Anna Pigeon Season 1 Episode 3 Recap: Who Is the New Preacher?

Anna Pigeon Season 1 Episode 3, “The Preacher,” gives Tracy Spiridakos’ determined park ranger another mystery close to home when Manny Lopez finds himself accused of a string of bank robberies he insists he didn’t commit.

What begins with money literally falling from a tree soon exposes a decades-old secret, a copycat criminal and another example of Anna refusing to accept the easiest explanation simply because everyone else has.

But “The Preacher” also quietly pushes the season’s larger mystery forward. Frederick is looking more closely at Zach’s death, and we finally get confirmation that Anna’s husband was murdered.

Money Falls From the Sky During Manny’s Baptism

“The Preacher” begins by expanding the world around Anna rather than immediately throwing her into another murder investigation.

Manny Lopez is struggling financially. He loves his job as a park ranger, but money is tight, and he wants to build a future with his wife, Bethany. Manny has also been trying to put his previous problems with drugs behind him, leaning on his faith and a support group led by Pastor Nelson.

His baptism should represent a fresh start.

Instead, an explosion being used to bring down a rotten tree sends a hidden stash of cash raining through the air.

The money connects to a mysterious bank robber known as the Preacher, who terrorized the area nearly two decades earlier. The robber became known for threatening victims while insisting that “God doesn’t want anyone to die today.”

Then the situation becomes much worse for Manny.

Manny Is Framed for the Bank Robberies

Detective Guthrie arrests Manny after receiving information placing him near a recent attempted robbery. Police also discover a duffel bag filled with money in his vehicle.

On paper, the case looks terrible.

Manny has openly discussed his financial problems, suddenly has stolen money connected to the old robberies and appears to have been near one of the new crimes.

Bethany, however, refuses to believe her husband is guilty.

Melanie Scrofano makes her debut as Bethany in “The Preacher,” and the character gives the episode much of its emotional weight. Bethany and Anna could hardly be more different, particularly when it comes to faith, but Bethany knows Manny better than the evidence does. She turns to Anna because she needs someone willing to look beyond what appears obvious.

Anna eventually does exactly that.

Anna Finds the Original Preacher

Anna’s investigation leads her to Pastor Nelson — and to the realization that the preacher helping former criminals rebuild their lives has a much darker history than anyone realizes.

Nelson admits that he was the original Preacher.

Nearly 20 years earlier, he committed the bank robberies and escaped without being caught. The money discovered beneath the tree was part of his past, deliberately buried as he abandoned his criminal life and found a new purpose.

But Nelson insists he isn’t committing the current robberies.

Someone discovered his secret months earlier and blackmailed him into revealing exactly how he committed the crimes. That person then began recreating the Preacher robberies.

Anna now has two separate questions to answer.

Who discovered Nelson’s secret — and why was Manny chosen to take the fall?

Who Is the New Preacher?

The crucial clue comes from a photograph shown to bank teller Lorraine during one of the robberies.

The new Preacher uses photographs of victims’ families as leverage, making it clear that refusing to cooperate could put the people they love in danger.

But something is wrong with Lorraine’s photograph.

Her husband, Kenn, isn’t in it.

Anna realizes why: Kenn is the new Preacher.

Kenn knew about Manny’s financial problems through Nelson’s group. That made Manny an ideal suspect, and Kenn planted the evidence necessary to make the authorities believe the struggling ranger had turned to robbery.

But Kenn’s connection to the original Preacher goes considerably deeper.

Anna Pigeon Episode 3 Ending Explained: Why Did Kenn Become the Preacher?

Nelson confronts Kenn during the final robbery, revealing that Kenn was one of the original Preacher’s victims years earlier.

Kenn has carried the trauma from that encounter for decades. Making matters worse, Nelson doesn't even remember him.

For Nelson, becoming the Preacher is a shameful chapter of a life he has tried to leave behind. For Kenn, however, what happened never ended.

Kenn eventually uncovered Nelson’s identity and forced him to reveal the methods behind his robberies. He then adopted the Preacher persona himself, recreating the crimes while using Manny as his scapegoat.

Anna’s instincts ultimately clear Manny and expose Kenn as the copycat robber.

But Nelson presents Anna with a more complicated question.

He really was the original Preacher. He committed those crimes and escaped justice. Yet the man Anna meets isn't the same person anymore. Nelson has spent years helping other people rebuild their lives, including Manny.

Anna ultimately allows Nelson’s past to remain buried, accepting the possibility that people really can change.

What Happened to Anna’s Husband Zach?

The episode’s more important long-term development happens away from the Preacher case.

We now have confirmation that Anna’s late husband, Zach, was murdered — and Frederick isn't willing to leave the case alone.

Anna continues experiencing nightmares about the night Zach died, including the lingering image of a mysterious red coat that was never successfully connected to anyone.

Meanwhile, Frederick approaches the detective who originally investigated Zach’s death and seeks permission to reopen the murder case.

Frederick also speaks with Anna’s sister Molly Pigeon, played by Battlestar Galactica and Lucifer star Tricia Helfer. Molly has been one of Anna’s most important emotional anchors throughout the series, but she makes her position on Zach’s case clear: if Frederick intends to investigate her brother-in-law’s murder, Anna needs to know what he is doing.

That creates a fascinating second mystery running underneath Anna’s weekly cases. Anna has spent the series using her instincts to uncover truths other people overlook. Now Frederick may be preparing to do the same thing with the mystery Anna is simply too close to solve herself.

And the unidentified person in the red coat suddenly feels very important.

Anna and Frederick Continue Getting Closer

There is another layer to Frederick’s interest in the case.

The chemistry between Frederick and Anna continues to become increasingly difficult to ignore, even if Anna herself isn't necessarily ready to recognize it.

Frederick’s decision to reopen Zach’s murder isn't simply another FBI investigation. He cares about Anna and appears determined to give her the answers she has never received.

At the same time, Anna continues spending time with Jesse, giving the series plenty of room to complicate those relationships as the season progresses.

When Does Anna Pigeon Episode 4 Air?

Anna Pigeon airs exclusively on USA Network every Friday night at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Following the Season 1 finale, episodes will also be available to stream on USANetwork.com and Fandango.