Harper's Island: Examining The Remaining Suspects

Here's a rundown of my latest thoughts and observations on the remaining suspects. I am taking the show's promo seriously - 25 suspects, 1 killer. So, I am not considering any 2 killer theories. I am also not considering anyone outside of the main 25 as being the killer. That being said, I have 3 main suspects at the moment. Subject to change. And I fully expect to be wrong. Fool me, Harper's Island writers!!!!

HENRY DUNN
Evidence: He doesn't have strong alibis for any of the murders (there is a time issue with one murder, but I'm going to assume time progression from scene to scene is not necessarily in "real time")
Motive: We know his parents are dead - but we have no further details. There could be motive in this somewhere. BUT, I think no matter who the killer is, it ties to Wakefield somehow. So maybe Henry is Wakefield's child. Maybe Henry and Abby are half-siblings - since it's been said that the killings are "all about Abby".
Arguments: Message boards are on fire with people naming Henry as the killer. AND the most recent episode made him look a bit guilty...That makes me feel like the writers WANT us to think the killer is Henry, which would mean it's NOT.
My verdict: One of my main suspects!


TRISH WELLINGTON
Evidence: None that I've picked up on.
Motive: Nothing so far.
Arguments: She was shown in the company of others in the most recent episode - when at least 2 murders took place
My verdict: Not the killer.


JIMMY MANCE
Evidence: He has the tools, the strength, and - for awhile - the opportunity to commit the murders
Motive: All I can come up with is revenge for Abby leaving without a goodbye 7 years earlier - and that's not much of a motive at all
Arguments: He was with Abby when the murder of Cole Harkin took place. So, unless that was somehow rigged (like Hunter Jennings and Mr. Wellington), he couldn't be the killer.
My verdict: Probably not the killer.


MAGGIE KRELL
Evidence: A lot of screenshots of Candlewick Inn stuff...The matchbox for Lucy's death was from the Inn...The boat for Hunter's death was from the Inn. She sent Abby to turn off the lights, which set off the head spade for Mr. W's death. AND - possible clue - in the most recent ep, the word Boniface was shown, which means "keeper of an inn" - and that's Maggie!
Motive: None so far, but I would assume a connection to Wakefield.
Arguments: I have a hard time believing a woman could carry out some of the murders - ones that require great, great strength. And Maggie has been such a background character - it would kind of be a letdown for her to be the killer. We'll see if she's featured more in upcoming eps.
My verdict: Very possible. One of my 3 top suspects.



BETH BARRINGTON
Evidence: None that I've found.
Motive: None so far.
Arguments: Like I said before, I'm not convinced a woman would have the strenght to carry out some of the murders.
My verdict: Nope. Not the killer.



CAL VANDEUSEN
Evidence: Young Madison made references to a "new friend" who was telling her creepy things about the island - and we know Cal got along well w/Madison on the boat trip to the island. Also, as a doctor, Cal has a little more knowledge about the human body - which couldn't hurt. And, we were shown a semi-violent side of him for about 5seconds in episode 1.
Motive: None so far.
Arguments: Cal has been shown as a pretty passive guy. His personality doesn't fit the profile of a murderer. Plus, for 2 murders in ep 2, he was hanging upside down from a tree. Pretty solid alibi.
My verdict: No. I think Cal's a good guy.



CHLOE CARTER
Evidence: She has a fascination with serial killers and knows a lot about Wakefield.
Motive: None so far.
Arguments: She's a girl - and not a particularly strong one - so I say she absolutely could not have hacked up Uncle Marty - or hoisted Richard onto the tree. Plus, she has alibis for a few of the murders.
My verdict: No.



SULLY
Evidence: None that I've found.
Motive: None indicated so far.
Arguments: Has alibis for a few of the murders.
My verdict: No.



DANNY BROOKS
Evidence: Nope.
Motive: Nope.
Arguments: Seems to have alibis for a couple of the murders.
My verdict: My gut says NO.



KATHERINE WELLINGTON
Evidence: Not really.
Motive: I'd guess money, if anything.
Arguments: In the most recent ep, she was with a group while murders were taking place.
My verdict: Doubtful.



NIKKI BOLTON
Evidence: None that I've found.
Motive: Nothing comes to mind.
Arguments: Hard to say for sure, but I think she has an alibi for the reverend's murder (being at The Cannery as part of the scavenger hunt)...also, she discovered Kelly's body.
My verdict: Doubtful.



SHANE PIERCE
Evidence: Doesn't matter.
Motive: Doesn't matter.
Arguments: He was in jail for several of the murders. Even witnessed one.
My verdict: No.



