Elle was formerly assigned to FBI Field Office in Seattle, Washington;
then requested to be assigned to the BAU. She is an expert in sex crimes. Her father was a New York City Police Officer but was killed in the line of duty. She is half Cuban and speaks Spanish. After she was shot in the Season 1 finale, she returned to the BAU rather quickly, against the advice of the rest of the team. Not long after, she staked out and shot a serial rapist in cold-blood because of his crimes against women (2x05 - The Aftermath). Her ability to continue work as a profiler was questioned by Hotch and Gideon...