By its fifth season, Only Murders in the Building has perfected its own rhythm. The mystery is never just about who did it — it’s about why. It’s about secrets buried beneath The Arconia’s golden façade and the complicated lives of those who call it home.

After the shocking death of Lester, the building’s beloved doorman, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel find themselves drawn once again into a mystery that involves secret casinos, billionaires, politicians, and betrayal.

The season has delivered enough clues, chaos, and chopped fingers to make Reddit run wild. Across threads and theory posts, some names keep coming up again and again. Here are the most-voted suspects of Season 5 — from the most to the least likely.

Mayor Tillman: power, politics, and the missing finger

At the top of nearly every theory board sits Mayor Tillman (Keegan-Michael Key). Every clue seems to lead back to him — and maybe that’s the most suspicious thing of all.

Tillman wants to legalize casinos in New York, as hinted at when one of his aides approaches Oliver with a petition. Behind that political move lies a web of corruption: the Arconia’s billionaires — Jay, Bash, and Camila — plan to buy the building and turn it into a luxury hotel, threatening Nicky Caccimelio’s illegal gambling empire.

According to one fan theory, Tillman was the fifth “bird” at the casino table the night of the murder. When Nicky confronted the group with a cleaver, he was killed — but not before cutting off the Mayor’s finger. Lester witnessed it all and tried to escape, but Tillman (or perhaps his assistant) couldn’t risk loose ends.

Some fans believe the Mayor hides his injury with a sensory prosthetic, explaining the odd wince when Charles shakes his hand. His presence at Lester’s funeral — seemingly an act of compassion — now feels more like guilt dressed as empathy.

Sofia Caccimelio: the perfect widow — or the new mob boss?

If Tillman is the public’s favorite suspect, Sofia Caccimelio is the one fans are convinced is truly running the game.

Introduced as the grieving widow, Sofia quickly proved to be something else entirely — a master manipulator. She redirects conversations, controls narratives, and remains one step ahead of the podcast trio. She’s also the only one who insists that “the mob is dead” — while conveniently holding the key to the casino on the night of her husband’s death.

Many believe Sofia killed Nicky herself. Unlike her husband, who dreamed of moving to Italy and leaving the criminal life behind, Sofia is her mother’s daughter — ruthless, strategic, and power-hungry.

Once she learned that the billionaires and the Mayor planned to take over the casino, she went to the Arconia that night to make her own deal. When Nicky refused, she silenced him.

If true, Sofia may be Only Murders’ most quietly dangerous villain yet — a woman who hides an empire behind her mourning veil.

Jay Pflug, Bash Steed & Camila White: the billionaire trio

The three new magnates — Jay (Logan Lerman), Bash (Christoph Waltz), and Camila (Renée Zellweger) — share the third spot on the suspect list, but each one could completely shift the course of the investigation.

They were together on the night of the crime, signed contracts forbidding the trio’s podcast from naming them, and — as if that weren’t suspicious enough — they all rehearsed the same story about what happened in the underground casino.

Each has something to hide:

• Jay inherited a pharmaceutical empire and is desperate to prove he can stand on his own.
• Bash is obsessed with achieving immortality through artificial intelligence.
• Camila is a hospitality mogul, addicted to power, beauty, and control.

They all have money, influence, and — most dangerously — a motive to lie. The “missing finger” mystery appears to connect them through some dark ritual of loyalty, a cross between a mafia oath and a secret society pact.

But what keeps them suspicious until the end?

Camila is the most manipulative of the trio. Always wearing gloves, obsessed with glamour, she hides more than a fashion statement. (SPOILER ALERT) It will be revealed that she’s far more involved in Nicky’s disappearance than it first appeared — though it remains unclear how she managed to frighten Lester enough to make him fall into the fountain and die.

Jay, meanwhile, grows dangerously close to Mabel, almost convincing her that he’s genuine and in love. But after Charles and Jan Bellows in Season 1, we’ve learned a rule of the Arconia: every perfect boyfriend is MEGA suspicious.

And Bash? He’s the most enigmatic — and the most dangerous. Beneath his charm, he’s the one pulling the Mayor’s strings and controlling the Arconia itself, overseeing both the building’s security system and the data network known as L.E.S.T.R. In a world where memory can be rewritten, Bash may be the one rewriting everything.

Randall: the new doorman who knows too much

He’s barely talked about — and that might be exactly what makes him dangerous. Randall, the new doorman (Jermaine Fowler), was trained by Lester and took over the job immediately after his death. He knows how the building operates and, quite possibly, knew what went on behind the scenes of the casino. (SPOILER: yes, of course he knew — but, as always, he’ll be “ruled out” as a suspect for reasons that will only be revealed in the next episode.)

His nervous demeanor could be an act — or genuine fear from knowing too much. Some fans believe he was an unwitting accomplice, helping to cover up the crime without even realizing it

Althea (“Thé”): the pop star in red feathers

Behind the fame and stage lights, there’s always a secret. Althea, played by Beanie Feldstein, is a global pop star and Mabel’s childhood friend — though “rival” might be a better word.

She moved into The Arconia right before Lester’s death. Coincidence? Maybe not. Her red-feathered jacket matches the “fifth bird” clue from the casino game, and her wealth could easily have bought her access to the underground tables.

If Althea was indeed present that night, her influence might explain why so many powerful people are staying silent.

Howard Morris: the unlikely betrayer

He’s been there since the beginning — the lovable, anxious neighbor turned loyal friend. But Howard (Michael Cyril Creighton) could be Only Murders’ ultimate twist.

He’s been comic relief for five seasons, yet he’s never truly developed. He knows every inch of The Arconia and often pops up at the right time. Turning him into the killer would be both shocking and poetic — the ultimate “you never saw it coming” move.

Lorraine: the grieving widow who might not be grieving

Yes, Lester’s widow deserves a spot on the list — because in Only Murders in the Building, love stories rarely end gently.

Lorraine is the kind of quiet, overlooked character who often hides the biggest secret. A once-promising actress whose career stalled due to her husband’s devotion to the Arconia, she carries a subtle mix of disappointment and resentment.

There are hints that she didn’t support Lester’s decision to leave the casino’s shady operations. “Without my husband, how am I supposed to keep our house in Flatbush?” she says — a line that lands heavier after knowing what’s to come.

And then there’s the fatal scene: Lester fell into the fountain while fleeing someone. But who was he running from? Everyone assumes it was a powerful enemy from the casino world… but what if it was his own wife?

Because in the Arconia, betrayal always feels personal — and no one knows your weaknesses like the person who shared your keys.

The game goes on

Between chopped fingers, secret casinos, and doomed love stories, Only Murders in the Building continues to deliver what it does best: the joy of investigating together.

Whether it’s a mayor hiding guilt, a widow reclaiming her power, or a billionaire rewriting the rules, The Arconia remains the perfect stage — a place where everyone is lying, and everyone has a story to protect.

As Oliver Putnam would say: “The most suspicious ones are always the most fun.”

My personal bet is on Mayor Tillman, like most people’s, but I’m not ruling out Romy, Bash’s niece. We’ve already had a killer assistant before — Poppy, remember? Season 2? It could happen again.

And for some reason, everyone seems to be forgetting our forever Jan — and she should never be ruled out!

Ready to place your bets?