Yellowstone‘s spinoff Marshals hinted at Monica’s shocking death — but what signs were pointing to Kelsey Asbille‘s absence?
The hit Paramount Network series introduced Us to Kayce (Luke Grimes) and Monica (Asbille), who remained at the center of the show. After initially being a teacher at a local school on the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, Monica went on to become a professor at Montana State University while weathering life with Kayce, who moved them back to the Yellowstone Ranch while figuring out a past divide with dad John (Kevin Costner).
Following John’s death, Kayce, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, became the new owner and operator of the Yellowstone Ranch. Kayce and Monica ended the show alive — and together — before Marshals checked back in on them.
According to the official synopsis, Y: Marshals, which premieres March 1, follows Kayce as he leaves “ranching life behind to join an elite unit” of the U.S. Marshals while “combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana, where he and his teammates must balance family, duty and the high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence.”
What Does Monica’s Absence From ‘Yellowstone’ Spinoff Mean? Drama Explained
In addition to Grimes, the show stars Arielle Kebbel, Ash Santos, Tatanka Means, Brett Cullen and Logan Marshall Green. The sneak peeks have shown Kayce discussing new beginnings, skeletons in his closet and past trauma — while Monica is nowhere to be found.
“We definitely wanted to make sure to give it a real story and make it interesting and make it believable,” Grimes told People in June 2025 about Marshals. “If it was just like, ‘Well, he’s happy’ — we’re just going to watch him be happy? That’s not very cool. But I’ll say this, the idea that was pitched to me is very, very good and very interesting and it really roped me in and I think it will rope the audience in as well.”
He continued: “There’s going to be some familiar faces. There’s going to be a lot of new faces too, so we’ll see how that all feels. To go back into it in a new set of circumstances is going to be kind of transition.”
Keep scrolling for every sign that Yellowstone fans should have been concerned about Monica’s future:
Kelsey Asbille’s Absence as Monica Despite the Focus on Kayce’s Family
The first trailer for the show showed a wedding ring on Kayce’s finger, which could hint that he is still married — or is a widower — following the events of the Yellowstone series finale. Asbille, for her part, wasn’t announced as a cast member on Marshals, didn’t appear in any promotional footage and hasn’t broken her silence about her future with the franchise.
Which ‘Yellowstone’ Alums Are — And Aren’t — Returning for ‘Marshals’?
The Cryptic Statements About Kayce Dutton’s Next Chapter
If Asbille’s absence from all things Marshals wasn’t enough, the CBS series leaned into ominous messaging about Kayce’s state of mind.
“I fought every day to get out of the weight of Yellowstone. I’ve lost my teammates, my parents and even my brothers,” Kayce said in a sneak peek voiceover as clips showed him going to a makeshift grave for a loved one.
Kayce hinted that he wanted to start fresh. “Sometimes good men have to do bad things,” he added. “But I am trying to find a new beginning.”
In another clip, Kayce stated that the “only thing” he “ever wanted” was “taken” from him. His friend Pete (Green) is later seen doing a “wellness check” on Kayce, who has “demons to conquer” after an offscreen situation. Kayce offered another update on his personal life, saying, “Yellowstone is gone — same for most of my family.”
Hints at a Death in the ‘Marshals’ Trailers
While a scene in the Marshals sneak peek had Kayce and son Tate (Brecken Merrill) together, they were watching a body be covered up in their home. A moment at the end of the trailer showed Kayce with a woman — who was presumably meant to be Monica — in what seemed to be either a flashback or a dream sequence.
