Who killed Harlow in Absentia? Fate of the character in the thriller drama explored

Conrad Harlow (Richard Brake) is one of the main villains in Season 1 of Absentia.

He was first convicted for the disappearance of FBI agent Emily Byrne. Everyone thought Emily was dead. But six years later, she came back alive. When Emily returned, the case opened again. Harlow’s guilt, the new murders, and Emily’s return created many questions.

The show first came out in 2017 on AXN. Later, it was released on Amazon Prime. Absentia began streaming on Netflix worldwide on November 14, 2025. The story follows Emily as she tries to rebuild her life. Her return brings chaos to her family while she starts a desperate search for the truth.

As dead bodies appear and new clues show up, Harlow becomes important again. People once believed he was a serial killer. But then he is murdered. His death shocks everyone. As Absentia continues, viewers learn the truth is not simple at all. The mystery is much bigger than Harlow and much darker than anyone expected.

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Who is Harlow, and why was he originally imprisoned?

Conrad Harlow is shown as a rich and lonely banker in Absentia. He is suspected of being a serial killer. Investigators think he killed the victims Emily was trying to catch before she went missing.

When Emily disappears strangely, people believe Harlow killed her. He is put on trial for her murder. There is no body, because Emily was “dead in absentia.” The police only have clues, not solid proof. But the clues are enough to send him to prison.

Harlow has a scary and unique method. He removes the victims’ eyelids. This becomes the signature sign of the serial killer linked to him. Six years later, Emily is found alive. By that time, Harlow is already in jail for her “murder.” But Emily’s return destroys the simple story the police once believed.

After Emily comes back in Absentia, everything changes. Her survival destroys the case made against Harlow. So Harlow is released from prison. Soon after, Harlow is found dead in his pool. His body is floating in the water. The police say he was stabbed. They also learn that the security cameras were turned off before he died. This makes the police think someone planned his murder.

Emily becomes a suspect very quickly. She broke into Harlow’s home earlier. She also believed he might have helped kidnap her, and was close to the scene around the time he died. So, investigators focus on her. She becomes the main suspect in Harlow’s murder.

At first, the story of Absentia seems simple. It looks like someone close to Harlow killed him. Most signs point to Emily. But as the case continues, the truth becomes darker and confusing. Harlow’s death is not what it first appears to be.

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Who really killed Harlow in Absentia and why?

As Absentia moves forward, we learn a big truth. Harlow was not the real mastermind. The true killer is Logan Brandt. Logan also uses the name Laurie Colson.

Logan and Harlow worked together. They kidnapped Emily years ago. They tortured her for a long time. Harlow took the blame in court. But Logan stayed free. While free, Logan planned new murders. Logan changed clues and evidence and also tried to frame Emily for the crimes.

In the Absentia finale, Emily faces Logan. They have a dangerous fight, and Emily kills Logan in self-defense. This finally exposes the whole conspiracy.

The police later studied all the crimes. They see a bigger pattern. Harlow and Logan acted as a team. Harlow was the “public face” of the killings. Logan worked in the dark, making the plans. The eyelid-removal style, the missing people, and the fake clues were all part of their cruel plan.

Harlow did not die by accident. Logan betrayed him. He likely stabbed him, shut off the cameras, and left the scene. This made Harlow’s death look like a mystery. Logan’s goal was to hide the truth, create chaos, and blame Emily again.

Harlow’s death hugely changes Emily’s life. People thought she killed him. She was also blamed for other murders. Her friends stopped trusting her. Her family pulled away. The FBI and police doubted her, too.

But Emily did not give up. She kept searching for the truth. She fought through painful memories. She followed new clues. These clues showed that something worse is happening, not just for Harlow.

At the end of Absentia, Emily uncovers Logan’s tricks. She proves that Logan set her up. She saves her son and other victims, and also clears her own name. The truth comes out: Harlow and Logan were both serial killers. They worked as a team. They used torture and framed innocent people to stay safe.

Because of this, Emily is finally proven innocent. The bodies of all the victims are found. Emily now gets a small chance to rebuild her life. She tries to reconnect with her son, tries to fix her broken family bonds. She may even return to the FBI, but the trauma still hurts her.

The last scenes show that Emily is still haunted. Even after justice is served, she carries the scars.