MAJOR spoilers for Season 3 of Only Murders in the Building are ahead! Read with caution!
It’s time to put on our detective hats and grab a magnifying glass and our podcast gear, so we’re ready to figure out who killed Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd) in Season 3 of Only Murders in the Building. The critically acclaimed whodunnit starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez is back, and this time we have some massive guest stars, including Meryl Streep and the aforementioned Rudd. This season, the original trio and these A-listers set out to put on Oliver’s (Martin Short) play Death Rattle, until their star is murdered, seemingly dies on stage, and the mystery begins.
So, as this exciting and star-studded season plays out, I’ll be picking apart the clues, and compiling a suspect list that breaks down who could have done it right here on CinemaBlend.
Note: Suspects are listed in order of most likely to least likely.
The Late In The Game Suspect We've Been Looking For: Donna (Linda Emond)
Death Rattle Dazzle’s producer Donna may be the classic late-in-the-game Only Murder suspect we've been looking for. During episode 8 of the show, the producer made a very suspicious comment while re-applying red lipstick (which was the color the "fucking pig" sign from earlier episodes was written in). While speaking to Loretta, she said:
It's quite a big swing we've taken with this show, trying to save it. I don't know that I would have hung on if it weren't for Cliff. His first show. As a mother, you can't help it. You spend your whole life looking out for your child. It never stops. And you'll do anything to make sure they're OK.
Based on the track record of murderer reveals in this show, they typically come late and out of left field. So, while we don't have much evidence, considering this comment was said toward the end of the season, and Donna implied that she'd do "anything" for her son, it seems likely that she could have killed Ben.
In Episode 9, we learned that Death Rattle was lambasted, and Ben's performance was pointed out as the low point. With that in mind, the trio starts to believe that Donna killed Ben to get rid of the weakest link in the show so her son succeeds.
This leads them to the courthouse to present their evidence during Loretta's hearing, and they find her there, watching the proceeding. Sketchy, right?
Prime Suspect: Dickie (Jeremy Shamos)
Isn’t it a little suspicious that Ben’s brother is still working near the production? If my brother had just been killed, I think I’d want to get as far away from the place(s) he died as possible.
In Episode 7 we got some really solid motive when it was revealed that CoBro was allegedly Dickie's idea not Ben's. We also learned that he has a blood-stained hankey that could very well be what the trio is looking for. Therefore, it seems like Ben Glenroy's brother and Loretta's biological son (which he doesn't know) should be considered a prime suspect.
Along with the motive to pull off this murder, Dickie also revealed to Loretta that when Ben came back after the first murder attempt he felt "trapped" again. With that in mind, it's possible that Ben's brother is the one who pushed him down the elevator.
In Episode 9, Dickie fell down the suspect list, because it was revealed that he spent the night outside the Snitches Get Stitches shop in the CoBro costume, giving him a solid alibi.
The Suspect We Haven't Investigated: Cliff (Wesley Taylor)
Admittedly, there's no solid evidence that points to Cliff, other than his mother's place as our current prime suspect. However, the show hasn't really investigated the first-time producer yet, and it's possible, that if his mom poisoned Ben, he pushed him down the elevator.
This late in the game, Cliff is one of the only people connected to the musical that we haven't looked into, and for that reason, we should be suspicious.
Was Prime Suspect No. 1, But Things Changed: Loretta Durkin (Meryl Streep)
From the jump, I had a random feeling Meryl Streep’s character Loretta Durkin might be behind the murder of Ben Glenroy. This is simply because I thought it’d be amusing if the most famous actress in the cast played the character behind the season’s mystery. However, based on the first seven episodes, I think Loretta is legitimately a prime suspect.
But, then, in episode 8, when pressure was high, the cops thought her son, Dickie, did it. That pushed her to confess to the murder of Ben. And for that reason, I don't think she did it, or she at least didn't do all of it.
With that being said though, let's go over all the reasons why Loretta might be the killer.
Right at the beginning of episode one we already have reason to be suspicious because as Loretta finished her audition, and Oliver praised her, Charles was narrating and he said:
When you finally do land your dream, your moment in that spotlight. How far would you go to hang onto it?
