Nobody actually killed Alison DiLaurentis in the Pretty Little Liars television series because she survived the night she disappeared. Viewers spent seasons tracking down a killer, only to discover that the body in her grave belonged to someone else entirely. The central mystery of the show's early seasons hinges on a massive case of mistaken identity, multiple cover-ups, and a frantic attempt to protect a troubled family member.
Understanding what happened that fateful September night requires untangling a web of identical yellow tops, hidden grudges, and impulsive decisions. If you've felt confused by how the timelines connect, you're not alone. Let's break down the exact sequence of events, who actually struck Alison, and who ended up buried in her place.
The Short Answer: Alison Didn't Die
For the first four seasons of the show, Rosewood police and the core group of friends operated under the assumption that Alison was murdered. That core premise was false. Alison was attacked on the night of July 1, 2009, but she survived the initial blow.
Her mother, Jessica DiLaurentis, witnessed the assault and buried her alive to protect the real attacker. A psychic named Carla Grunwald pulled Alison from the earth, and Mona Vanderwaal subsequently helped her fake her death so she could go on the run. The corpse recovered from the gazebo wasn't Alison at all; it was Bethany Young.
Who Hit Alison On the Night She Disappeared?
The person responsible for striking Alison over the head with a rock was Charlotte DiLaurentis (then known as CeCe Drake). On the night she vanished, Alison wore the identical yellow blouse as Bethany Young, a patient who had escaped from Radley Sanitarium.
Charlotte held a severe grudge against Jessica DiLaurentis and mistook Alison for Bethany, believing Bethany intended to harm Jessica. Charlotte sneaked up behind Alison in the backyard and hit her with a heavy rock. Thinking she had killed her target, Charlotte fled the scene in panic.
The Role of Jessica DiLaurentis
Jessica witnessed the entire attack from a nearby window. Instead of calling for medical help or contacting the authorities, she chose to shield Charlotte. Because Jessica panicked and believed Alison was already dead, she dragged her body to a shallow grave in the backyard and buried her to keep Charlotte out of prison.
Alison regained consciousness underground just long enough for Jessica to finish shoveling dirt over her. Fortunately, Carla Grunwald sensed what happened and dug Alison out, rushing her to a hospital before she slipped away.
The Confusion with Bethany Young: Who Was Actually in the Grave?
The mystery of Alison's disappearance is permanently entangled with the murder of Bethany Young. Bethany had also escaped from Radley that same night, wearing the same yellow top as Alison.
Mona Vanderwaal encountered Bethany in the woods and struck her with a shovel, similarly mistaking her for Alison due to the identical clothing and dark hair. Mona wanted Alison gone because of relentless bullying. Moments later, Melissa Hastings found the unconscious body. Believing that her sister Spencer had killed Alison during a drug-fueled altercation earlier that evening, Melissa buried Bethany alive to protect Spencer.
An autopsy later confirmed that Bethany died of suffocation from being buried alive, rather than from Mona's blow. The police misidentified Bethany's body as Alison's because of dental records swapped by Detective Wilden, who was being paid off by Jessica to cover up family secrets.
Common Misconceptions About the Night
Fans often mix up who did what because multiple characters thought they were committing murder that night.
- Spencer Hastings didn't kill anyone. While Spencer and Alison had a physical confrontation earlier in the evening fueled by speed pills, Spencer blacked out and wandered off. She didn't strike either girl.
- Mona didn't kill Alison. Mona targeted Bethany Young, not Alison, thinking she was eliminating her tormentor.
- Melissa didn't attack Alison. Melissa buried Bethany Young, assuming her sister Spencer was the culprit.
For more details on the production and timeline of the show, you can check out coverage on Entertainment Weekly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Alison stay hidden if she was alive?
Alison realized she had genuine enemies in Rosewood who wanted her dead, including her stalker "A". Mona convinced her that faking her death was the only way to stay safe while discovering who wanted to hurt her.
How did the police misidentify the body?
Detective Wilden orchestrated a false dental record match on the corpse found in the backyard. Jessica DiLaurentis bribed and pressured him to protect her family's dark history.
When do the main characters find out Alison is alive?
The core group discovers Alison is alive during the season 4 finale, "A is for Answers", when she reveals the full story of her disappearance in New York City.
Who eventually took the blame for the murder?
When Alison returned to Rosewood, the town and police scrutinized every move. Later seasons shift toward other murders, like Charlotte's, but the mystery of who attacked Alison on that night remains tied directly to Charlotte's troubled past at Radley.
