How did Tommy die in Absentia? Details from the Prime Video series explored

Absentia (Image Source: Prime Video)
Absentia (Image Source: Prime Video)

Detective Tommy Gibbs died in a shocking moment early in Season 2 of Absentia.

His disappearance and supposed suicide left a large hole in the central cast. His death was a serious setback to Emily Byrne’s efforts to find the truth. The police officially suggested that Tommy had taken his own life.

The series built its second season on the tension between the official story and the truth that Emily desperately sought. Emily never believed her friend had committed suicide. New details from the episode Committed finally exposed the dark truth about the detective’s death. This revelation confirmed that Tommy was a victim of the same conspiracy Emily was fighting.


Exploring details about Tommy Gibb's death in Absentia

Tommy Gibbs- Absentia (Image Source: @joeyclauk/ YouTube)
Tommy Gibbs- Absentia (Image Source: @joeyclauk/ YouTube)

The official report vs. Emily's suspicion

The police investigation concluded that Detective Tommy Gibbs committed suicide. This narrative was accepted by the department. Tommy was struggling with professional and personal pressures. The official report stated he was unable to cope with the stress of his work on the Fentanyl Killer case.

Emily understood the true nature of the conspiracy. She knew the darkness that surrounded her life. She believed that anyone who got close to the truth would be silenced. Tommy had been helping Emily in secret. He was getting closer to finding the people behind the original plot. His death was timed to stop the investigation. The quick closure of the case fueled Emily's suspicion in Absentia.


The fentanyl killer’s reach

The link between Tommy's death and the broader conspiracy became clearer when the focus shifted to the Fentanyl Killer. This killer was responsible for injecting victims with a dangerous serum. Emily and Cal Issac started to investigate the Catalyst Database. This database contained crucial information about the serum and the people developing it.

The information inside the database confirmed Emily's fears. Tommy Gibbs was murdered. The database had details that exposed his death as part of the conspiracy. This evidence made it clear that Tommy was silenced to protect the identity of the Fentanyl Killer and the wider operation. The police initially covered up the murder by claiming suicide. This cover-up protected the powerful figures behind the serum experiments. The full truth revealed a much deeper corruption in Absentia.


The revelation of Dr. Odewale

The identity of a key conspirator provided the final answer to "How did Tommy die in Absentia?" Emily and Cal discovered that Dr. Odewale was deeply involved in the plot. Dr. Odewale was a man Emily trusted. He was treating her son, Flynn.

Tommy’s investigation likely led him directly to Dr. Odewale. The doctor was a part of the team that developed the serum. They created the serum using Emily’s blood. Tommy posed a threat to the entire operation because he was too close to the source.

Tommy Gibbs- Absentia (Image Source: @joeyclauk/ YouTube)
Tommy Gibbs- Absentia (Image Source: @joeyclauk/ YouTube)

The show does not name the killer directly. It strongly suggests that Dr. Odewale or someone working for him murdered Tommy. They quickly staged the scene to look like a suicide. The central conspiracy was willing to kill anyone to keep its secrets hidden. This included Tommy Gibbs, a dedicated detective on the case. Absentia shows how difficult it is to fight powerful, secret organizations.


The aftermath of the murder

Tommy’s death allowed the conspiracy to continue operating for some time. It temporarily neutralized the official police investigation into the Fentanyl Killer. The revelation that Tommy was murdered gives Emily and Nick a shared goal. They are fighting the same enemy that harmed their friend. Tommy’s death acts as a catalyst for Emily.

She uses the truth to further her mission against the people who destroyed her life. The show, Absentia, hinges on these deeply personal betrayals and continues to explore the tragic consequences of corruption and secrecy.

Edited by Nimisha