Netflix’s Caught is one of those twisty thrillers that keeps viewers guessing until the very last scene. Based on Harlan Coben’s novel, this Spanish crime drama series follows journalist Ema Garay as she digs into the disappearance of a teenage girl, only to stumble into a much darker conspiracy.
By the end, viewers are left with two big questions: Who actually killed Martina? And did Leo survive in Caught? Here’s the breakdown.

Is Leo dead or alive in Harlan Coben’s Caught?
No, Leo doesn’t die in Harlan Coben’s Caught.
The series leaves Leo Mercer’s fate uncertain for most of its runtime. After being falsely accused of child abuse and set up by his childhood friend, Marcos Brown, Leo is shot by Camila’s father, Facundo. As he takes the bullet, he ends up falling into a river. Leo’s body is never found, leading many to assume he died in Caught.
However, the final scenes of Caught reveal that Leo is alive. In a desert-like landscape, he is seen riding a horse with a group of strangers, smiling as they prepare to head back. This suggests Leo chose to disappear, possibly due to the trauma of being hunted and betrayed. While Facundo believes Leo would have returned if alive, it seems Leo opted for a new life away from the lies that nearly destroyed him.
Who was the killer of Marina in Caught?
Martina Schulz’s death was initially pinned on Leo, but the truth is far more tragic in Netflix’s Caught. She dies by accidentally falling down the stairs during an argument with Armando, who, along with his mother, attempts to cover up the tragic incident.
After attending an underground party, Martina left with Armando, the son of Leo’s ex-girlfriend Juliana. The two had a consensual encounter, but when Martina saw Ema’s viral video accusing Leo of abuse, she panicked and confronted Marcos over the phone.
A heated argument with Armando led to a physical struggle, and Martina accidentally fell down the stairs, dying from her injuries in Caught. To protect her son, Juliana helped dispose of Martina’s body in the woods and planted her phone among Leo’s belongings to frame him further. Ultimately, Armando and Juliana turned themselves in.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on ComingSoon.