The lingering mystery surrounding the death of Alden Parker’s mother, Eleanor, reaches its poignant conclusion in the latest episode. Alden, portrayed by Gary Cole, had been wrestling with the decision to exhume his mother’s body due to inconsistencies found in her autopsy report. The situation takes a shocking turn when a DNA test conducted by Kasie Hines, played by Diona Reasonover, reveals that the body in the grave is not Eleanor’s.

With witness accounts dwindling, the investigation leads Alden to seek out Lester Burm, the state trooper who originally documented the accident. Played by Bruce Davison, with Vince Hill-Bedford in flashbacks, Lester is conveniently located nearby. As Alden and his team delve deeper into the case, the twisted truth begins to unravel, revealing who truly rests in Eleanor’s grave.

The story unfolds with the revelation that Lester was married to Judy, one of Eleanor’s friends. Judy was trapped in an abusive marriage, and Eleanor courageously decided to aid her friend in escaping with her daughter, Lily, who Alden recalls from his childhood. As the women attempt to flee from Lester, tragedy strikes. Judy perishes in a car crash orchestrated by her husband, and Lester covers up the incident by placing Judy’s body in Eleanor’s grave, fabricating a story that Judy abandoned Lily.

Meanwhile, Eleanor survives the crash and hides Lily in a motel, planning to relocate her to safety with a distant relative. Tragically, Lester tracks Eleanor down and murders her, disposing of her body and car in a pond near Toledo. However, Alden’s story takes a miraculous turn amid this season of revelations.

An even more important part of Alden’s youth resurfaces in the form of Nelly Johnson (Barbara Niven), a grandmother who turns out to be Lily, living under an assumed name. Alden immediately knows who Nelly/Lily is upon seeing her — in spite of the fact that he previously claimed he didn’t recognize or remember her. Lily explains that she and Alden used to play together while Eleanor gave Judy piano lessons. Lily told Alden her father was hitting her mother, and Judy separately confessed to Eleanor, resulting in Eleanor and Judy deciding to collectively hide at the home of Alden’s mom’s second cousin. Then the accident happens.

Lester is the one who lies that Eleanor was a drunk driver, and who poses Lily at the scene of the accident. After Lester kills Eleanor, Lily is found by the cousin, who raises her. Alden also learns that his father, Roman (Francis X. McCarthy), figured out that Lily/Nelly was alive, but couldn’t tell Alden before he himself died in the Season 22 finale. Alden ultimately gets his closure, putting Lester behind bars, finding his mother’s remains, and making sure Eleanor and Judy are buried in their proper places. The truth about Eleanor Parker’s death is finally out for once and for all — and a weight is lifted off Alden’s shoulders for good.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.