Who kills Bryce Walker in 13 Reasons Why? All the main suspects

22 August 2019, 12:41

By Katie Louise Smith

Season 3's mystery focuses on the death (murder?) of Bryce Walker but which character has the motive to kill him? From Clay Jensen to Chloe Rice, here are all the main suspects...

13 Reasons Why is moving on from Hannah Baker's death in season 3 and focusing on the death of another character: Bryce Walker.

Yep, the trailer for season 3 dropped on August 1 and revealed the season's new mystery that is set to revolve around Bryce, played by Justin Prentice. The season is set to pick up 8 months after the events of the season 2 finale.

READ MORE: 13 Reasons Why renewed for fourth and FINAL season at Netflix

In the trailer, the main characters (and main suspects, it looks like) are gathered around at Bryce's funeral where his mum can be seen asking for information about his death. Clay seems like he has something to say before the screen dramatically turns black and a website address is revealed: whokilledbrycewalker.com.

Bryce did a lot of terrible things over the past two seasons and managed to escape with barely any punishment. Several characters have good reason enough to want to seek revenge but who would go as far as to kill him? As the trailer says: "Given the right circumstances and the right motivation... anyone could have done this."

Who killed Bryce Walker? Here are all the main suspects...

Does Clay Jensen kill Bryce?

Clay probably has one of the biggest motives, but is also the most unlikely suspect. Clay knew about Bryce raping Hannah and Jessica and he's the one who recorded his confession in season 1 as well. Seeing as Bryce only got probation for his crimes, Clay might be seeking some justice.

In the trailer, Clay gets arrested but in all likelihood, if Clay killed Bryce, it was probably an accident. There's no way that cinnamon roll would go out of his way to murder someone - but he definitely knows who did. Will he spill the tea or go down protecting them?

Does Tyler Down kill Bryce?

The last time we saw Tyler, he was about to carry out a school shooting at the Spring Fling but he was stopped outside by Clay. Season 3 picks up 8 months after that event, with the characters all rallying around him to help him to recovery. It's possible that Tyler is no doubt still reeling after what Monty did to him in the bathroom in season 2, and with everyone covering up what he almost did, it sounds like he's not getting the professional help he needs.

It was also revealed that Tyler had a "hit list" - could he be the one that kills bully Bryce, best friend of Monty who raped him? He the motivation, and he still likely has a gun... and Bryce was shot.

Does Bryce's mum, Nora Walker, kill Bryce?

We know, how very Desperate Housewives of Bryce's own mother to kill him over all the bad stuff he's done in the past and the shame he's brought to the very well to do Walker family. But like, what if that actually happens? Nora is hellbent on trying to find out information about who killed her son but what if that's all just a cover up to keep her own motives hidden?

Does Chloe Rice kill Bryce?

Chloe is Bryce's ex-girlfriend who found out she was pregnant after being raped by him in season 2. In the trailer, we see her sitting with Zach on the bleachers before Tony pulls up in a car and causes them to pull away from each other. Are they conspiring together?

And also, what happened to her baby? Season 3 takes place 8 months after the events of the season 2 finale but so far, we don't have any explanation as to whether she kept the baby or not. Either way, her storyline is definitely still entwined with Bryce's.

Does Monty de la Cruz kill Bryce?

Timothy Granaderos who plays Monty said that he'll settle into his role as the villain in season 3.

In the final trailer, Monty is clearly concerned about a lot of things. He ends up in a fight with Zach and is later seen pulling a weapon on Clay and Ani. By the looks of his bruised face, he's also involved in the big Homecoming fight. Monty is one of Bryce's friends but could he have turned on him? To protect himself and all the awful stuff he's done?

Does Zach Dempsey kill Bryce?

In season 2, Zach became a fan favourite after his adorable summer fling with Hannah was revealed during his statement. In the trailer for season 3, we see that he is now getting closer to Bryce's ex-girlfriend Chloe following her break up and him ending his friendship with Bryce.

While it doesn't seem like Zach has it in him to murder someone, it's possible that he could end up confronting Bryce resulting in his accidental death. Whether he knows about Chloe's rape or not, Zach definitely might learn some new information this season that causes more trouble between the two.

Does Hannah's mum, Olivia Baker, kill Bryce?

Despite the fact that she moved to New York at the end of season 2, Olivia is still probably one of the only adults on the show that want Bryce dead. (She literally even said “I don’t want Bryce Walker’s money. I want him dead,” in season 2.)

After failing to see Bryce brought to adequate justice over Hannah's death and Jessica's rape, Olivia may still has a motive. However, Kate Walsh isn't listed to appear in any episodes of season 3 so unless she sent a hit man, it's unlikely that she'll be one who did it.

Does Alex Standall kill Bryce?

In the trailer, Alex is seen with his hands around Monty's neck in the bathroom. Given that Monty and Bryce are best friends, that's already a big ol' red flag in this investigation. Alex also has access to a gun, so we definitely shouldn't be ruling him out. In the final trailer, he can be seen pulling a knife on Monty too. He called Bryce a rapist in season 2 but does he now know about what happened to Tyler at the hands of Monty?

It'd also be pretty crazy if Deputy Standall was investigating a death that was caused by his own son, huh?

Does Jessica Davis kill Bryce?

As a survivor of Bryce's sexual assault, Jessica definitely has a motive. In season 2, we saw Jessica stand up during Bryce's trial and tell her story in order to bring him to justice but it doesn't help as Bryce is let off on probation.

In the trailer for season 3, we see that Jessica has joined a women's support group and is seen dramatically confronting Monty and the jocks in the hallway. And when Justin suggests that "someone we know could have done this," Jessica replies with an unconvincing "that's crazy."

Does Jessica have it in her to snap and kill someone? Maybe?!

Does Tony Padilla kill Bryce?

Tony is basically the Gossip Girl of 13 Reasons Why, he knows everyone's business and is somehow always watching. In the teaser trailer, he can be seen looking very sus with Tyler and Justin as they climb into his car and drive away from his family's auto repair shop.

Tony formed alliances with a lot of people who have reason to want to take Bryce down. Does he take one for the team and get rid of Bryce once and for all? He says to Clay that he'll cover him should he need it but he also doesn't seem to have an alibi for where he was on the night Bryce was shot.

He's also seen in the trailer handing over a gun to a man.

Does Justin Foley kill Bryce?

Justin, who is now living with the Jensen family but still no doubt struggling with his mental health and addiction, is definitely one of the biggest suspects. He's also still living with the awful guilt of knowing what Bryce did to Jessica and not saying anything about it.

Justin also lives with Clay now, so it's possible that the evidence that caused Clay to get arrested may have been used by Justin. Justin's actions could have accidentally implicated Clay in Bryce's murder.

In the trailer, Justin can be seen holding a gun which obviously lends to the fact that Bryce was shot. Could his own personal struggles have pushed him to take action against Bryce? Or is he part of a cover up?

Does newcomer Ani kill Bryce?

Ani (played by Grace Saif) is seen standing over a sink scrubbing blood out of a white shirt. While we don't quite know her motive just yet, there's no reason to not suspect she could be involved. When Bryce's death is announced over the tannoy at school, she looks a little too shook for someone who barely knew him. WHAT DOES SHE KNOW?!

There's also several new characters that could easily have carried out the murder, and it would certainly throw us all off the scent if it was someone completely new, either with a motive of their own or acting on behalf of someone else.

The jury also is still out on whether or not Bryce's murder was planned or accidental. Either way, this season's mystery is sure to have some huge implications for almost every character on the show going into season 4. Will they all even make it to graduation?