Then, she became confirmed suspect No. 1 after Ben came back to life after being revived at the hospital, and called her a “fellow snake.” Once he left, Loretta departed the party shortly after, and she told Mabel while walking out of the apartment:
Ben may be back, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a fucking asshole.
Not long after Ben Glenroy fell into the elevator, definitely dead this time, and while we don’t know who did it, Loretta seems to have a motive and no alibi.
Cut to Episode 5, it’s been a minute since we’ve gotten an update from Loretta. However, this episode was a doozy! First, she called Ben a “fucking pig,” which was exactly what was written on the mirror. Second, she admitted that she snapped and got into a fight with him, and said “he was an asshole to everybody.” And third, Oliver finds a very suspicious scrapbook in her apartment that has a bunch of clips about Ben Glenroy…and there’s for sure something fishy about that.
However, despite the evidence, this all feels a bit too obvious, and her confession has really thrown me for a loop.
It’s 100% Possible: Kimber (Ashley Park)
Episode 3 of Only Murders in the Building focused primarily on the hankies that were gifted to the cast on opening night. One of them was found on Ben when he died, and Charles and Mabel realize whoever is missing their gift could be the primary suspect. This is why Kimber, the gorgeous supporting actress and TikTok influencer is now someone we need to keep an eye on, because she is missing her rattle-patterned handkerchief.
When we realize this, Park’s voiceover comes in and she says maybe the most suspicious line of dialogue in the episode:
But if one person is shining a little brighter than others, sometimes you can’t help it. It’s a competitive business. You may need to snuff them out.
Along with all this suspicious behavior, we also learned that Ben apologized to Kimber the night he died. This shows that they have a history, and therefore Kimber has a possible motive. Adding to this, in Episode 4, we find out she is a TikTok influencer who sells anti-aging serum, and she wanted Ben to endorse it. That serum could have been the weapon of the first attempted murder…
However, it’s later revealed that Park’s character didn’t lose her hankey, she allegedly sold it. Also, she revealed that Ben had a red mark on his face, and someone went into his dressing room to cover it up. That person is probably the one who wrote “fucking pig” on the mirror, not necessarily Kimber. However, she’s still a suspect.
I’m A Little Suss: Tobert (Jesse Williams)
There’s not much to this theory yet, other than Tobert was going to Ben’s apartment at the same time Mabel was to get back a camera Ben had on the night he died. Was he trying to get rid of evidence? Or use it for a story? He claims it’s because he’s making a movie about Paul Rudd’s character, and he wants to help solve the mystery, however, I’m not 100% buying it.
Clearly, there are vibes between Tobert and Mabel, and I’d prefer for Selena Gomez’s character to make it through one season without having a partner related to the crime. However, only time will tell.
Highly Unlikely, But Not Impossible: Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin)
I know this is highly unlikely, but everyone needs to be considered. We learn in the first episode that Charles and Ben really don’t like each other. Then in Episode 2, it’s revealed that Steve Martin’s character fired Ben Glenroy from Brazzos when he was a little kid, and Charles didn’t remember it. Then Paul Rudd’s character said he wanted to make Death Rattle “hell” for the man behind Brazzos, so this tension is why one of our main characters is on this suspect list.
Everyone Is A Suspect: Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez)
I know this is far-fetched and highly unlikely, but Selena Gomez’s Mabel was pretty desperate to get the podcast back up and running. She also is moving out of the building soon, and immediately clocked that Ben probably died of poison the first time. So, while it’s likely not her, everyone is a suspect.
Questions To Think About Going Into The Next Episode
- Mabel and Charles think the killer is someone in Ben’s show, who could it be?
- Why did Loretta confess to the murder of Ben Glenroy?
- Did Dickie actually create CoBro?
- Did one person poison Ben, and did a totally different character push him down the elevator?
As Season 3 continues, and I keep squinting at clue boards and dissecting episodes, I’ll be sure to keep you up to date on who could have killed Ben Glenroy on Only Murders in the Building. To keep up with the show yourself, you can stream the 2023 TV schedule entry with a Hulu subscription every Tuesday.
