The mystery of who killed Bunny Folger, the cantankerous but ultimately beloved Board President of the Arconia, captivated viewers throughout the second season of Hulu’s hit show, Only Murders in the Building. As of today, December 13, 2025, the shocking truth has been fully revealed, exposing a killer from within the true-crime podcasting world itself, whose motive was a desperate grab for fame and recognition.
The entire second season saw Mabel Mora, Charles-Haden Savage, and Oliver Putnam framed for the brutal stabbing of their neighbor, Bunny Folger, in Mabel’s apartment, 12A. The investigation was a complex web of red herrings, hidden tunnels, and a priceless piece of artwork, but the final episode, "I Know Who Did It," dramatically unmasked the culprit: Poppy White, the seemingly timid assistant to the famous podcaster Cinda Canning.
Bunny Folger: A Profile of the Arconia’s Unsung Queen
Bunny Folger, played brilliantly by Tony Award-winning actress Jayne Houdyshell, was far more than just the grumpy, long-serving Board President of the Arconia. Her final days were spent preparing to retire and move to Boca Raton, a decision that would have been a significant loss for the historic Upper West Side building. Her character was a complex mix of stern authority and hidden vulnerability, making her murder all the more tragic.
- Full Name: Bunny Folger
- Apartment: 12A, a spacious unit in the Arconia.
- Role: Longtime Board President of the Arconia.
- Family: Mentioned a mother, Leonora Folger (who was later revealed to be the art thief, Rose Cooper).
- Key Possession: A valuable, missing painting by artist Rose Cooper, titled "Savage," depicting Charles-Haden Savage’s father. The desire for this painting became a central motive in the murder.
- Pet: A pet parrot named Mrs. Gambolini, who witnessed the murder and provided a key clue.
- Cause of Death: Stabbed eight times with a knitting needle and a knife.
Her murder was a planned event designed to frame the three podcasters—Mabel, Charles, and Oliver—and create a sensational new case for Cinda Canning to cover, which would eventually lead to the killer's own rise to fame.
The Killer Revealed: Poppy White’s Twisted Double Life as Becky Butler
The true identity of Bunny's killer is a masterful twist that connects back to the very foundation of the true-crime podcasting world within the show. The murderer was Poppy White, portrayed by actor Adina Verson, but Poppy's real name and dark past are the keys to understanding her motive.
Poppy White is actually Becky Butler, a woman from Chickasha, Oklahoma, who was the subject of Cinda Canning's mega-hit podcast, *All Is Not OK in Oklahoma*. Becky was a victim of sexual harassment by a local mayor, but when no one believed her, she faked her own death and disappeared, creating the perfect, unsolved mystery for Cinda's podcast. Becky then reinvented herself as Poppy White, moving to New York and becoming Cinda's overworked and unappreciated assistant.
The Desperate Motive for Murder
Poppy/Becky’s motive was not personal revenge against Bunny, but a calculated, desperate plot to gain recognition and escape Cinda’s shadow. She believed that by orchestrating a new, high-profile murder—one that was "better" and more complex than her own faked death—she could pitch the story to Cinda, take credit for solving it, and finally launch her own career as a famous podcaster.
The plan involved:
- The Setup: Luring Bunny to Mabel’s apartment (12A) on the night of her retirement party.
- The Murder: Stabbing Bunny with a knife and a knitting needle (left by Mabel) and planting the body in Mabel’s apartment, making it look like Mabel was the killer.
- The Frame: Stealing the valuable Rose Cooper painting and the Arconia’s old elevator blueprints to create a complex web of clues, ensuring the case would be a sensational, season-long mystery.
- The Accomplice: Recruiting Detective Kreps (The Glitter Guy), who was also desperate for money and fame, to help manage the investigation and plant false evidence.
7 Crucial Clues That Unmasked the Real Killer
The trio—Mabel, Charles, and Oliver—pieced together the truth by following a series of seemingly innocuous clues that all pointed away from the red herrings and toward Poppy White (Becky Butler) and her accomplice, Detective Kreps. These entities and clues are vital to understanding the case:
- The Sneeze: This was the final, definitive piece of evidence. Bunny’s parrot, Mrs. Gambolini, squawked "Savage!" and "I'm a pretty bird! I'm a pretty bird!"—but the killer’s identity was confirmed by the fact that they sneezed due to a severe allergy to birds. Poppy White was seen sneezing multiple times throughout the season, including in the final confrontation.
- The "14" Clue: Bunny’s last words were "14... Savage!" The trio initially believed this referred to apartment 14, but it was revealed to be a reference to a specific sandwich order: a #14 sandwich from the diner where Poppy White frequently ate. Poppy ordered the #14, which contained liverwurst and marmalade. Bunny had gone to the diner to meet Poppy/Becky just before her death.
- The Girl in the Wall: The killer knew about the 'girl in the wall'—the hidden passageway that connected Bunny's apartment to the Arconia's secret tunnels. Poppy, as Becky Butler, had been researching the Arconia's history, including the old blueprints that detailed the tunnels, for her murder plot.
- The Glitter Guy: Detective Kreps, who was revealed to be Poppy’s accomplice, was dubbed "The Glitter Guy" after Mabel stabbed him with a knitting needle on the subway, leaving glitter on him. Kreps was helping Poppy manage the investigation and plant evidence to frame the trio.
- The Rose Cooper Painting: The stolen painting was the initial MacGuffin. Poppy/Becky stole it to add a layer of complexity to the case, making it seem like a high-stakes art heist gone wrong. The painting was ultimately recovered, proving the murder was about more than just money.
- Cinda Canning’s Pitch: Poppy’s obsession with Cinda’s success and her desire to pitch a "better" story was a key psychological clue. She was constantly trying to impress Cinda, and the murder was her ultimate, twisted pitch.
- The Phone Call: In the final reveal, Mabel realized that Poppy had been trying to get her to look for the "Becky Butler" evidence, hinting at her real identity and the true story behind *All Is Not OK in Oklahoma*.
The Aftermath: Justice for Bunny Folger
The dramatic climax occurred during a "killer reveal party" at the Arconia, where the trio successfully exposed Poppy White and Detective Kreps. The reveal was a meta-narrative masterpiece, reflecting the show's love for true-crime tropes and misdirection. The case was solved, the trio was cleared, and Bunny Folger finally received justice.
The resolution of Bunny’s murder brought a close to one of the most compelling and intricate mysteries in the show’s run. It solidified the trio's reputation as genuine detectives, proving their podcast, *Only Murders in the Building*, was more than just a hobby. The entire ordeal also served to highlight the darker side of true-crime obsession, where people like Poppy White are willing to commit heinous acts just to become famous.
While the focus of the series shifted in Season 3 to the murder of Ben Glenroy, the legacy of Bunny Folger—the Arconia’s stoic, short-tempered, and secretly kind matriarch—remains a foundational element of the show’s history. Her death, while tragic, was the catalyst for Mabel, Charles, and Oliver to truly become the investigators they always aspired to be.
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