Presumed Innocent Season 1 returned for one last time and has once again left the audience in shock after its unanticipated ending. The Apple TV series recently premiered its finale, finally revealing the identity of Carolyn Polhemus’ killer. With twists and turns at every corner, we see the murder trial near its end as Rusty’s fate hangs in the balance. But, what secrets are spilled in the Presumed Innocent finale?
Here is a brief recap of Presumed Innocent Episode 8, including the surprising reveal of the killer.
What happens at the end of Presumed Innocent Episode 8?
In Presumed Innocent’s ending, Rusty is acquitted of the murder charges. While the court fails to uncover the perpetrator’s identity, it is ultimately disclosed in an unexpected manner.
Presumed Innocent Episode 8 opens with the defense and prosecution counsels presenting their closing statements. Rusty believes that the case has had multiple loopholes and conveys that his guilt hadn’t been established beyond a reasonable doubt. On the other hand, Tommy states that Rusty is a violent and impulsive man. Consequently, he is fully capable of committing such an odious crime, as per Tommy. He urges the jury to leverage their common sense and identify Rusty as the murderer.
Nevertheless, due to a lack of convincing evidence against Rusty, he is eventually deemed not guilty. As the trial concludes, Rusty discovers that Barbara has packed her bags and has decided to leave. He confronts his wife and states that he is aware of Barbara being the actual killer. As Presumed Innocent nears its end, Rusty also uncovers that he had staged Carolyn’s body in a way to direct the suspicion towards Liam Reynolds and protect Barbara.
Following this, the finale takes an unforeseen twist.
Was Barbara or Jaden the real killer of Carolyn Polhemus in Apple TV’s Presumed Innocent?
In a shocking turn of events, Barbara reveals that she is not the killer, as was the case in the Presumed Innocent novel and film. In order to subvert audience expectations, the series paints Jaden as the actual culprit.
After Barbara denies all accusations, her daughter, Jaden, enters the scene to reveal a startling secret. She confesses to her crime and admits to having slain Carolyn. Jaden had previously approached Polhemus to warn her to stay away. However, when the attorney complacently disclosed that she was pregnant with Rusty’s child, Jaden lost her calm and dealt a killing blow. She also accepts having sent Tommy the murder weapon upon fearing for Rusty’s fate at the trial.
Presumed Innocent ends with the Sabich family agreeing to keep Jaden’s crime a secret. Raymond Horgan accepts retirement in a triumphant way, while Tommy attempts to move on from his crushing defeat. The series concludes without Carolyn receiving any sense of justice.