In the gripping finale of Apple’s courtroom thriller “Presumed Innocent”, viewers finally discovered the identity of Carolyn Polhemus’s killer. The character of Carolyn, played by Renate Reinsve, was the former lover of Jake Gyllenhaal’s Rusty Sabich, who was charged with her murder.
Tommy Molto Cleared of Suspicion
Last week’s episode ruled out Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgaard) as a suspect. Director Greg Yaitanes confirmed to TheWrap that Tommy, who had been relishing the chance to prosecute his rival, was not responsible. A fireplace poker—possibly the murder weapon—was found in Tommy’s home with a threatening note, but it didn’t lead to his guilt.
The Verdict in “The Verdict”
In the finale episode titled “The Verdict”, despite a potential mistrial, the trial proceeded with Rusty delivering his own summation. Rusty argued that his only crime was the affair with Carolyn and accused Tommy’s prosecution of being driven by personal vendetta and circumstantial evidence. He pointed fingers at Carolyn’s son, Michael Caldwell (Tate Birchmore), and his father, Dalton (Matthew Alan), suggesting they had motives.
Tommy’s Closing Argument
Tommy Molto claimed that Rusty’s love for Carolyn bordered on obsession. He argued that Rusty’s withholding of information and failure to disclose his relationship with Carolyn indicated guilt, labeling him as a skilled liar and murderer. The jury quickly returned a verdict of not guilty. While Rusty’s family was relieved, Rusty himself remained somber, stating that while legal justice was served, Carolyn’s killer was still at large.
The Real Killer Revealed
In a dramatic confrontation, Rusty discovered that his wife, Barbara, was not the killer. Jaden (Chase Infiniti), their daughter, confessed to the murder in the garage. She revealed that she killed Carolyn after learning about Carolyn’s pregnancy with Rusty’s child. Jaden’s subsequent actions, including cleaning the car and burying the poker, were driven by shock and denial. Rusty expressed his guilt for setting the events in motion and vowed to keep the incident a secret from the rest of the family.
Season 2 Updates
Following the finale, “Presumed Innocent” was renewed for a second season on July 12. Jake Gyllenhaal remains an executive producer alongside David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams. While the new season will explore a new case, it’s uncertain if Gyllenhaal will return or if a new cast will be introduced. Scott Turow, the author of the original thriller, is set to return as co-executive producer, suggesting that Season 2 may adapt another of his novels.