This article contains spoilers fromYellowstoneseason 5, episode 11, “Three Fifty-Three,” and mentions of suicide.
If fans thought John Dutton III’s death inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2 would severely complicate matters, they were in for a massive surprise when Sarah Atwood was murdered in episode 11. The neo-Western dramaTV show created by Taylor Sheridanhas entered its endgame as it’s reportedly ending after season 5. So, Sheridan and co. are going all out in the final episodes and killing off characters left and right. However, while the audience is (mostly) aware of who is behind John’s death,the mastermind of Sarah’s demise is more of a question mark heading into episode 12.
New episodes ofYellowstoneseason 5, part 2 air on Sundays at 8 pm ET on Paramount Network. The series finale will premiere on Sunday, December 15.
Sarah was a Market Equities representative who got close to Jamie Dutton to try to ruin his family. She almost got her wish when Jamie filed articles of impeachment against his father. Plus, duringtheYellowstoneseason 5, part 2 premiere, Sarah orchestrated John’s assassination and staged suicide. Just a couple of episodes later, though, Sarah was murdered. After a fight with Jamie, Sarah drove away from his house. At a stoplight, she was talking to Jamie on the phone, who had called to apologize, whenanother car pulled up next to Sarah, pretended to ask her for directions, and then shot her to death.
3Beth Dutton
Beth Has A Strong Motive To Want Sarah Dead
Beth Dutton is one of the first names that instantly comes to mind when trying to figure out who plannedSarah’s death inYellowstoneseason 5, episode 11.Beth and Sarah have never gotten along.So, after Sarah killed Beth’s father, it wouldn’t come as a huge surprise to learn that Kelly Reilly’s character orchestrated Sarah’s murder.
Beth wants revenge,and Sarah would undoubtedly be a part of her plans for vengeance. Sure, Jamie is number one on Beth’s hit list. However, she knows Sarah had a hand in John’s staged suicide, and given Beth’s past, her killing Sarah in retaliation wouldn’t be the most shocking or appalling thingtheYellowstoneseason 5, part 2 character has ever done.
Is That Kevin Costner As Dead John Dutton In Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2?
After Kevin Costner exited Yellowstone ahead of season 5, part 2, the show killed off his character, but John Dutton still appears in the episodes.
AfterwatchingYellowstoneseason 5, episode 11,The Hollywood Reportersat down with Dawn Olivieri, who played Sarah, to discuss her character’s journey and death in the Paramount Network series. While she didn’t confirm who was the mastermind behind Sarah’s death,one of Olivieri’s comments might spoil that Beth is guilty.The actress said:
“I always sort of know [one of Olivieri’s character’s deaths is] coming. And to read it is like, ‘OK, here we go.’ We got what we all wanted. I think everyone is happy that the train station came.”
The “train station” refers to the location where the Duttons bury the bodies of their enemies. So,Olivieri mentioning the train station might suggest that Beth, a Dutton, hired the two people in the car to kill Sarah.The actress might have used the term figuratively to generalize the fact that Sarah was murdered. However, as mentioned above, Beth killing Sarah isn’t the most outlandish idea, making her one of the top suspects inYellowstoneseason 5’s shocking death.
2The Hired Assassins
The Investigation Into John Dutton’s Death Is Getting Messy
Perhapsthe most obvious suspects in Sarah’s murder(at least, afterthe events ofYellowstoneseason 5, episode 11) are the assassins she hired to kill John. During “Three Fifty-Three,” Kayce Dutton arranged forthe medical examiner to look over John Dutton’s body again. With Kayce’s help, the medical examiner ultimately determined that John’s death could have easily been a staged suicide. So, the case was publicly reopened and Kevin Costner’s character’s cause of death was changed from suicide to undetermined.
Jake McLaughlin
Cade McPhereson
The company Sarah contacted to assassinate John might have gotten spooked by the sudden change in the investigation and sent people to take care of Sarah. Thehired hitmen could have easily turned on Sarah to protect themselves.Plus, episode 11 showed “Grant” (the man Sarah met with in episode 9 who represents the hitmen company) watching the news announcingthe twist development in the case of Kevin Costner’s John’sYellowstonedeath.
The only problem with this theory is how sloppy Sarah’s murder was (out in the open at a stoplight) compared to John’s carefully orchestrated staged suicide.
“Grant” then called someone and asked them, “You watching this?” He could have easily sent someone to get rid of Sarah. The only problem with this theory is how sloppy Sarah’s murder was (out in the open at a stoplight) compared to John’s carefully orchestrated staged suicide. The two deaths are completely different, possiblyimplying that someone else planned Sarah’s demise inYellowstoneseason 5, episode 11.
1Market Equities
The People Sarah Works For Might Want Her Dead
Another suspect in Sarah’sdeath inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2is the company she works for — Market Equities. Similarly to the hitmen theory,the change in John’s cause of death might have scared Market Equities,causing them to take drastic measures to protect themselves. So, the company’s higher-ups took it upon themselves to hire assassins to kill Sarah in an attempt to separate themselves from her actions.
If anyone learns that one of their own was involved in the assassination of the Governor of Montana, Market Equities would be ruined, foiling all its plans for the state.
Market Equities' first priority will always be protecting the company.If anyone learns that one of their own was involved in the assassination of the Governor of Montana, Market Equities would be ruined, foiling all its plans for the state. Market Equities' executives might be the weakest suspects in Sarah’s murder inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2. However, them taking out Dawn Olivieri’sYellowstonecharacter would still make sense.
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on August 22, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
