This week, the long-running ITV soap Emmerdale is set to deliver the explosive conclusion to its latest murder mystery, finally revealing who killed the villainous Ray Walters, played by actor Joe Absolom. After months of speculation and red herrings, viewers will see the full story of Ray's demise unfold in a special flashback week, airing from Monday, 19th January 2026.
The Three Main Suspects in the Frame
The police investigation has officially named three villagers as prime suspects: Marlon Dingle, Laurel Thomas, and Rhona Goskirk. However, spoilers suggest the truth may involve other characters, with the soap deliberately planting misleading clues to keep audiences guessing. Ray's death occurred off-screen earlier this year, with his body dramatically discovered being dragged through the village. A formal murder probe was only launched last week.
Each episode this week focuses on one of the named suspects, reconstructing Ray's final hours and the movements of other potential killers.
Laurel Thomas: A Woman Seeking Forgiveness
Ray's former love interest, Laurel, has acted highly suspiciously. Detectives have questioned her about her relationship with Ray and her ex, Jai Sharma. She has been seen covering her tracks and was shown seeking forgiveness in church, hinting at a heavy secret. Her episode, airing on Monday, follows her discovering Ray's crimes, including the murder of his mother, Celia Daniels. The episode features a terrifying confrontation where Ray bursts into her home, involving Nicola King and Laurel's vengeful son, Arthur.
Marlon Dingle: A Father Pushed to the Brink
Marlon possesses the strongest motive. Ray dragged Marlon's teenage daughter, April Windsor, into his criminal world, forcing her to deal drugs and then attempting to sexually exploit her. When the flashbacks occur, April is still missing, and Marlon is desperate, convinced Ray has taken her. His episode airs on Wednesday, the day before the reveal, and will show whether his paternal rage led to murder.
Rhona Goskirk: Desperate Calls and a Ghost from the Past
Rhona, as April's stepmother, shares Marlon's fear and desperation. She and Marlon were also directly threatened by Ray and Celia. Viewers have seen Rhona making cryptic phone calls to an unknown person. Her episode, on Tuesday, features the surprise return of a familiar face – her ex, Graham Foster, who was presumed dead. Is Graham the person she's been calling, and is he involved in Ray's death?
Red Herrings and Other Potential Killers
The plot thickens with several other characters in the mix. In Laurel's episode, Nicola and Arthur plot to trap Ray – did their plan go fatally wrong? Paddy Dingle confronts Ray after hearing false news of his father Bear's death. Furthermore, Ross is seen wielding a shotgun, while April and her friend Dylan are also present during the key events. Could the real killer be one of these unofficial suspects?
Key Clues and Fan Theories
Significant clues include Ray's body being found in a depot van driven by Jai Sharma, Laurel discarding a mysterious rucksack, and Rhona's secretive communications. The method of death remains unclear, though potential weapons like Ross's gun or Laurel's scissors have been shown.
Emmerdale fans have been busy theorising online, with many believing the killer is not one of the three main suspects. Popular theories suggest Laurel is covering for her son Arthur, that Dylan is the culprit, or that the returning Graham Foster is responsible. Some even speculate that Celia Daniels faked her own death and killed her son.
The truth will be unveiled in full during Thursday's episode, which promises a confrontation between Ray and Paddy, and a tense moment for Laurel and Arthur. Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