SHEA ALLEN
Evidence: Nothing I've picked up on.
Motive: No clear possible motive.
Arguments: In the most recent ep, she was shown with group when murders took place.
My verdict: No.



SHERIFF MILLS
Evidence: He has a virtual shrine to the Wakefield murders in his home.
Motive: Wakefield-related
Arguments: In the most recent ep, he was in Cole Harkin's cabin when Cole was killed with arrows. Unless the arrows were rigged, he couldn't have done it.
My verdict: Don't think so.



ABBY MILLS
Evidence: I'm not sold on any.
Motive: Her mom was killed 7 years ago - maybe that drove her crazy.
Arguments: She has alibis for several of the murders.
My verdict: Not a chance, in my opinion.



MADISON ALLEN
Evidence: She's creepy and seems to know things.
Motive: No?
Arguments: She's a 9 year old kid.
My verdict: No way.



JD DUNN
IS he dead? It wasn't clear.
Evidence: Plenty of evidence. He's been in fights, put a dead deer on Shane's truck (and maybe a deer head in Henry's tub), messed around with fireworks as a prank...Was the last person to see Kelly before she died...and had dead Uncle Marty's phone in his possession.
Motive: Craziness, possible Wakefield link.
Arguments: He was in jail during...what? 2 killings? He's the obvious red herring.
My verdict: No. And I hope he's not dead.



AND

JOEL BOOTH
Evidence: I know he's "dead" - but his death could have been easily faked. Going into this show, I said I expected the killer to fake their death partway through. So I can't help but be suspicious of this one.
Motive: Likely Wakefield related. Literally. I think he could be related to Wakefield. Or just crazy.
Arguments: He's presumed dead. I think I read on a message board that the producers/writers/something confirmed that he's dead (I haven't seen a direct quote myself, though)
My verdict: One of my main suspects!

Harper's Island: 5 Most Suspicious Suspects Countdown

I'll preface this by saying, I really only have 3 Most Suspicious Suspects, so 4 and 5 are fillers.

It's nearly impossible to select ANY suspects, because the show keeps throwing all kinds of stuff at us - stuff from the past, people from the past, more plot complications. Seriously, my head is spinning from it all. And my suspect theories change on a weekly basis. But here is what I'm thinking this week...um...and I can't even go into motives - that's just too confusing right now.

Note: I will likely be adding to this.

5. Beth Barrington

No GOOD reason why. I just feel there is something more to this girl that we're not getting. Something that might come up in future episodes.

She DID make a concerned phone call to Lucy's voicemail (not knowing Lucy was dead). That alone makes me think she should be crossed off the suspect list, BUT if she's the killer and hopes to get away with it, such an act could make her less suspicious to authorities...if they were, for some reason, to check Lucy's phone. That's reaching a bit, but out of the remaining suspects, she's one that stands out to me.

And it seems she's been available for all of the murders.

4. Shane Pearce

He's a bad guy with a bad temper.

He has access to many of the murder weapons.

Okay, so he's been in jail for the past couple of killings...So he probably is not the killer, but he's still very suspicious in my book. Maybe next ep we'll find out ol' Sheriff Mills let Shane go at some point. Who knows with this show...

3. Joel Booth

Before the show started, I predicted that the killer might fake their own death, continue killing, and then pop up in the end for a big surprise. Joel's accidental, self-inflicted wound could have been faked.

In ep 1, there is a pretty pointless, blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot of Joel grabbing his luggage. And there are scuba tanks with his luggage, which may or may not have been a hint that he was involved in the death of Cousin Ben.

2. Jimmy Mance

He's got the skills and strength...and tools to commit the murders.

He's a local, so he knows the island well.

I don't think he has an alibi for ANY of the murders.

I have to admit, part of me would like Jimmy to end up with Abby. Happily ever after. So I don't really WANT him to be the killer. BUT another part of me thinks it might be some good tv. Jimmy gone bad!

1. Henry Dunn

• From what I can tell, he has been pretty much "available" for all the murders...

He's from Tacoma - just like the previous serial killer on the island - coincidence, or something more?

His parents died. But how? We haven't been given much explanation there. Mighty peculiar, eh?

His brother is the red herring. Nice way to deflect suspicion, I think. Make JD seem like the bad brother, Henry the good brother. But in reality, it's the opposite. (Elaborating on this, I think he could've swiped Uncle Marty's cell and planted it in JD's stuff. Not a lot of brotherly love here.)

And if they really want to fool us, why not have the nice guy be the killer?

Must watch this!!!!!

HARPER'S ISLAND

Starts THIS Thursday

on CBS