Grissom investigates when a worker at a poultry processing plant is found dead in a stun bath used to electrocute chickens before they are slaughtered. Nearby, a miniature replica of the crime scene is discovered. It's eerily similar to two other replicas left at scenes of homicides. Also, a man and a dead woman are found stuck in cement at a construction site; and an elderly Russian woman is discovered dead in her apartment with her head in a gas stove, but Warrick thinks she was murdered.

Once he unseals a package sent to him through the mail, Grissom is floored when he finds a miniature crime scene inside. The finding is entirely more perplexing since the successive killer accountable for earlier related miniature crimes is now deceased. Grissom plows to examine the miniature and discover the actual location, when the investigation makes it clear the murder showed has yet to happen, but is probably going to happen soon.

As the CSI's continue their search for and discover the identity of the "Miniature Killer", Grissom and Sara's relationship gets exposed to the rest of the team as she goes missing during the investigation. The "Miniature Killer" is finally captured, but not before a member of CSI becomes the killer's final victim.