‘Presumed Innocent’ Ending Explained: Who Killed Carolyn Polhemus on the Apple TV+ Series? Was Rusty Guilty?

Presumed Innocent ‘s buzzy Apple TV+ adaptation aired its highly-anticipated Season 1 finale on Wednesday, July 24, and at long last, the verdict is in.

From the start of the David E. Kelley and executive producer J.J. Abrams’ eight-episode limited series, starring and executive produced by Jake Gyllenhaal, viewers wondered if the story would stay true to the 1987 New York Times bestselling novel by Scott Turow or the 1990 film starring Harrison Ford .

Early on in the series, Decider assembled several suspects in Carolyn Polhemus’ (Renate Reinsve) murder, proving there were numerous avenues to take that would not only find Rusty (Gyllenhaal) innocent but switch up the original killer, and the Apple TV+ series delivered on both counts.

After Presumed Innocent ‘s penultimate episode ended with a fire poker and a “GO FUCK YOURSELF” note on Tommy Molto’s (Peter Sarsgaaard) kitchen counter, viewers were likely more suspicious of him than ever. But did Tommy kill Carolyn? Was Rusty found guilty by the jury? And how does the ending of the Apple TV+ series differ from the story Presumed Innocent fans know? Decider’s recap of Episode 8, “The Verdict,” has answers.

Looking for a detailed Presumed Innocent finale recap? Or simply need Presumed Innocent ‘s ending explained? Read on to learn the truth behind Carolyn’s murder in the Apple TV+ series.

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The final episode of Presumed Innocent ‘s first season picks up right where we left off. Shortly after finding the possible murder weapon on his kitchen counter, Tommy calls the police and Nico (O-T Fagbenle) and turns it over. He and his cat are visibly shaken, but is it all an act? Did he plant the fire poker — which has no DNA evidence and was scrubbed of all prints — or does the story run deeper?

When the development is shared with the judge, she once again offers Rusty a mistrial, and once again, the teams decide to move forward with their trial. After a heated debate, Rusty agrees not to let the fire poker be introduced as evidence, as it could plant further doubt in the minds of jurors. And the trial continues, with the defense working hard to prove that because there was no food in Carolyn’s stomach when she died, her time of death was incorrectly predicted and thus, gives Rusty an alibi. Barbara (Ruth Negga) offers to testify that Rusty was home at midnight and couldn’t have killed Carolyn, but the team agrees it would be a dangerous idea to call her to the stand and reveals they not only had her followed for case-building, but they all know about her affair with “the friendly neighborhood bartender.”

With the murder weapon kept quiet and Barbara not taking the stand, there’s just one thing left to do: close. Against the advice of his council and lack of credibility with the jury, Rusty insists he delivers his own closing statement and gets to work practicing remarks. As he’s pacing back and forth in the garage, crafting his final plea later that night, his daughter Jaden walks in and asks if he needs help. Rusty knows his family is worried about him making his own case, but he assures Jay he’s his best chance, going so far as to say, “I got this,” a statement he clearly doesn’t believe in fully. In the lead-up to closing day, every member of the Sabich family is on edge. Before he closes, Rusty has yet another haunting Carolyn flashback , but he pulls it together in time to bare his soul to the jury.

In a standout performance from Gyllenhaal, Rusty lays down the facts and sprinkles in feeling. He admits he betrayed his family, acknowledges he’ll likely never undo the anguish he caused or earn their respect, owns up to his affair, and reminds everyone in the court room there’s no evidence that he killed Carolyn. He reiterates that he loved the victim and misses her terribly. He explains why he fits the bill and why Tommy is out to get him. He stresses that there are numerous other suspects with motive to kill who weren’t properly investigated. And he does his best to shine a light on the existence of reasonable doubt. He tells the jury the case is ultimately about them and their oath to convict solely based on evidence, saying, “I accept and deserve your contempt as a husband, as a father, as a man. But i did not kill Carolyn Polhemus, which is why there’s no evidence that i did. I am not honorable. But the irony is, I hope that you are.”

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Whether you’re rooting for Rusty or not, the closing remarks were undeniably moving — even for Tommy, who took a moment to process the idea of Sabich’s innocence before ruthlessly arguing against it. He claimed Rusty was obsessed with Carolyn rather than in love with her. He brought up his irresponsible botching of the first 48 hours of her investigation. He pointed to his history of lying, aggression, and desperation. He said it was “diabolical” to accuse Carolyn’s son of murder. And by the end, he had everyone in the courtroom gulping in suspense.

