Who Actually Killed Alison DiLaurentis in Pretty Little Liars Explained

The mystery of who killed Alison DiLaurentis is the engine that drove seven seasons of the hit TV show Pretty Little Liars (PLL). From the very first episode, the discovery of a body under the DiLaurentis gazebo set off a chain of events that haunted Spencer, Aria, Hanna, and Emily for years. However, the answer to "who killed Ali" is far more complicated than a simple name.

In the television series, the short answer is that Alison DiLaurentis was never actually killed. She survived the night of her disappearance and went into hiding. However, in the original book series by Sara Shepard, the story takes a much darker turn where a murder actually did occur.

The Truth About What Happened to Alison in the TV Show

For the first three and a half seasons of the show, every character and viewer believed Alison was dead. It wasn't until the Season 4 episode "Now You See Me, Now You Don't" and the subsequent finale "A is for Answers" that the truth began to surface. Alison was alive, but she had been through a horrific ordeal on the night she disappeared—often referred to by fans as "That Night."

Who Attacked Alison DiLaurentis?

The person who physically struck Alison over the head with a rock was CeCe Drake (born Charles DiLaurentis, later known as Charlotte).

On the night of the disappearance, Charlotte had escaped from Radley Sanitarium. She saw a girl in a yellow ruffled top from behind and, in a fit of panicked confusion, mistook her for Bethany Young. Charlotte believed Bethany was on her way to hurt Jessica DiLaurentis (their mother). In an attempt to protect her mother, Charlotte hit the girl with a stone. To her horror, it wasn't Bethany; it was her own sister, Alison.

Who Buried Alison Alive?

One of the most chilling reveals in Pretty Little Liars history was that Jessica DiLaurentis buried her own daughter.

Jessica witnessed Charlotte hit Alison. Believing Alison was dead and desperate to protect her other child, Charlotte, from being sent back to Radley or charged with murder, Jessica dug a grave in the backyard. While Alison was unconscious but still breathing, Jessica buried her. Throughout the process, Jessica was hysterical, repeatedly whispering, "What have I done?"

How Did Alison Survive?

Alison did not die in that grave. She was rescued by Mrs. Grunwald, a psychic and housemother from a nearby town who had a premonition that Alison was in danger. Mrs. Grunwald drove to Rosewood, sensed Alison's presence, and pulled her hand from the soil just in time.

After being taken to a hospital, a panicked Alison ran away. She was later found by Mona Vanderwaal, who took her to the Lost Woods Resort. Mona, who was the original "A" at the time, manipulated Alison into staying "dead" and leaving town, which gave Mona exactly what she wanted: a Rosewood without its resident Queen Bee.

If Alison is Alive, Who is in the Grave?

The central confusion of the show's early seasons stemmed from the fact that a body was found and identified as Alison DiLaurentis. If Alison survived, the question shifted to: Who died in her place?

The girl found in the grave was Bethany Young, a patient from Radley Sanitarium who had also escaped that night and was wearing the exact same yellow top as Alison.

Who Killed Bethany Young?

Bethany's death involved two other major characters: Mona Vanderwaal and Melissa Hastings.

1. The Attack: Mona Vanderwaal saw Bethany from behind, mistook her for Alison, and hit her over the head with a shovel. Mona didn't want to kill her; she wanted to get revenge on Alison for years of bullying.
2. The Burial: Melissa Hastings came across the unconscious body shortly after. Melissa had seen her sister Spencer in a heated argument with Alison earlier that night and found Spencer holding a shovel. Believing Spencer had killed Alison in a fit of rage, Melissa decided to cover up the "crime." She pushed the unconscious Bethany into the open hole and covered her with dirt.

Ironically, just like Alison, Bethany was alive when she was put into the ground. However, unlike Alison, no one came to rescue Bethany. She died of suffocation, and her body remained there until it was discovered a year later.

Why Were There So Many Different Suspects?

Part of the brilliance of Pretty Little Liars was the way it consistently pointed the finger at different characters, making everyone in Rosewood look guilty at some point.

The Red Herrings

• Ian Thomas: Because of his secret relationship with Alison and the existence of the "N.A.T. Club" videos, the Liars were convinced Ian killed her to keep their secrets quiet.
• Toby Cavanaugh: As the "freak" of the school whom Alison had framed for "The Jenna Thing," Toby had a clear motive for revenge.
• Ezra Fitz: In Season 4, it was revealed that Ezra had known Alison before she disappeared and was writing a true-crime book about her. This made him a primary suspect for several episodes.
• Spencer Hastings: Due to her drug-induced blackouts and her history of fighting with Alison, even Spencer herself eventually feared she might have been the killer.

Each of these suspects served as a distraction from the reality that the "murder" was a tragic comedy of errors involving multiple people who didn't even realize who they were attacking or protecting.

The Book Version: Did Alison Actually Die?

For readers of Sara Shepard’s Pretty Little Liars novel series, the answer to "Who killed Ali?" is entirely different and significantly more straightforward, albeit more twisted.

The Twin Twist

In the books, Alison DiLaurentis had an identical twin sister named Courtney. Courtney was mentally ill and had spent most of her life in institutions because the real Alison was a master manipulator who framed Courtney for her own violent tendencies.

During a home visit, Courtney managed to switch places with Alison. The "Alison" that Spencer, Aria, Hanna, and Emily were friends with was actually Courtney DiLaurentis pretending to be her sister.

The Real Alison’s Revenge

The real Alison was sent to the mental institution in Courtney’s place. Fueled by years of rage, the real Alison eventually escaped. On the night of the infamous sleepover, the real Alison killed her sister Courtney by pushing her into a hole and burying her.

In the book universe, Alison is the ultimate antagonist. She didn't just survive; she became the second "A" and spent the rest of the series trying to destroy the girls who had befriended her sister.

Comparing the TV Show vs. the Books

Summary of the Alison DiLaurentis Mystery

The mystery of Alison DiLaurentis's death is a tale of two different endings. If you are watching the TV show, Alison is alive. She was hit by Charlotte, buried by her mother, rescued by a psychic, and spent years in hiding while the body of Bethany Young was mistaken for hers.

If you are reading the books, Alison is dead. She was murdered by her vengeful twin sister, who then took over the "A" game to torment the Liars for ever liking the "imposter" sister.

Regardless of the version, the story of Alison’s disappearance remains one of the most iconic mysteries in teen drama history, characterized by secret twins, mistaken identities, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love—even if it means burying them alive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Alison DiLaurentis ever actually dead in the show?

No. While characters believed she was dead for several seasons, it was eventually revealed that she had been hiding in Ravenswood and other locations, aided by Shana and occasionally Noel Kahn.

Why did the police think the body was Alison’s?

The body was wearing Alison’s clothes, and someone (later revealed to be Mona) had swapped the dental records to ensure the body was identified as Alison, allowing the real Ali to stay missing and the investigation to close.

Does Alison go to jail for her "death"?

In Season 5, Alison is actually wrongly convicted of the murder of Mona Vanderwaal (who was also faking her death at the time). She spends time in prison before the truth about "A" and the various fake deaths is revealed.

Who is the girl in the grave again?

The girl in the grave is Bethany Young. She was a patient from Radley who escaped on the same night as Charlotte. She was wearing the same yellow top that Jessica DiLaurentis had bought for both Alison and Charlotte.

Is Ali the villain in the end?

In the TV show, Alison undergoes a redemption arc and becomes a teacher, eventually marrying Emily. In the books, she remains the primary villain until the very end.