Even so, the most impactful death as of the end of Season 3 of Fire Country is still that of Riley Leone (Jade Pettyjohn), the daughter of Vince and Sharon, and the sister of Bode (Max Thieriot). Riley’s death occurred several years before the start of Fire Country, and it was the reason that Vince told Bode to leave him and Sharon alone, and that Bode changed his last name and disappeared for years. Even now that Bode has long since rejoined his family, Riley’s death continues to affect the show three seasons in, and it will always be at the center of Fire Country.

How Did Riley Leone Die in ‘Fire Country’?

Riley was too upset to enjoy the rest of her birthday, so Bode gave her a ride home. While in the car, Riley decided to hear Jake out and try to make the relationship work. She was texting him, and she wanted to go back to Smokey’s to talk to him. Bode tried to convince Riley not to, and he just kept driving. Riley then started getting out of the moving car, right as another car almost drove into them. Bode couldn’t stop the car that he was driving, and he ended up swerving into a tree. Although Vince blamed Bode for years, Riley’s death really wasn’t Bode’s fault; it was simply a tragic accident that he was unable to stop as it was happening.

Riley Continues to Haunt the Narrative of ‘Fire Country’

In Season 3, Walter started to suffer from Dementia. One afternoon, when Audrey (Leven Rambin) was at the Leones’ house with Walter, he forgot that Riley had died, and believed that she was Riley. The Leones may have moved forward from Riley’s death as a family unit, but they still continue to feel her loss. Additionally, the events leading up to and following her death still drive many of the characters’ motivations. Bode and Vince are closer than ever now, not just in spite of their rift after Riley died, but because of it. Jake approaches his relationships completely differently now, and was able to build something real with Cara because of the guilt he felt over how he treated Riley before her death. Both Riley’s life and death are still central to Fire Country, and always will be.