The new year has only just begun, but the Yorkshire village of Emmerdale is already reeling from a brutal double murder. Following the shocking death of villainous Celia Daniels, her son Ray Walters has now been found dead, setting up a classic soap whodunnit for 2026.
A Deadly Start to the New Year
Viewers saw the tyrannical Celia Daniels, played by Jaye Griffiths, meet a grim end on New Year's Day at the hands of her own son, Ray Walters (Joe Absolom). After months of running a modern slavery and drug trafficking ring from Butler's Farm, Ray had a change of heart, spurred by his romance with village sweetheart Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy). His refusal to kill teenager April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) – a threat to their operation – led to a violent confrontation with his adoptive mother, ending with him killing her to break free.
However, Ray's freedom was short-lived. In the episode aired on Monday, 5th January 2026, his body was seen being dragged in a body bag during an opening montage, confirming a second murder in the Dales.
Who Killed Ray Walters? The Key Suspects
The list of potential killers is long, given Ray's history of exploitation and manipulation. April Windsor is a prime candidate. Ray groomed her into drug trafficking and sex work, gaslighting her into believing she was a murderer. Although he later refused to kill her and gave her money to escape, the deep trauma he inflicted provides a powerful motive.
Her boyfriend, Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle), was also forced into crime by Ray and Celia. With April now missing, Dylan's rage could have boiled over into a crime of passion.
Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) and Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) were being blackmailed by Ray for £2,000 a week to stay away from their daughter, April. Her subsequent disappearance could have pushed the desperate parents to extreme measures.
Another strong possibility is Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards), the gentle giant Ray coerced into modern slavery. Bear endured brutal conditions and was forced to bury a co-worker. While Celia claimed to have killed Bear, she may have been lying, leaving the possibility that Bear turned on his captor.
The plot thickened with the surprise return of Ross Barton (Michael Parr). April was seen getting into his car, with Ross ominously stating they shouldn't tell anyone about "this".
The Most Heartbreaking Suspect of All
Perhaps the most tragic suspect is Laurel Thomas. After weeks of falling for Ray's charms, her world shattered when Dylan revealed the truth about his criminal life. She ended their relationship abruptly, slamming the door in his face when he came to her claiming they were free. In Monday's episode, Laurel appeared deeply shaken and traumatised. Did Ray, a man known for handling rejection poorly, confront her again with fatal consequences?
With a web of deceit, exploitation, and broken lives, Emmerdale has crafted a compelling mystery to launch 2026. As the police investigate, one thing is clear: in the Dales, soap justice always finds a way.
