The Most Tragic Deaths In The Red Dead Redemption Series, Ranked (2024)

The Red Dead Redemption series is one of the most tragic in the history of gaming. Both stories are about men trying to redeem themselves after a life of crime and debauchery, and both end in tragedy as they are respectively killed.

To make matters worse, the rest of the games are also littered with untimely and sorrowful deaths. Despite their mistakes and stature as criminals and outlaws, fans can't help but feel attached to them and their stories, and when they die, their loss is truly felt. The player hates themselves for feeling it, but the feeling is there nevertheless.

Updated on February 4, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the best games Rockstar has ever made. The sheer amount of love put into this game makes it clear why so many people call it Rockstar's magnum opus. The expectations for Grand Theft Auto 6 are sky-high, especially with the narrative of this game making it clear that Rockstar's storytelling (something that many people labeled as the studio's weakest aspect) is better than ever before. Both this game and its prequel feature their fair share of character deaths that are truly heartbreaking, especially for players who were invested in the stories of these people and how they aided both Arthur and John in their respective journeys.

15 Leopold Strauss

A Loan Shark Who Was Surprisingly Loyal, Despite His Dubious Morals

• Dies In: Red Dead Redemption 2
• Killed by: The Pinkertons after being tortured and questioned

Most players are huge fans of Leopold Strauss. The man preyed on the weak, giving them loans in their time of need only to exploit them and either take high interest repayments or beat them into submission until they coughed up the cash.

His requests from Arthur led to the protagonist contracting tuberculosis and throwing Leopold out of the group for his predatory actions. Still, despite his lack of morals, he never outed the van der Linde gang after being captured and tortured to death by the Pinkertons.

14 Luisa Fortuna

A Rebel Who Fights To Her Last Breath

• Dies In: Red Dead Redemption
• Killed by: Raul Zubieta and his men

Red Dead Redemption is a great game where players will fall in love with John Marston and the amazing details present in the recreation of the Wild West. After heading to Mexico and finding out about the revolution happening there, players will be introduced to Luisa Fortuna.

She's a great character who warms up to Marston, only to get angry at him after he helps the Mexican army in a series of missions. Still, Marston respects her courage, which is why he becomes furious when she tries to stop a major in the army, Raul Zubieta, from executing the leader of the rebellion, Abraham Reyes. She's shot down in cold blood, leading to Marston getting furious and avenging her death in a duel.

13 Thomas Downes

The Man Who Inadvertently Gives Tuberculosis To Arthur After A Savage Beatdown

• Dies In: Red Dead Redemption 2
• Killed by: Tuberculosis (the beatdown by Arthur didn't help)

Thomas Downes is a minor character in the franchise, but an important one in many side quests. He appears in Red Dead Redemption 2 and first appears in The Horseshoe Overlook Chapter. The player visits Valentine, where Thomas Downes is opening a fundraiser for charity. During a brawl in the saloon between Arthur and Tommy, Downes intervenes.

After this incident, he is seen giving donations to the poor in Valentine. Downes was financially unstable and sought a loan from Leopold Strauss. Unable to pay the loan back, Arthur comes to collect the debt and ends up physically assaulting him when he can't pay up. Thomas coughs up blood during this incident, which prompts Arthur to leave him alone. It's later revealed that Thomas died. It was a sad moment in the series, seeing a good character die like this, despite his flaws.

12 Javier Escuella

One Of The Members Of Dutch's Gang Who's Killed By John Marston Under Pinkerton Orders

• Dies in: Red Dead Redemption
• Killed by: John Marston

Escuella served as a major antagonist in the first Red Dead Redemption, but his character was given significant depth in the prequel. He was an active member of the gang and was even quite close to Arthur, as the two bonded over fishing and horse stealing. The player actually starts to like him...until the acceptance of the inevitable.

He eventually sides with Dutch and Micah and flees with Bill, leading into the events of Red Dead Redemption. In that game, there's the option to kill Javier, and if this happens, John will look at his corpse with a tear in his eye as he remembers the good times.

11 Andrew Milton

A Member Of The Pinkertons Who Kills Hosea In One Of The Game's Most Harrowing Moments

• Dies in:Red Dead Redemption 2
• Killed by: Abigail Marston

Andrew Milton is a major character in Red Dead Redemption 2. Despite being considered to be an antagonist in the game, it was quite sad when he died, as he was essentially on the right side of the law. Milton is a top-ranking detective in the Pinkerton National Detective Agency who is brought in to track down the Van Der Linde gang after they rob a train.

It all ends for him with a showdown with Arthur. Milton points a gun at his head, but Abigail comes to the rescue and shoots Milton in the temple. It's a brutal, sad way for the law enforcement officer to go. The player is obviously glad because Milton opposes them as they progress through the game, but on reflection, Milton was just trying to do the right thing.

10 Sean MacGuire

An Irish Funnyman Who Can Lighten The Mood In Any Situation

• Dies in:Red Dead Redemption 2
• Killed by: One of Sheriff Gray's hired guns

Sean was arguably the gang's funniest member. That said, he was admitted into the gang after trying to rob Dutch. However, his life is brought to a swift end in Rhodes.

While accompanying Arthur, Bill, and Micah on a job in town, Sean is shot in the head while absently walking down the street. It comes out of nowhere, and while it's certainly sad to see the comic relief go, it's more surprising than anything.

9 Edgar Ross

The Man Who Tortured And Hounded Dutch's Gang With His Relentlessness To Uphold The Law

• Dies in: Red Dead Redemption
• Killed by: Jack Marston

Edgar Ross appears in both games in the series. He is part of law enforcement and is considered an antagonist despite being on the right side of the law.

