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The attack on the Duttons was a false-flag meant to expose their secrets

If Market Equities was responsible, the aim was not to kill the Duttons, but to expose their secrets during an investigation. A multi-billion dollar conglomerate that operates in war-torn countries would have people capable of making sure their targets were dead and chosen times and places where they'd be no witnesses.

The one major difference between this attack and previous ones was that the Duttons were able to keep prior attacks secret. By attacking them in broad daylight in front of witnesses and on public roads, they've ensured that State and Federal Authorities investigate. Their investigation is going to include who'd want to attack them and why, which could lead to exposing their past actions.

So, if the Dutton's criminal acts are exposed, Market Equity gets their land. If one or more of them die in the attack, that weakens them and makes it easier for Market Equity to get their land.

  • JOSSED: As of Season 4, there has been little or no State investigation and no Federal involvement. The bodies of the assailants at the ranch were disposed of. It is also revealed that Jamie was the one who swept things under the rug and avoided contacting his family for months to avoid the appearance of collusion.

Market Equities had nothing to do with the attack on the Duttons
It's possible that the Montana Free Militia attacked the Duttons in revenge for raiding their compound and killing their members at the end of season 2.

Their involvement is confirmed in season 4 and Kayce thinks revenge is the reason why and immediately discounts Jamie as the one who hired them. However, in a separate scene, someone else hired them based on the large wad of cash found on the alleged "party planner" and his fear of naming him. That person turns out to be someone doing time in prison who got the request from someone else.

  • CONFIRMED: It was Jamie's biological father Garret who apparently had his own grudge against John Dutton.

Roarke contracted the hits on the Duttons on his own after his plan to use the Morrows failed
Roarke was acting on his own accord because of the pressure his boss was putting on him. The plan to use Wade and Clint Morrow to give him legal ammunition would've worked out if they weren't so impulsive (or if John hadn't already figured it out and gave the go-ahead to kill them).

When Roarke couldn't contact Wade, he got frustrated. After meeting John Dutton in person, he decided that filing suit in court wasn't going to work. That, along with getting what is essentially tacit authorization from his boss, leads him to find anybody who was willing to kill John, his daughter and son.

  • JOSSED. He dies at the end of the Season 4 premiere, but it was for hiring Wade Morrow and the antics Wade and his son caused. It's also established in the premiere that someone else hired them and that person is still out there. In the following episode, the local rep claims that Market Equities didn't have anything to do with the attack.

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