‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5 Ending, Explained

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Season 5 of Only Murders in the Building revealed who killed the doorman, Lester (Teddy Coluca), and uncovered the truth about his relationship with Nicky (Bobby Cannavale) before he died. The investigation proved to be complex, with several red herrings and surprising twists that ultimately explained everything.

Okay, so while some viewers might have had a hunch about the killer, it definitely wasn’t who everyone thought it would be – a real surprise! And honestly, the way the mystery unfolded was just brilliantly crafted storytelling. But the biggest twist? The latest victim strongly hints that Season 6 is going to get personal, and it looks like our detectives will be heading to Europe to solve it. I’m already hooked!

How Nicky Really Died in ‘Only Murders’ Season 5


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In the ninth episode, titled “LESTR,” the video from L.E.S.T.R. (voiced by Paul Rudd) strongly suggests Lester struck Nicky in the head with a wrench after finally losing patience and deciding to reveal everything. The evidence seems clear when Lester desperately pleads with Randall (Jermaine Fowler) to plant a severed finger in the shrimp served at Oliver’s (Martin Short) wedding, all while clutching a bloody wrench. However, the video doesn’t actually show that’s what happened.

During a poker game, Nicky discovered compromising photos of his wife, Sofia, and her lover on his phone. To make matters worse, the man himself walked into the casino and asked Nicky for a drink—two fingers of whiskey. Fueled by drugs and rage, Nicky snapped and, instead of serving a drink, violently severed the man’s finger with a knife right at the card table.

Lester attempts to calm things down and, surprisingly, confronts Nicky for the first time. However, Nicky is high on drugs, unsteady on his feet, and acting erratically while holding a knife. Lester reveals a ledger detailing Nicky’s criminal actions, threatening to hand it over to the police. He’s reached his limit. In response, Nicky tears a page from the ledger and eats it, showing his contempt for the book and Lester’s threat.

During a struggle, Nicky stumbled and fell onto Lester, accidentally stabbing him in the chest with the knife he was holding. Nicky died instantly, leaving everyone shocked. While it initially seemed like Lester intentionally killed Nicky, it appears to have been a tragic accident. Lester then fled the scene, taking the severed finger with him, and now the person who lost the finger wants it returned.

Lester Died Because of the Finger


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In a fitting end, Lester died because of the same finger that Oliver found in his shrimp at the beginning of the story. He’d grabbed it, hoping to use it as leverage against a very powerful and corrupt man – someone involved in the shady dealings at the Arconia, and possibly even more crooked than Nicky. That man turned out to be Mayor Beau Tillman (Keegan-Michael Key).

It turned out that whenever these three billionaires needed a favor from the city – like a permit or license – they’d invite Mayor Tillman to a game and deliberately let him win a lot of money. Soon after, their request would somehow be approved. This time, they’d invited him to play for the casino permit. As usual, Nicky was present, but this time, he was aware of their scheme.

After Nicky’s death and Lester’s escape with the finger, Mayor Tillman pursued him relentlessly. Tillman understood that this single piece of evidence could destroy his reputation and end his career. Lester taunted him, saying Tillman would have to kill him on camera to stop him. However, Tillman pointed out that Bash controlled the security cameras and could easily manipulate or erase the footage.

This inspired Lester to reach for his bird whistle. He desperately tried texting Lorraine, realizing he was likely in danger. He attempted to type “It’s Beau Tillman,” but his phone changed it to “It’s Beautiful.” A similar autocorrected message from Howard alerted Mabel that Mayor Tillman was heading to the casino, helping her identify the killer. She then slammed a cleaver onto Tillman’s finger, exposing it as a fake – a prosthetic. He’d been caught.

We see a memory of Mayor Tillman pursuing Lester until they reach the fountain. Lester fumbles and drops a bird whistle into the water, leaning in to retrieve it. Mayor Tillman shoves him, causing Lester to hit his head on the fountain. As Lester lies dying, he manages to grab the whistle and blow it, a moment captured on camera. This activates the bird camera, ensuring Lorraine and Vince will see the footage after he’s gone.

