RDR2: Why Dutch’s Girlfriend Lied About Being The Rat

Molly O’Shea’s story came to an abrupt end in Red Dead Redemption 2, but not before the gang member told a serious lie that ended up costing her life. When players learn the real truth, it makes the story of Molly’s death in Red Dead Redemption 2’s Van der Linde camp all the more dismal.

Players are first introduced to Molly O’Shea when the Van der Lindes have set up camp at Cotler, an old settlement in Ambarino. She’s seen escorting ringleader Dutch back to his tent, quickly establishing her as his main love interest throughout Red Dead Redemption 2’s story.

But as their leader Dutch Van der Linde gets increasingly erratic as the story progresses, his interest in Molly seems to wane. There are several scenes in which she tries talking to Dutch (or to another gang member about Dutch), only to be shut down. Molly was clearly feeling ignored and unaccepted by the gang, particularly Dutch. So, when Dutch, Arthur, and the others return from Guarma, it’s not exactly surprising when they’re told that no one has seen Molly in a long time.

Why Did Molly Lie In Red Dead Redemption 2?

Things take a turn for the worse – for Molly, that is – when Uncle finds her drunk in Saint Denis and brings her back to the camp. Molly is clearly furious with Dutch, and she begins drunkenly berating him, talking about how he’s ignored her and she only ever loved him. Things escalate, however, when she then admits to ratting the gang out to the Pinkertons, which would explain why they were able to intercept the bank heist that went wrong in Saint Denis. In response to her reveal, Dutch aims his revolver at her, though Arthur tries to talk him out of killing Molly. In the end, however, Susan Grimshaw surprises the gang by putting a fatal bullet in Molly. Susan said that Molly “knew the rules,” implying the gang returns treason with death. Susan Grimshaw also happens to be a former lover of Dutch Van der Linde.

What’s important to note is that Agent Milton later confesses Micah Bell was the rat, not Molly. Molly did meet with him on several occasions but declined to reveal any information that would help the Pinkertons. She clearly over-exaggerated things when confessing her guilt to Dutch in a last-ditch effort to get his attention, given that she was clearly desperate for the gang leader’s affections. Coupled by the fact that she was drunk, how and why Molly lied in the heat of the moment is understandable. She was portrayed as being head-over-heels in love with Dutch, and likely never expected him to want to kill her. But alas, rules are rules.

There’s a reason Molly O’Shea lied about being the rat in Red Dead Redemption 2, and the simple answer is she did it for love.

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