True Detective Season 3: 10 Craziest Fan Theories

10. Julie Was Molested By Her Uncle And Planned To Run Away

The first four entries here fit together to form a mega theory, but each could be true on their own, so they warrant different entries.

It starts with the reason Julie and Will disappeared in the first place, and hinges on them electing to run off rather than being taken. Away from any other parts of this theory, the fact Will lied about what he was doing after school and the childlike spelling on the note suggest the kids were involved.

As for why they run off, this theory has its sights firmly on uncle Dan. There’s a peephole in his old room that let him watch Julie undress, and while Playboy magazines certainly suggest he’s into adult women, that would not necessarily mean he wasn’t a creep for little girls too.

The Purcells didn’t have a good marriage; that much is clear. Some fans have suggested the parents did not believe Julie when she told them, but it’s hard to imagine Tom not telling the detectives this fact.

Much more likely is that the uncle either threatened her or she was too ashamed to tell anybody but her brother. Once Will finds out, he hatches a plan to help her escape.