Why Is Jan Bellows Back in Prison?

Contains spoilers for “Only Murders in the Building” Season 4, Episode 2 – “Gates of Heaven”

After enduring numerous life-threatening situations in “Only Murders in the Building,” Charles Haden-Savage (Steve Martin) is understandably fraught. Coated in the ashes of his late friend and stunt double Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), he carries her liquified remains in a jar while probing her murder. Soon, he hallucinates seeing her and a noise in his closet reveals Jan Bellows (Amy Ryan). Freshly escaped from prison, Jan claims she’s worried about Sazz, prompting Charles to tell her of Sazz’s demise. As Jan plots her next steps, she exits through Charles’ closet just as Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) show up. Initially unsure of Jan’s reality, Charles is convinced when Donna Williams (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) arrives with a SWAT team, confirming Jan’s escape and the murder of a prison guard.

To recall how Jan ended up in prison, we need to revisit Season 1. Jan, a promising concert bassoonist, didn’t initially register as a suspect in Tim Kono’s (Julian Cihi) murder. Already seriously dating Charles, evidence eventually reveals Jan’s fury over Tim breaking up with her, leading her to poison him and stage it as a suicide. Her attempt to kill Charles fails, and she is subsequently imprisoned for Tim’s death.

Despite being incarcerated since Season 1, Jan’s life has been far from dull.

In Seasons 2 and 3, Jan’s presence disrupts Charles’ romantic recovery. Charles seeks Jan’s help to solve Bunny Folger’s (Jayne Houdyshell) murder, for which he, Mabel, and Oliver are framed. Drawing on her knowledge as a murderer, Jan helps identify the potential suspect as an artist, leading to a moment of reflection about their past romance.

Later, we learn that Sazz and Jan started a relationship after Sazz visited Jan in jail to break up with her on Charles’ behalf. While Charles wrestles with his relationship with Joy (Andrea Martin), Sazz and Jan enjoy a thrilling romance. This relationship continues in Season 3, with Sazz praising Jan and alluding to their bond. However, Jan’s idyllic days are over, though she hints at rekindling her romance with Charles. Some guys indeed have all the luck.