'Lady in the Lake' Episode 5: Who killed Tessie Durst? Maddie Schwartz zeroes in on one prime suspect
Contains spoilers for ‘Lady in the Lake’
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: The captivating murder case of young Tessie Durst (Bianca Belle) is at the heart of Apple TV+'s suspense drama series 'Lady in the Lake.'
The show, based on Laura Lippman's novel of the same name, follows the lives of two very different women. One of them is Maddie Schwartz (Natalie Portman), a dissatisfied housewife who is fed up with her husband and her responsibilities.
On the other side is Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram), a woman who toils in a racially charged environment to support her children.
As the story unfolds, both women find their lives at a crossroads: Cleo is brutally murdered, and Maddie, driven by a newfound purpose, decides to pursue the case as an investigative journalist.
In the recent episode, Maddie suspects a connection between the murders of Cleo and Tessie, though it's uncertain whether her theory holds.
Why does Maddie Schwartz think Reggie Robinson killed Tessie Durst?
It is widely known from the show that on the day Tessie was abducted, Reggie Robinson (Josiah Cross) was at the fish store with Stephen Zawadzkie (Dylan Arnold) and Tessie.
Although the identity of the kidnapper and murderer of the young girl has not been revealed, strong indications point to Reggie's involvement, especially given his furious reaction when her name was mentioned after her death.
In the recent episode, Maddie identifies Reggie as the main suspect the police are actively pursuing in the Tessie abduction case, establishing a clear connection between him and the crime.
Maddie's belief that Reggie might be hiding information about Tessie's abduction and death is strengthened by his evasive and suspicious behavior during their interactions.
Additionally, Maddie suspects that Reggie might also be behind Cleo's murder, given that both Cleo's and Tessie's bodies were found floating in the lake. This reinforces her belief that there is a pattern of violence linked to Reggie.
Is Stephen Zawadzkie being wrongfully implicated in the murder of Tessie Durst?
It's challenging to determine whether Stephen is the actual killer of Tessie, but he remains a significant person of interest due to his mental health issues.
In Episode 4, Maddie confronts Stephen in a Baltimore jail, where he reveals that he was one of several test subjects in biological warfare defense trials conducted by US military intelligence.
Several flashbacks reveal that Stephen was deliberately made ill by mysterious substances and poisons, allowing the US to collect data on their medical effects for potential use against enemies. This background clearly explains his deteriorating mental health.
Additionally, Stephen escapes from jail by starting a fire and creating chaos. He then approaches Maddie at her apartment but does not harm her; instead, he merely greets her, further underscoring his fragile mental state.
However, it could also be a clever strategy to divert attention away from himself and onto someone else.
How to stream 'Lady in the Lake'?
Subscribers to Apple TV+'s streaming service have the opportunity to watch the series, which will immerse you in the thrilling world of courtroom drama.
To access all of the original episodes and films on the Apple TV+ platform, users are required to pay a monthly subscription price of $9.99.
'Lady in the Lake' trailer