What happened to Caleb at the end of Untamed season 1? Character’s fate explored

Produced by Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, Untamed season 1 is a drama series released exclusively on Netflix in July 2025. The series revolves around Kyle Turner, an Investigative Services Branch agent working in Yosemite National Park, as he attempts to solve a mysterious death while battling his own inner demons.

Played by Eric Bana, Turner teams up with recently transferred ranger Naya Vasquez to investigate a woman’s death after her body falls from the peak, i.e., El Capitan. While that forms the main plotline, the limited series also forces the characters to confront their painful pasts as they uncover a far-reaching conspiracy within the idyllic national park.

Disclaimer: This article is based on viewer experience and contains spoilers for Untamed. Reader discretion is advised.

The true core of Turner’s demons, however, centers on his son Caleb, who appears throughout the series as a vision only he can see. It is revealed that Caleb was murdered years before the events of Untamed season 1 by Sean Sanderson, a p*dophile who abducted him from within the park.

The incident took a toll on Turner’s marriage to Jill, which only worsened after she took actions to confront their son’s killer, actions that didn’t sit right with Kyle.

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Caleb's fate in Untamed season 1

A still from the Untamed season 1 trailer (Image via YouTube/@Netflix)

From the very beginning of Untamed season 1, a major plot point is Kyle Turner's ongoing struggle with issues related to his marriage and his son, Caleb. It is eventually revealed that Turner's son was murdered, and throughout the series, he is haunted by visions of Caleb, visions that only he can see.

These visions become so overwhelming that Kyle begins drinking more heavily and starts questioning his own sanity as the season progresses. Toward the end of the series, when it's revealed that Shane Maguire had something to do with Lucy Cook's murder, Kyle confronts him, leading to a tense encounter where both men are shot.

In a turn of events, Maguire is shot by Naya, and Turner is rushed to the hospital. It is then that Jill tells her husband the truth about what actually happened to Caleb. She reveals that it all began when Shane Maguire’s motion-activated cameras, placed throughout the park, captured footage of Caleb being kidnapped by Sean Sanderson.

Sanderson had been reported as a missing person at the start of Untamed season 1 and was actively being sought by investigators, who questioned various people within the park. Jill explains that while Kyle wanted the law to bring Sanderson to justice, she didn't share his patience.

Instead, she sought revenge against the man who killed her son. She paid Shane to kill Sean, which he did, and that decision eventually led to the end of Jill and Kyle’s marriage.

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A brief recap of Untamed season 1

A still from the Untamed season 1 trailer (Image via YouTube/@Netflix)

Over the course of Untamed season 1, much is revealed and much unfolds throughout the six-episode limited series. The central focus is Kyle Turner’s investigation into the mysterious death of a woman at Yosemite National Park. However, Turner is also battling his personal demons, as he's haunted by visions of his son Caleb and struggles with alcoholism and grief following Caleb's murder prior to the events of the series.

He partners up with former police officer and newly appointed park ranger Naya Vasquez, who must also confront issues from her past as the series progresses. Together, Kyle and Naya uncover a hidden conspiracy within the park, revealing that a major drug trafficking operation has been running through old mining tunnels.

They also discover that multiple characters are hiding dark secrets, further complicating the case. By the season finale, Kyle and Naya manage to make a breakthrough and figure out why Lucy was killed, although their case is spoiled by more than a few red herrings along the way. They also break open the drug operation and manage to close it down for now.

In addition, the finale finally reveals the full story behind Caleb's death and the breakdown of Kyle's marriage. Viewers learn that while Kyle trusted the legal system, Jill secretly paid Shane to kill Sean Sanderson, the man who kidnapped and killed Caleb, which caused their marriage to collapse.

By the end of the finale, Kyle leaves the park, having dealt with most of the major issues in his life, and looks ahead to a fresh start at another park.

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Interested viewers can watch Untamed season 1 on Netflix.

Edited by Shubham Soni