Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 12 recap: Who killed Kai?

Chicago P.D. continues to come up with new cases in every episode that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. The NBC police procedural drama revolves around the police officers of the fictional 21st District in Chicago.

The latest episode, The Good Shepherd, was aired on February 5, 2025, and featured another gripping case. The episode focused on Officer Dante Torres as he investigated the death of a 15-year-old boy named Kai Anderson.

The officer found out Kai had escaped from a juvenile facility before his death. As he investigated the facility, a sinister plot was uncovered. Here is the complete Chicago P.D. season 12 episode 12 recap.

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Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 12 recap: What happened to Kai?

In Chicago P.D. season 12 episode 12, Kai Anderson was found dead by Officer Torres in a garage. His body showed signs of a severe beating. He had escaped from the Maron Juvenile Detention Center and was already badly hurt when he ran away.

The fact that no one at the facility noticed his injuries before he disappeared made it clear that something was being hidden. Torres, who had spent time at Maron, knew the place was known for its strict rules. This made it even stranger that a teenager could escape the facility without anyone noticing.

As the investigation went on, it became obvious that Kai was running for his life. The evidence showed that someone inside Maron had beaten him badly, and by the time he reached the garage, his internal injuries had aggravated, which caused his death.

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Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 12 recap: What was going on at the prison?

Maron held a dark secret as a sex trafficking ring was being operated inside the facility. The real power in the prison was not with the guards or the people in charge. Instead, it was with an inmate named Art Cervantes.

Art had also been caught in a cycle of abuse. After being a victim for years, he made a deal with his abuser, CO Collins, to help groom and hand over other boys in exchange for his own safety.

When Kai tried to escape, he had already been beaten and abused by Collins. The fact that no one raised the alarm about his disappearance proved that the people in charge were either involved or too scared to speak up.

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Chicago P.D. Season 12 Episode 12 recap: How did Torres solve the case?

Torres knew the only way to get the truth was to go undercover as a guard. Since he had already stayed at Maron, he knew how to handle the place. However, returning to the facility brought back some traumatic memories to the officer. The sound of alarms and feeling trapped overwhelmed him.

Despite the internal struggle, Torres stayed focused on his mission. He saw Art hiding a cell phone and used it to uncover the operation. The phone had evidence that Art had been trafficking boys, but it also showed that Collins was the real leader.

When Torres confronted Art, he found out that Kai’s roommate, Tommy, had been taken to the basement. There was a bed and a camera setup in the basement, which suggested something terrible was going on.

When Torres found Tommy, the boy was too scared to talk. The officer then went to Collins’ home to confront him. When the abuser took out a gun, Torres had to shoot and kill him. This marked the end of Collins’ gruesome activities at Maron.

The facility then went through a huge overhaul and several staff members were fired to ensure a safe space for the inmates. Meanwhile, Torres felt the case was personal for him.

He observed how Art looked like his younger version, as both had a cross tattooed on their necks. While Torres took down the abusive man, the trauma from what he saw and what he lived through in the past continued to haunt him.

Chicago P.D. season 12 airs new episodes on NBC on Wednesdays.