Only Murders In The Building Season 5 Finale: Lester’s Killer Revealed

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Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Episode 10

As a huge fan, I have to say season 5 of Only Murders in the Building really delivered! Mabel, Charles, and Oliver wrapped up their latest case with a fantastic finale – they discovered a secret, underground casino inside their building, the Arconia! The episode title, “The House Always…”, perfectly captured the theme – it’s a nod to the saying that the casino always wins, and our detectives definitely learned that lesson this time around.

The latest season of Only Murders in the Building continues to be one of the best murder mystery shows on television. The season five finale immediately reveals that a suspect teased in the previous episode – Nonna Caccimelio – had nothing to do with the murder of Arconia’s doorman, Lester Coluca.

Okay, so things just got really interesting! Mabel, Charles, and Oliver got a huge clue – the finger Oliver found at his wedding actually belonged to Sofia’s boyfriend! While they were questioning Nicky Caccimelio’s rich poker pals about possible affairs with Sofia at the Arconia’s casino, get this – the actual killer walked right into the building! I can’t believe it, this case is wild!

Steve Martin’s show, Only Murders in the Building, continues to delight murder mystery fans, and season 5 features its most complex and fascinating plot so far. The show successfully uncovers another killer by exploring the hidden secrets within the Arconia building.

Who Killed Lester At The End Of Only Murders In The Building Season 4

Fans of mysteries might have already figured out that Lester Coluca was killed by Beau Tillman, the character played by Keegan-Michael Key. Though Key joined the cast of Only Murders in the Building in March, he was just one of many well-known actors added to the show.

Only Murders In The Building Season Killer Identity
Season 1 Jan Bellows
Season 2 Poppy White/Becky Butler
Season 3 Donna & Cliff DeMeo
Season 4 Marshall P. Pope/Rex Bailey
Season 5 Beau Tillman

Mayor Tillman struck Lester, causing a fatal head injury, in the courtyard of the building where Lester had worked as a doorman for 32 years. Although the injury may have occurred during a confrontation, it’s clear Tillman intended to cause harm.

Why Lester Was Murdered In The Arconia Courtyard

Image via Hulu

Okay, so let me tell you, the latest season of Only Murders in the Building really shocked me. Poor Lester, the doorman, became the central victim, and it was brutal. Apparently, Mayor Tillman shoved him right into the stone fountain in the Arconia courtyard – a blow so forceful it tragically killed him. It was a shocking moment, and definitely set the tone for the season!

Tillman didn’t mean to kill Lester; he only wanted to use force to retrieve his missing finger, believing Lester had hidden it. Tillman correctly figured his finger could be used as evidence linking him to the death of Nicky Caccimelio, the other victim in season 5.

How Nicky Caccimelio Died & Who Disposed Of His Body

As a huge fan of Only Murders in the Building, I was so excited when John Hoffman, the showrunner, hinted back in August that season five would be a mafia mystery, but with a twist! And it definitely delivered, especially with Nicky Caccimelio’s death. We all thought Lester Coluca was the killer based on what we’d seen, but the finale really threw a wrench in things and showed us the truth was way more complicated.

Nicky was chasing Mayor Tillman – his wife’s lover – through the Arconia casino with a meat cleaver when Lester struck him from behind with a tool from the building’s elevator. This made Lester a suspect in what appeared to be a murder. However, Nicky stumbled and fell onto Lester, and in the struggle, accidentally stabbed himself with the cleaver, causing his death.

Okay, so about Nicky’s death… that punch Lester landed was strong, and honestly could’ve been fatal on its own, but I don’t think that’s what actually did him in. It feels way more likely that the cleaver was the cause, and that it was a terrible accident, not something Lester intended.

