The fifth season of Only Murders in the Building reached its climax on October 28, 2025, with a finale that solved the murder of beloved doorman Lester while setting the stage for an unexpected international investigation. The episode, titled “The House Always…,” unveiled Mayor Beau Tillman as Lester’s killer and ended with the shocking death of podcast rival Cinda Canning, collapsing at the gates of the Arconia.
The Final Confrontation
With the Arconia facing imminent demolition to make way for a casino, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel executed a desperate plan. They lured the billionaire trio—Camila White, Bash Steed, and Jay Pflug—to a fake casino night in the building’s basement, hoping to expose their corruption and uncover Lester’s killer.
Their initial plan faltered when the billionaires proved their fingers were intact, meaning the severed finger found earlier did not belong to them. The breakthrough came when Mabel received a text from Howard. His message, which autocorrected “Beau” to “beautiful,” mirrored the autocorrected text Lester sent his wife before he died. Mabel realized Mayor Beau Tillman was the culprit.
In a dramatic move, Mabel confronted the mayor and chopped off his finger, confirming it matched the one Lester had hidden. Cornered, Beau Tillman confessed to his role in the night’s events.
The Truth About Lester’s Death
Flashbacks to the fatal night revealed a tangled web of affair and violence. Nicky Caccimelio had discovered his wife, Sofia, was having an affair with Mayor Tillman. In a cocaine-fueled rage, Nicky attacked the mayor and cut off his finger.
Lester intervened, hitting Nicky in self-defense with an elevator crank. Nicky fell onto his own cleaver, resulting in his accidental death. The billionaires—Jay, Camila, and Bash—then worked to cover up Nicky’s death.
Lester fled the scene with the mayor’s severed finger and an incriminating ledger as evidence. Beau Tillman chased him to the Arconia courtyard, where a physical struggle ended with Beau shoving Lester. Lester slipped, hitting his head fatally on the stone edge of the fountain.
A Narrow Escape and a Building Saved
After his confession, the corrupt mayor called in his police officers, who locked Charles, Oliver, and Mabel in a hidden stairwell, planning for them to be killed in the building’s demolition.
The trio’s escape was a group effort. Howard and Trash Man Miller retrieved the podcasters’ destroyed phones from the trash chute. Pop star Althea created a diversion by performing for the press. Using his magic skills, Charles guided the others to pick their locks with a coat hanger and escape.
They burst into the mayor’s press conference just in time. When Beau claimed they had no proof, the trio revealed they had hidden a recorder in the roulette table. They played his full confession for everyone to hear, leading to his arrest. Jay Pflug also confessed to moving Nicky’s body, resulting in the arrests of all three billionaires and the cancellation of the casino project, saving the Arconia.
Where the Characters Ended Up
The finale jumped forward three months to show the aftermath. Sofia moved to Italy, finally taking the trip to Positano she had always dreamed of. She generously gave a large cash gift to Lorraine, Lester’s widow, who was able to move into the Arconia.
Back in the building, new relationships blossomed. Howard began a new romance with Vinny, one of Sofia and Nicky’s sons. Charles, Oliver, and Mabel resumed their normal lives, their podcast once again a success.
A Shocking Twist and a New Case
The trio’s peaceful evening was shattered when they went to investigate a woman who had collapsed just outside the Arconia gates. As they arrived, the woman died. When her body was turned over, she was revealed to be Cinda Canning.
The finale confirms Cinda was launching a new podcast called The Girl with the Curls, investigating a case about a young woman connected to the murder of a royal descendant. Cinda’s own murder, occurring on the property line of the Arconia, immediately draws Charles, Oliver, and Mabel into their next case, which hints at a potential investigation in London for Season 6.
Also Read: Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Episode 9: Your Guide to the Penultimate Mystery
