Beyond the Gates Fans Spot Major Clue About The Impaler

Smitty (Mike Manning) and Jacob (Jibre Hordges) may have cracked the case of ‘The Impaler’ before the first body even dropped. While fans are scanning every new face for a villain, a subtle conversation at Orphy Gene’s back in February may have already provided the blueprint for the season’s biggest reveal.

In the February 10, 2026, episode, Smitty and Jacob discussed what they believed to be the structure of the Impaler’s organization during a scene at Orphy Gene’s.

During the scene, Smitty outlines what he believes is the organization’s hierarchy, explaining that at the top sits “The Impaler,” whom he describes as “brutal.”

He then identifies a potential “Underboss,” suggesting the role could be filled by a blood relative, noting that criminal organizations often keep leadership within the family. Jacob agrees, adding that “trust is currency.”

The third tier includes Ren Tolliver (Donny Carrington), whom Jacob has already encountered. Smitty describes him as a mid-level figure with connections throughout the city, someone “loyal to a fault” and willing to protect those above him.

According to Smitty, Ren oversees the “soldiers” responsible for carrying out orders, including those tasked with procuring blood, while couriers operate at the lowest level of the organization.

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Since that episode, viewers have been introduced to additional members of the organization, further expanding the mystery.

Jacob, operating undercover as Rishad, begins working for Ren as a courier. During one pickup, he identifies lab tech Grayson Perez (Jordi Vilasuso) as a member of the organization.

Grayson has also been seen interacting with his boss, chief of staff Lia Whitmore (Cecelia Specht), who appears to have connections to the organization, raising the possibility that she could fit the “Underboss” role described earlier.

If the ‘Underboss’ must be a blood relative as Smitty theorized, Lia’s professional polish may be a front for something much darker. Is she a grieving wife returned from the dead, or possibly the long-lost sister of a notorious soap villain.

One theory suggest Lia could be Heather Armstrong, the sister of Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom). Another possibility is that she could be connected to Joey as the unnamed ex-wife and father of his unnamed child.

Additional speculation points to a potential link with Dr. Kial Rollins (Greg Vaughan). With little known about his backstory, another theory is whether Lia is his presumed-deceased wife.

As Jacob gets closer to uncovering the truth, the identity of The Impaler remains a mystery, but the structure outlined early in the storyline may prove to be one of the show’s biggest clues.

Viewers can check out the storyline from the beginning on Paramount Plus or on Pluto TV’s dedicated 24/7 Beyond the Gates FAST channel.

New episodes of Beyond the Gates air weekdays on CBS with episodes streaming weeknights on Paramount Plus.

This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.