Season five of “Queen of the South” opened with the shocking revelation that Teresa Mendoza was dead. The first episode showed her funeral, and fans were left wondering who had killed the queenpin. As the series progressed, a few suspects emerged, and fans speculated on who the real killer was.
One theory suggested that Teresa’s former business partner and lover, James Valdez, was behind her murder. James had a tumultuous relationship with Teresa during the show’s run, and he had already attempted to kill her once before. However, it isn’t clear why James would kill Teresa, as they had reconciled their differences and were working together against their enemies.
Another theory suggested that Devon Finch, a corrupt politician, was responsible for Teresa’s death. Finch had crossed paths with Teresa in the past, and she had refused to work with him. He had also threatened to kill her if she ever interfered with his political aspirations. However, this theory doesn’t hold weight, as it is unlikely that a politician would risk his career and reputation by committing murder.
A more plausible theory is that Gilberto Falcon, the leader of a rival drug cartel, was responsible for Teresa’s death. Gilberto had been a thorn in Teresa’s side since season one, and he had tried to kill her on numerous occasions. In a tense scene from season five, Gilberto confronted Teresa and threatened to kill her. His motive for killing her was revenge, as she had caused significant damage to his drug operations.
Finally, there is the possibility that Epifanio Vargas, a former governor and drug lord, was behind Teresa’s murder. Epifanio and Teresa had a complicated history, and they had been working together to take down the Russian mob. However, in the season five finale, Teresa discovered that Epifanio had been working with Gilberto Falcon all along. It is possible that Epifanio saw Teresa as a threat to his power and wanted to eliminate her before she could expose his treachery.
In conclusion, the question of who killed Teresa Mendoza has been a central plot point of “Queen of the South” season five. While several theories have emerged, the most likely suspects are Gilberto Falcon and Epifanio Vargas. Both of these men had motive and opportunity to kill Teresa and would stop at nothing to eliminate their rivals. However, fans will have to wait for the series finale to uncover the truth about Teresa’s untimely demise.