Ross is the one who kills John, having betrayed him. Of course, this is a big deal for the player, as John is the protagonist, but what happens next is still quite sad. Jack avenges John in an epic duel with Ross, and the latter is gunned down mercilessly and dies by the riverside.

8 Hosea Matthews

One Of Dutch's Closest Friends Whose Death Marks A Huge Downward Spiral

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• Dies in:Red Dead Redemption 2
• Killed by: Andrew Milton

Hosea helped create the Van der Linde gang alongside Dutch, and he often serves as the voice of reason against Dutch's more dreamy and ambitious ramblings. Despite his reluctance, Hosea continues to go along with Dutch's wild schemes, although it tragically costs him in the end.

During the Saint Denis bank robbery, Hosea is captured and held prisoner by Agent Milton. After talking to Dutch through the door, Milton shoots and kills Hosea, placing the blame on Dutch's feet. And, well, he's not exactly wrong.

7 Lenny Summers

A Longtime Member Of The Gang Whose Death Hits Everyone Hard

• Dies in: Red Dead Redemption 2
• Killed by: Two members of the Pinkertons

Lenny is one of the most tragic characters in the entire series. He is the son of a slave, and his father raised him well. However, he was eventually beaten to death, and Lenny killed his father's murderers in an act of revenge. This caused him to go on the run, and he eventually made his way into the Van der Linde gang.

Arthur and Lenny grow close throughout the course of the game, but he is tragically killed during the Saint Denis bank robbery. He was one of the gentler members of the gang, and his death served as a turning point in the tone of the story.

6 Kieran Duffy

An Unwilling Member Of The O'Driscoll Gang Who Defects And Joins Dutch's Gang

• Dies in:Red Dead Redemption 2
• Killed by: The O'Driscoll Boys

Fans loved Kieran. He was a man simply caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time, and it cost him. He was given an ultimatum by the O'Driscoll gang, and his inclusion in the gang resulted in the Van der Linde group treating him like a traitor.

However, Arthur realizes that his loyalties aren't actually with the O'Driscolls, and the two grow weirdly close once Kieran saves Arthur from death. He certainly didn't deserve his brutal death: kidnapped, tortured, and eventually decapitated. His headless corpse is sent back to Shady Belle, and it serves as a major blow to the gang's, and especially Arthur's morale.

5 Molly O'Shea

Dutch's Jilted Lover Who Betrays The Gang After Their Relationship Sours

• Dies in:Red Dead Redemption 2
• Killed by: Susan Grimshaw

The person most negatively affected by Dutch's downfall is arguably Molly O'Shea. At the beginning of the game, Dutch and Molly are lovers and can be seen engaging in loving activities like slow dancing.

However, their relationship quickly begins to deteriorate thanks to Dutch's prolonged absences, lack of attention, and increased paranoia. Before long, Molly becomes a drunk who essentially commits suicide by falsely admitting to the gang that she betrayed them and talked to the Pinkertons. It was a quick way out of a life that had long gone tragic.

4 Uncle

An Innocent Drunk Who Stays With John After He Relocates To Beecher's Hope

• Dies in:Red Dead Redemption 2
• Killed by: The Pinkertons

Uncle was always one of the kindest and most innocent members of the gang. He mostly just sat around, got drunk, and complained about his lumbago. He eventually retires with John and lives with his family on his ranch, seemingly content to live out the rest of his days in peace.

However, he is caught unawares by the soldiers and Bureau agents who storm John's ranch, and he is shot in the chest by a soldier. John thanks Uncle for his protection as he dies, a wonderful moment that proves that Uncle and John really were family at the end of the day (despite all the bickering).

3 Dutch Van Der Linde

The Leader Of The Gang Who Goes Down The Wrong Part After A Series Of Misfortunes

• Dies in:Red Dead Redemption
• Killed by: John Marston

Despite serving as the primary antagonist in both games, fans can't but feel a little sorry for poor Dutch Van Der Linde. In RDR 2, he is actually quite happy at times and seemingly wants nothing more than to keep his "family" together.

However, his mental health slowly begins to deteriorate as the law and "civilization" close in, and he grows increasingly violent and erratic. He eventually accepts that change is inevitable and throws himself off a mountain, both to avoid capture and to commit suicide. His death didn't mean much in the first game but is given incredible weight and tragic heft after witnessing the events of RDR 2.

2 Arthur Morgan

The Protagonist Of Red Dead Redemption 2 And One Of Rockstar's Best Characters

• Dies in:Red Dead Redemption 2
• Killed by: Tuberculosis (High Honor)/Micah Bell (Low Honor)

Arthur's death is certainly tragic. He was much more evil than John ever was, but he also redeemed himself in a much greater manner. His quest for redemption begins after being diagnosed with TB, and the disease slowly wastes away at his mind and body.

He eventually dies after fighting for John and allowing him to escape. Luckily, the player has time to accept his diagnosis and expect his eventual death, which is more than can be said for someone.

1 John Marston

The First Game's Protagonist Who Is Blackmailed By The Pinkertons To Hunt Down The Remnants Of His Former Gang

• Dies in:Red Dead Redemption
• Killed by: John Marston

John's death is undoubtedly the most tragic of the series. For one thing, the death comes out of nowhere. While we all accepted Arthur's eventual demise, John's death at the hands of Ross comes as a major surprise and story twist.

His background was also more tragic than Arthur's. He actually got out of "the life" but was tragically sucked back in after seeking revenge on Micah. If he didn't do that, he wouldn't have died. He just wanted to avenge the man who saved his life, and it ended up costing him dearly.

Red Dead Redemption 2

$20 $60 Save $40

Platform(s)

PS4 , Xbox One , PC , Stadia

Released

October 26, 2018

Developer(s)

Rockstar Games

Genre(s)

Action , Adventure

See at Official Site$20 at Steam