We see everyone at home anxiously awaiting the verdict, but one of the most noteworthy interactions occurs when Nico visits Tommy in his office, clocks his deep hatred and jealousy of Rusty, and asks how much he loved Carolyn. Tommy knows Nico knows the trial was personal for him as well, but before he has time to respond the verdict is reached.

Amidst palpable tension the clerk reads the verdict aloud and reveals Rusty was not found guilty of Carolyn’s murder. A wave of relief rushes over his family and friends, and Rusty gives a statement to the media, saying that justice was done in the sense that he’s innocent and had nothing to do with the crime, but justice was not served for Carolyn. “Her killer is still out there and her murder is unsolved. She deserved better,” he explained. “Tommy Molto put the blinders on since Day 1. He lost the plot. He prioritized vendetta over the truth and failed Carolyn.”

Watching the news report, Tommy looked defeated. And despite the loss, Nico assured him he tried a “magnificent” case, urging him to move on from both Carolyn and Rusty. So did Tommy kill her? It appears that way…until Rusty discovers Barbara’s packed suitcase at home and confronts her as she’s exercising in the garage. She tells him the suitcase and escape plan was the therapist’s advice, “should there be a next time.” He’s crushed by her words, but rather than jump to his own defense, he says, “I knew from the beginning. And then i didn’t know. And then I knew again for sure.” For first-time Presumed Innocent watchers, the vague accusation probably seems out of left field — surely Rusty’s wife couldn’t have killed Carolyn, right?! But she did in the movie. So perhaps the Apple TV+ series is staying true to the story.

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As Barbara questions him, acting genuinely perplexed and terrified, Rusty grows more and more convinced of her guilt and explains that he did what he had to do to protect his family. “What didn’t compute was you seemed so utterly normal the next day; so disaffected. I didn’t know you could kill somebody and not even wobble,” he says, finally accusing her out loud. When she asks if he truly thinks she killed Carolyn, Rusty says he thinks it was somebody else who took over her body, just like somebody else took over his body as he tied Carolyn up to cover for her.

At this point, even viewers will be confused. When Rusty admits he tied Carolyn up, revealing he went back to her house later that night, found her body, and called 9-1-1, Barbara looks genuinely disturbed and even calls him “sick.” But it’s clear Rusty believes Barbara is the killer and even offers evidence, saying he tracked her car and knows she planted the fire poker at Tommy’s house. “I started to think I must have this wrong, but then Jaden was talking to me about disassociation .and that’s exactly what happened. You just snapped with Carolyn, and the next day it’s as if someone else committed the act.” Despite her husband’s proof, Barbara continues to deny the crime until the real killer comes forward: Jaden!

Much to the shock and horror of Rusty and Barbara, their daughter walks into the garage and admits she was worried her dad would be convicted after his testimony, so she drove her mom’s car to Tommy’s house and planted the fire poker. She explains that she went to Carolyn’s house to confront her the night of her murder and told her to stay away from the family. When Carolyn suggested that was Rusty was the one who wouldn’t leave her alone and revealed she was happy to step back but that she’s pregnant with his child, Jaden snapped, grabbed the fire poker, and attacked Carolyn. “I was driving home and I thought it was just a dream,” she said. “It wasn’t, and you guys went to breakfast. I said I wasn’t feeling well and cleaned car and buried the poker.”

As Barbara breaks down, Rusty snaps into action and tells his girls they’ll never speak of this again, it was a form of self-defense, and it was put into motion by him. He hugs Jaden and they sob into each other’s arms, and Presumed Innocent fast forwards to better days. Raymond is happily retired and gardening with his wife. Jaden is lying on a blanket in the grass. Tommy and his cat are happily watching a game on television. And the Sabich family gathers around the table for a Thanksgiving feast. Though they’re living, laughing, and loving in the final moments of the season, before the end credits roll, Barbara and Rusty share a look that says, “We’re gonna make it, but this is FUCKED up.” And thus closes another (unique!) chapter of Presumed Innocent.

Stay tuned for Season 2 (yes, the show is coming back for more!) to see what’s in store and whether or not Rusty will be back in the courtroom.

Presumed Innocent Season 1 is now streaming on Apple TV+.

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