Captures and Confessions in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5


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Even though Mayor Tillman confessed to killing Lester, he’s calm. He had corrupt police officers seize the group’s phones and lock them in a hidden stairwell. The building is scheduled for demolition to make way for Camila’s (Renée Zellweger) new casino, and they’ll be buried with it, as no one knows they’re still inside.

Charles, using his skills in magic and escape (and even cleverly climbing for a coat hanger to pick a lock), is helping the group break free. Meanwhile, Althea distracts everyone with a spontaneous performance of her popular song after a sanitation worker discovers the thrown phones and warns Howard that something’s amiss. Just as it seems impossible, the trio escapes and announces that Mayor Tillman is guilty, playing a recording of his confession as proof. As Tillman tries to flee, Vince unleashes a flock of birds – a poetic comeuppance for the bird enthusiast Lester.

Jay Pflug also reveals a secret, hoping Mabel will see him in a better light. While the wealthy suspects didn’t commit the murder of Lester, they were involved in the cover-up of both killings. After Nicky was murdered – a crime they all witnessed – Mayor Tillman promised the casino permit to whoever retrieved the missing finger. Driven by their ambition to get the casino and their penchant for games, they attempted to find it. Jay’s initial plan was to pretend his finger was missing, hoping the person who actually had it would believe him.

Mayor Tillman instructed them to handle the body. They removed it from the casino using a paint tarp belonging to Camila, which is why white paint was found on his suit. Bash kept the body in his cryochamber for a week to avoid raising suspicion if both bodies were discovered simultaneously, explaining the freezer burn behind Nicky’s ear. Then, Jay lifted Nicky’s body onto the dry-cleaning line, and they likely contacted corrupt police officers to ensure the body was found and the murder was attributed to a competing gang. Jay admitted all of this, not only to Mabel but also to the police, leading to the arrests of Jay, Bash, and Camila. Now that Camila is gone, the casino is closed, and the Arconia is safe.

Loose Ends and a New Murder Victim


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Now that the mystery was solved and everyone could grieve for Lester, it was time for a fresh start. Sofia used the money she earned from selling the finger – which her mother-in-law and sons retrieved from Charles’s refrigerator – to finally take the trip to Positano Nicky had long promised. She confessed her feelings for Charles, but he surprisingly turned her down, realizing she was too much trouble. Sofia also sent Lorraine a generous sum of money, a gesture of sympathy from one widow to another.

Three months have passed, and new residents are moving in, which Howard is enjoying as the building’s unofficial welcome committee. He’s also begun a relationship with one of the Caccimelio brothers. To mark their five-year friendship, the three of them are revisiting how it all began: by listening to a podcast by Cinda Canning (Tina Fey).

The story centers around a young woman with curly red hair in the U.K. who is the main suspect in a royal murder. Cinda believes she’s innocent and tries to help her escape to America for safety. While a podcast about the case plays, we see a woman matching her description running through New York City. She reaches the Arconia building, collapses, and is found by Howard, who calls the police. The others are stunned by the sight.

Howard isn’t focused on the woman’s well-being; he’s worried about whether her death technically happened outside the building. If so, her case wouldn’t be relevant to the podcast. As they argue about the details, the woman briefly regains consciousness and manages to reach out and grip the gate, officially placing her inside the building. When she turns over, they realize it’s Cinda. Or is it really her?

The podcast’s story raises a big question: could this new person be Cinda’s twin, or perhaps a look-alike from Europe? All possibilities are open. For now, the main characters still have a lot of investigating to do, both locally and in London. The Arconia building itself isn’t going anywhere, and it’s strangely become a place people go to for safety when they’re in trouble. It’s up to the podcasters to solve this murder and bring the killer to justice. Watch Only Murders in the Building on Hulu.

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2025-10-28 22:22