Harlan Coben’s Caught Ending Explained: Who Framed Leo and What Happened to Martina?

Netflix’s Spanish crime thriller Caught (Atrapados) delivers a gripping mystery with shocking twists, leading investigative journalist Ema Garay into a dark web of deception. What starts as a sting operation against an online predator turns into a much larger conspiracy involving a missing teenager, false accusations, and a deadly cover-up. 

The ending leaves several lingering questions—Did Facundo actually kill Leo? Who really murdered Martina? And who was behind framing Leo?

Did Facundo Actually kill Leo?

After Ema exposes Leo Mercer as a suspected predator, his friend Facundo, driven by rage, shoots him in the neck. Leo then tumbles off a cliff into a river, and despite an extensive search, his body is never recovered. Facundo is arrested for murder, but with no corpse, his charge is reduced to attempted murder.

However, in the final moments of Caught, Leo is seen riding a horse through a desert, alive but scarred from his wound. This suggests that he survived but chose to disappear rather than return to Bariloche, where he was wrongly accused and betrayed. Facundo believes Leo would have sought reconciliation if he were alive, but his absence indicates that he has no intention of forgiving or forgetting.

Who Killed Martina?

Martina Schulz’s disappearance initially seems tied to Leo, but Ema uncovers the truth—she was unintentionally killed by Armando, a teenager with close ties to Leo. After a party, Martina panicked upon learning about Leo’s accusations, and Armando, frustrated and confused, pushed her down the stairs, leading to her death.

His mother, Juliana, then planted evidence to frame Leo. At the end, Armando confesses to the crime, bringing closure to Martina’s grieving family while exposing the manipulation behind the case against Leo.

Who Framed Leo—and why?

Leo’s downfall wasn’t just about Martina’s murder—it was orchestrated by Marcos Brown, his closest friend, for financial gain. Marcos needed Leo out of the picture to seize control of their Foundation’s Lakeside land, which held significant value. He manipulated events, using Martina as bait to lure Leo into Ema’s sting operation, setting him up as a predator.

When Ema finally uncovers Marcos’ betrayal, he attacks her, but she exposes him in a live broadcast. Knowing his crimes will be revealed, Marcos ultimately takes his own life in a car crash rather than face the consequences.

What Happens to Fran Briguel?

Though Fran Briguel didn’t kill Martina, he is guilty of grooming her and attempting to assault her. His powerful family protects him, but Ema and her team are determined to bring him down. While the series doesn’t confirm his fate, his past is now exposed, leaving his future uncertain.

Caught ends on a bittersweet note—justice is served for Martina, but Leo’s fate remains a mystery. With him choosing exile over redemption, the show leaves an open-ended question: Can the truth ever fully undo the damage caused by lies? And will Leo ever return?

Caught is streaming now on Netflix.