Only Murders in the Building Season 5’s Most Likely Suspect Isn’t Who You Think

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With Season 5 over halfway complete, the number of potential suspects in the murder mystery is dwindling. Oliver, Mabel, and Charles have been busy investigating the deaths of both local gangster Nicky Caccimelio and the Arconia’s doorman, Lester Coluca. While they’re still working to connect the two crimes, viewers have been actively trying to solve the case themselves. After the latest episode, many fans believe they can eliminate the victims’ wives, Sofia and Lorraine, and Mabel’s old friend, Thē, from their lists. Though the wealthy residents are still considered suspicious, some viewers now suspect Mayor Tillman might be involved. However, there’s another suspect who seems even more likely to be the culprit.

Even after four successful seasons, *Only Murders in the Building* continues to evolve while still maintaining familiar elements. The show consistently features murders that occur inside the Arconia building, and spends considerable time exploring the lives of the victims. The killers often share certain characteristics, and if Season 5 follows this pattern, Mayor Tillman seems an unlikely suspect. Someone else is much more likely to be revealed as the murderer, based on how the show has unfolded in previous seasons.

Only Murders in the Building Has Always Avoided This TV Trope

The hit show *Only Murders in the Building* is known for featuring big-name guest stars each season. However, the series cleverly avoids the common TV trope of simply casting the most famous actor as the murderer. For example, stars like Tina Fey, Nathan Lane, Meryl Streep, and Kumail Nanjiani have all appeared as suspects, but turned out to be misleading clues. Considering this pattern, it seems improbable that Keegan-Michael Key will be revealed as the killer. He’s already well-established as a comedic talent, thanks to his work on shows like *Key & Peele*, *Mad TV*, *Fargo*, *Parks and Recreation*, and *Schmigadoon!*, among others.

Unlike some other mystery shows, the killers on *Only Murders in the Building* are often played by actors who aren’t huge household names. They’re usually accomplished, but not necessarily the most famous star in their season. Jermaine Fowler, who plays Randall in Season 5, is a great example. He’s had roles in films like *Coming 2 America*, *Judas and the Black Messiah*, *The Blackening*, *Superior Doughnuts*, and *Sorry to Bother You*, so he’s an experienced actor. However, he doesn’t have quite the same level of fame as previous guest stars like Nathan Lane or the actresses who played the widows, Téa Leoni and Dianne Wiest. If the show keeps casting killers this way, Fowler’s character is a strong contender for who did it.

Randall Has Been Lurking Throughout Season 5

Throughout its seasons, *Only Murders in the Building* has consistently featured the killer as a character we see throughout the story. From Jan Bellows to Marshall P. Pope, each murderer appeared in at least five episodes, cleverly misleading the podcast hosts until evidence revealed their guilt. However, Mayor Tillman has only been in two episodes so far. While he could become more prominent in the remaining episodes of Season 5, it seems likely he’s a distraction—a false lead, similar to how Cinda Canning was used in Season 2—before the true killer is revealed.

I’ve noticed something really interesting about this season of *Only Murders in the Building*! While Mayor Tillman has been nowhere to be seen, Randall has been quietly showing up in almost every episode – he’s only missed one so far! He’s not pushing himself into the investigation like some past suspects, but his job as the new doorman, plus what he learned from Lester’s ledger, could give him a huge advantage. Honestly, I’m starting to think he’s been one step ahead of Mabel, Charles, and Oliver the whole time. It even makes me wonder if *he’s* the one who broke into Charles’ apartment and stole that finger… and if that finger even belonged to someone else! He’s *always* wearing gloves, and we’ve never seen his bare hands, which is just… suspicious!

Plus, Randall already raised a red flag when he confessed to carving “Die Lester die” into the breakroom table in Season 5, Episode 5 of *Only Murders in the Building*, “Tongue Tied.” Although Mabel and Oliver chose to believe he meant the message was for the robot doorman, not the human one, it’s important to note he misspelled the robot’s name, using only one ‘E’. Since Randall was there when Howard first introduced the robot and spelled out its acronym, he either misremembered or lied to avoid looking suspicious. This isn’t the first time the podcast team has quickly dismissed a suspect; last season, they believed Marshall when he said he was doing stand-up in Los Angeles during the time of Sazz Pataki’s murder. Like Marshall, Randall’s seemingly harmless personality might be masking a more sinister side.

Only Murders in the Building Could Still Break With Tradition

It’s still possible for *Only Murders in the Building* to surprise us with a twist. While Mayor Tillman seems very different from the previous killers, it would be unexpected if he turned out to be involved. The next few episodes could reveal more about his connection to Lester and Nicky, and why he might have wanted them dead. Some fans think the mayor is pushing for the new casino in New York, which could be linked to the billionaires and their secret poker games at the Arconia. Maybe he was the last person to see Lester and Nicky alive in the Velvet Room. Or, if the show doesn’t focus on him much in the coming episodes, they might be saving him for a bigger role in a potential sixth season – similar to how they built up the killer in Season 1 before revealing them in Season 2.

The murderer in Season 5 could be one of the wealthy billionaires who have been causing trouble for Charles, Mabel, and Oliver. Or it could be Thē, the pop star, who might be hiding a dark side. Any of these famous actors being revealed as the killer would be a surprising twist for the show. Right now, the billionaires seem like the most likely suspects, especially after it was revealed that one of them has been pretending to be someone else online to get close to Charles – a classic misdirection. Although Thē and Mabel have recently made amends, Thē’s knowledge of the case could lead her to become more involved with the group, similar to how Jan did in Season 1. Some fans even think the billionaires might be responsible for Thē’s sudden rise to fame, potentially linking her to the poker games and the murders. If it weren’t for Beanie Feldstein’s popularity from films like *Lady Bird* and *Booksmart*, Thē would be a much stronger suspect.

Even though it’s hard to picture *Only Murders in the Building* changing its formula after five seasons, shaking things up could be a smart move to keep the audience engaged. It’s also fantastic that the show regularly gives opportunities to talented, lesser-known actors. Viewers likely won’t discover the killer’s identity until the very end, but Randall is definitely someone to watch closely.

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2025-10-08 01:37