues slept, Greenaway stalked the suspect . After over reacting to a comment she shot and murdered the alleged rapist in cold blood as he was walking away . Lying and claiming that he had drawn a gun on her first, Greenaway with the help of the local agent was ruled by local authorities to have acted in self - defense, although her BAU colleagues clearly thought otherwise . </P> <P> Reid, in particular, blamed himself for not having seen the signs of her impending breakdown and prevented the shooting, because on a previous night, he had dropped by her room to check on her and saw that she was drinking . </P> <P> A short time after the shooting--during the episode "The Boogeyman"--Greenaway resigned from the BAU . Handing in her badge and gun to Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner, she told him that she wasn't admitting guilt and added that if she had to do everything again, she wouldn't change a thing . </P> <P> With her getting fired, Elle left the BAU permanently, got away with the crime and was eventually replaced by Emily Prentiss . </P>

Does elle die in criminal minds season 1