This article contains spoilers from Yellowstone season 5, episode 11, "Three Fifty-Three," and mentions of suicide.
If fans thought John Dutton III's death in TV show created by Taylor Sheridan has 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 of Yellowstone season 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, during the Yellowstone season 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, when another car pulled up next to Sarah, pretended to ask her for directions, and then shot her to death.
3 Beth 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 planned Sarah's death in Yellowstone season 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 thing Yellowstone season 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.
After Yellowstone season 5, episode 11, The Hollywood Reporter sat 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 in Yellowstone season 5's shocking death.
2 The Hired Assassins
The Investigation Into John Dutton's Death Is Getting Messy
Perhaps the most obvious suspects in Sarah's murder (at least, after the 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.
Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 Cast |
Role |
---|---|
Kelly Reilly |
Beth Dutton |
Wes Bentley |
Jamie Dutton |
Luke Grimes |
Kayce Dutton |
Cole Ha |
Rip Wheeler |
Kelsey Asbille |
Monica Long Dutton |
Gil Birmingham |
Chief Thomas Rainwater |
Forrie J. Smith |
Lloyd Pierce |
Wendy Moniz |
Lynelle Perry |
Moses Brings Plenty |
Mo |
Finn Little |
Carter |
Dawn Olivieri |
Sarah Atwood |
Jefferson White |
Jimmy Hurdstrom |
Brecken Merrill |
Tate Dutton |
Ian Bohen |
Ryan |
Denim Richards |
Colby Mayfield |
Ryan Bingham |
Walker |
Jennifer Landon |
Teeter |
Kathryn Kelly |
Emily |
Jake McLaughlin |
Cade Mhereson |
The company Sarah ed to assassinate John might have gotten spooked by the sudden change in the investigation and sent people to take care of Sarah. The hired 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 announcing the twist development in the case of Kevin Costner's John's Yellowstone death.
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, possibly implying that someone else planned Sarah's demise in Yellowstone season 5, episode 11.
1 Market Equities
The People Sarah Works For Might Want Her Dead
Another suspect in Sarah's death in Yellowstone season 5, part 2 is 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 in Yellowstone season 5, part 2. However, them taking out Dawn Olivieri's Yellowstone character would still make sense.

Yellowstone
- Release Date
- 2018 - 2024
- Network
- Paramount Network
- Showrunner
- Taylor Sheridan
Cast
- John Dutton
- Luke GrimesKayce Dutton
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 June 20, 2018, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
- Franchise(s)
- Yellowstone
- Seasons
- 5
- Creator(s)
- Taylor Sheridan, John Linson
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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