In the final moments of the show, Mabel’s boyfriend, Jay, confesses that, following the mayor’s instructions, he and Nicky’s wealthy friends, Camila White and Bash Steed, secretly got rid of Nicky’s body. They used a painting tarp from Camila’s collection to move the body out of the casino, then froze it in a cryochamber owned by Bash. Finally, Jay admits he was the one who left the body at Nicky’s dry-cleaning business.

Why The Finger Ended Up In Oliver’s Wedding Shrimps

The season 5 finale of Only Murders in the Building features one of Oliver Putnam’s most hilarious moments. When Oliver, Charles, and Mabel dramatically enter the casino room to accuse Mayor Tillman of murder, Oliver exclaims, “And his finger was in my shrimp!”

The finger found among the wedding snacks actually belonged to Tillman, and Lester was the one who placed it there. After Nicky accidentally cut off Tillman’s finger, was hit by Lester, and then injured himself on a cleaver, Lester seized the opportunity and ran upstairs with the severed finger.

He believed this information could prove Tillman was involved in illegal activities with gangsters and shady businessmen, but only if he could deliver it to Charles, Mabel, and Oliver. That’s why, right before he died, he told Tillman, “My friends are gonna catch you.” He cleverly hid the evidence where he knew they’d look: among the food at Oliver’s wedding.

The finger ended up with the Caccimelio family, who stole it from Charles’s home and sold it to some billionaires. These billionaires hoped to use it to control Tillman. Mabel later discovers the finger belonged to the mayor – she reveals this by cutting off his prosthetic finger with the same meat cleaver Nicky had used.

How Mabel, Charles & Oliver Solve The Murder

Mabel, Charles, and Oliver are funny amateur detectives, so it’s tough to compare them to TV’s pros. However, they have a knack for solving crimes in their building, as shown when Mabel quickly linked the mayor’s name to a crucial clue in Lester’s last text.

When this text message appeared in the sixth episode of Only Murders, “Flatbush,” viewers initially thought Lester was fondly remembering his first conversation with his wife. However, it turned out the word “beautiful” was actually a typo—autocorrect had changed the mayor’s name, “Beau Tillman.”

Mabel solves the word puzzle just as she gets a message from Howard. He quickly sends another text to correct a mistake, explaining, “It’s Beautiful. Sorry, autocorrect. It’s Beau Tillman.” After that, everything clicks, and Tillman explains how he committed the crime.

Is Season 5 The Last Of Only Murders In The Building?

Don’t worry, the show isn’t ending with season 5! Hulu has officially renewed it for a sixth season. Disney’s streaming service announced the good news in a recent press release.

Hulu has ordered a sixth season of its hit comedy series, Only Murders in the Building. The new season will have 10 episodes and is produced by 20th Television.

It might be unexpected news, particularly after Martin Short recently discussed how long Only Murders in the Building could last. However, with continued strong viewership, positive reviews, and a fresh mystery at the Arconia, there’s every reason to believe the show will continue.

How Season 5’s Ending Sets Up Only Murders In The Building Season 6

The sixth season of Only Murders in the Building will take place in London, where Oliver, Charles, and Mabel will investigate a new murder with international ties. The season 5 finale revealed that the victim they’ll be investigating is Cinda Canning, the true-crime podcaster portrayed by Tina Fey.

Only Murders In The Building Season Murder Victim(s)
Season 1 Tim Kono
Season 2 Bunny Folger
Season 3 Ben Glenroy
Season 4 Sazz Pataki
Season 5 Lester Coluca & Nicky Caccimelio
Season 6 Cinda Canning

Canning was a memorable secondary character in the show’s second season. She had just gotten back from recording a murder mystery podcast in the UK when she was found dead near the Arconia building. The show’s three main characters were actually listening to that same podcast right before they discovered her body.

This latest development gives us a good idea of what’s coming in season 6 of Only Murders in the Building. It seems Canning’s research for her podcast, “The Girl with the Curls,” about a murder in Britain, has put her in danger. The mystery deepens when we see Canning wearing a red curly wig right before her death.

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2025-10-28 23:02