<P> Discharged from the hospital , Dixon overhears the man who threatened Mildred bragging in a bar of an incident similar to Angela 's murder . He notes the Idaho license plate number of the man 's vehicle , then provokes a fight by scratching the man 's face . At home later , he removes a sample of the man 's DNA from under his fingernails . Meanwhile , Mildred goes on a date with James to thank him for the alibi . Charlie enters with his 19 - year - old girlfriend Penelope and admits to burning the billboards while intoxicated . After accidentally causing James to leave , Mildred tells Charlie to treat Penelope well and leaves . </P>
<P> Discharged from the hospital , Dixon overhears the man who threatened Mildred bragging in a bar of an incident similar to Angela 's murder . He notes the Idaho license plate number of the man 's vehicle , then provokes a fight by scratching the man 's face . At home later , he removes a sample of the man 's DNA from under his fingernails . Meanwhile , Mildred goes on a date with James to thank him for the alibi . Charlie enters with his 19 - year - old girlfriend Penelope and admits to burning the billboards while intoxicated . After accidentally causing James to leave , Mildred tells Charlie to treat Penelope well and leaves . </P>
who burned down the billboards in three billboards
who burned down the billboards in three billboards
Charlie
Charlie