Who Died in the Finale? Parker? Carla Marino?

The explosive NCIS Season 22 finale left fans asking one major question: who died and who survived? As Parker teamed up with his longtime nemesis Carla Marino in a risky alliance, betrayal was inevitable—and deadly. With hidden motives, shocking reveals, and a final act of revenge, the episode delivered a loss that hits close to home.

Here’s who was killed in the NCIS Season 22 finale and what it means moving forward.

Did Parker or Carla Marino die in the NCIS Season 22 finale?

Carla Marino kidnaps Special Agent Alden Parker in the NCIS Season 22 finale, but neither she nor Parker dies. Later, Parker returns home and discovers a shocking crime involving his father, Roman Parker.

The episode reveals that Carla Marino is the true leader of the Nexus organization. She tricks NCIS into believing she wants to help, only to betray them. Carla fakes an alliance with the team, manipulates Parker into accompanying her to Kansas City, and uses the opportunity to target his father.

Who was killed in the NCIS Season 22 finale?

The NCIS Season 22 finale kills off Roman Parker, Alden Parker’s father. Parker comes home and finds Roman shot dead in his favorite chair. Two wine glasses sit nearby—one marked with lipstick that hints at Carla’s presence.

Carla poses as a helpful informant and lures Parker away to murder his father undisturbed. Earlier, she had dinner with the father and son, which gave her access to their home. Her motive is personal revenge. She blames Parker for her son Jason’s death after he revealed her criminal identity. She ultimately says, “a life for a life,” before executing her plan.

The finale confirms that Carla Marino, not a fictional “The Butcher,” leads Nexus. She stages a fake meeting with the group to manipulate Parker, then sets off a larger chain of events. Though her bomb plot is foiled by the NCIS team, the personal damage is already done. Gary Cole, who plays Parker, stated: “Discovering someone who you love that is dead and has been murdered is quite another thing” (via US Weekly.)

The show presents the lipstick as the only clue at the murder scene, sparking speculation about Carla’s involvement, though it provides no written confession.