In The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3, Mickey Haller faces a deep web of corruption involving the decorated DEA agent James de Marco. His connection to Gloria Dayton’s murder sets the stage for a series of revelations that tie together de Marco’s dirty dealings and Hector Moya’s wrongful imprisonment. Let’s break down what happened to both de Marco and Moya in this gripping season.
Table of Contents
Is James de Marco Dead?
From the beginning, Mickey Haller suspected James de Marco had something to do with Gloria Dayton’s murder. However, without evidence, Mickey couldn’t prove his suspicions. But as Season 3 progresses, the truth begins to unravel. It turns out that de Marco wasn’t just any DEA agent—he was deeply involved with the Juarez Cartel.
De Marco used his position as a DEA officer to facilitate drug trades and eliminate the cartel’s rivals, all while covering their tracks. His loyalty to the cartel earned him a prestigious reputation within law enforcement, but it was all built on corruption. De Marco would use intel from the Juarez Cartel about their enemies, like the Sinaloa Cartel, to stage arrests and raids, making himself look like a hero. But in reality, he was just their inside man.
When a double homicide took place on Montgomery Avenue, near Lake Balboa, LAPD detectives Neil Bishop and his partner were investigating the case. They knew it was cartel-related, but de Marco’s intense interest in the case made things clear. He was there to clean up for the Juarez Cartel, offering the detectives a deal to let the case go in exchange for a large sum of money. This was typical of how de Marco operated, protecting the cartel while keeping law enforcement off their backs.
What Happens to Hector Moya?
Hector Moya, a key figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, became a prime target for the Juarez Cartel. To trap him, de Marco arrested Gloria Dayton, coercing her to work as a confidential informant. Gloria became a pawn in de Marco’s scheme. He used her to plant a firearm in Moya’s hotel room, which was later found during a LAPD raid. This gun charge allowed prosecutors to file an enhancement charge against Moya, making him eligible for a life sentence in federal prison.
De Marco thought his plan had worked perfectly. By eliminating Moya, he secured the Juarez Cartel’s favor and continued his corrupt activities. However, Moya wasn’t one to go down without a fight.
While in Victorville federal prison, Hector Moya refused to accept his fate. He formed an alliance with Sly Funaro Sr., a seasoned legal mind, who helped Moya file a habeas petition. Sly’s son, Sly Jr., followed through with his father’s plan by subpoenaing Gloria Dayton, the key informant in Moya’s case.
This was the turning point. Gloria hadn’t been in contact with de Marco for years, but after receiving the subpoena, she reached out to him. Panicking, de Marco feared that Gloria might expose their past. To silence her, de Marco tracked her down and murdered her.
Mickey Haller and his investigator, Cisco Wojciechowski, began piecing everything together. Gloria’s murder led them to uncover de Marco’s long history of coercing informants and covering up the Juarez Cartel’s crimes. With Bishop’s testimony, they finally had the evidence needed to clear Moya’s name.
With the evidence against de Marco in hand, the judge ruled in favor of Moya’s habeas petition, leading to his release from prison. But Moya’s return to Mexico wasn’t just about freedom—it was about revenge.
Upon his release, Moya tracked down de Marco, who had gone into hiding in the southern part of Mexico. Moya found him and exacted his revenge in the most brutal way. In the Netflix series, Mickey Haller receives an email containing a photo of de Marco hanging from a bridge, with a venomous snake wrapped around his neck—a clear sign that Moya had orchestrated his death.
In the original book, this scene plays out a bit differently. Mickey receives a 15-second video of a bloodied, beaten de Marco hanging from a tree, with his clothes and skin burned. This detail aligns with Moya’s nickname, “El Fuego,” meaning “The Fire,” a title he earned for burning his victims.
What Happens Next for Mickey Haller?
James de Marco’s death doesn’t necessarily mean Mickey Haller can rest easy. In the book, de Marco’s death leaves lingering questions about whether the Juarez Cartel might come after Mickey next. However, in the Netflix series, Moya reassures Mickey that the cartel will be too busy dealing with internal rivalries to worry about the Lincoln Lawyer.
Season 3 also ends with a separate cliffhanger that has fans eagerly awaiting The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4. Mickey discovers the body of Sam Scales in the trunk of his car, setting the stage for a new case. This has no connection to the cartel, but it promises to bring new challenges for Mickey Haller when The Lincoln Lawyer returns.
In conclusion, Season 3 of The Lincoln Lawyer exposes the corrupt deeds of James de Marco and follows Hector Moya’s journey from wrongful imprisonment to freedom and vengeance. With de Marco’s brutal demise and Moya’s retribution, fans are left wondering what new twists and turns await Mickey Haller in the next season.
