Emmerdale viewers are bracing themselves for one of the soap’s most explosive mystery weeks in years, as the ITV drama prepares to air a tense,

week-long “whodunnit” centered on the shocking death of Ray Walters. But while producers promise twists, flashbacks, and multiple suspects,

fans are already convinced they know the truth — and they’re calling out what they believe is a carefully planted red herring.

Ray’s killer will soon be revealed

Ray Walters, portrayed by Joe Absolom, arrived in the village last year under a cloud of menace. Introduced as a small-time drug dealer who first crossed paths with Robert Sugden while buying cannabis, Ray quickly became a far more dangerous presence than anyone initially suspected. What began as shady dealings soon spiraled into one of Emmerdale’s darkest storylines in recent memory, entangling vulnerable villagers, criminal exploitation, and ultimately murder.

The storyline took a chilling turn when teenagers April Windsor and Dylan became trapped in Ray’s world. Desperate and frightened, the pair were forced into his drug operation after Ray claimed they owed money to his mysterious boss. The threat was clear: pay the debt, or face devastating consequences. Viewers watched in horror as the pressure mounted, particularly for April, whose fear and guilt steadily consumed her.

The revelation of Ray’s boss sent shockwaves through the village. Celia Daniels — a seemingly respectable farmer who had quietly purchased land on the outskirts of the village and worked closely with Moira Dingle — was unmasked as the mastermind behind the operation. Even more disturbing was the truth that followed: Celia was Ray’s adopted mother. Together, the pair weren’t just running drugs; they were operating a modern slavery ring, exploiting vulnerable people and forcing them into brutal labor under appalling conditions.

Among their victims was Bear Wolf, Paddy Kirk’s father, who had been missing for months. His disappearance had weighed heavily on the village, and the eventual revelation that he was being held and exploited on Celia’s land sent ripples of outrage and heartbreak through the community. Bear’s suffering became a turning point, particularly for Ray, who appeared increasingly conflicted as the consequences of his actions became impossible to ignore.

April eventually found the courage to tell Marlon Dingle and Rhona Goskirk the truth about what was happening. But instead of justice, the family received a chilling warning. Celia threatened them into silence, making it clear that if they went to the police, the consequences would be devastating. Fear gripped everyone involved — until Celia crossed a line that changed everything.

In a moment that stunned viewers, Celia ordered Ray to kill April. In return, she promised to murder Bear — whom Ray had grown unexpectedly close to — so the two of them could start fresh somewhere else. It was a grotesque ultimatum that forced Ray to confront the monster his life had become. Faced with sacrificing a child and abandoning the woman he loved, Laurel Thomas, Ray made a desperate and irreversible choice.

Some viewers think Arthur Thomas could be the real killer

Using the very knife Celia had given him, Ray killed his adopted mother instead.

But Ray’s attempt at redemption was short-lived. In the aftermath of Celia’s death, he vanished — only to later be seen zipped inside a body bag, dragged away by an unidentified villager. His murder set the stage for Emmerdale’s highly anticipated mystery week, in which viewers will revisit the night of his death from multiple perspectives.

Officially, the suspect list includes Laurel Thomas, Rhona Goskirk, and Marlon Dingle — all of whom had strong motives and deep emotional connections to the unfolding tragedy. Each character is set to take center stage during the flashback episodes, with secrets exposed and timelines reconstructed. By Thursday, January 22, the show promises to finally reveal who killed Ray, followed by the emotional fallout on Friday.

But fans aren’t convinced the truth is that simple.

Online, viewers have been dissecting every glance, line of dialogue, and suspicious absence — and many believe the real killer isn’t even on the official suspect list. One name keeps resurfacing: Arthur Thomas.

Arthur, Laurel’s son, has been conspicuously absent from the screen for months. His sudden reappearance shortly after Ray’s death has raised eyebrows, with fans questioning whether his return is coincidence or calculated misdirection. On Reddit, speculation has exploded, with viewers accusing the show of deliberately diverting attention.

“They could be reverse psychology-ing us,” one fan wrote. “Making Laurel and Arthur look extra shifty so that we think it’s a red herring — when really they did actually do it.”

Others agree, pointing to Arthur’s quiet but unsettling presence. “Arthur not being seen for ages and just randomly shows up in tonight’s episode for no reason,” another viewer commented. “My money is on a wildcard like Arthur or Bear.”

The theory doesn’t stop there. Some fans believe Bear himself could be involved — not only in Ray’s death, but possibly in covering up Celia’s murder as well. “If it’s Bear, I think he’s also buried Celia’s body,” one user speculated, suggesting a darker, more complex chain of events than initially presented.

Another popular theory links Arthur’s possible involvement with Jai Sharma. As one viewer pointed out, Ray had hurt Laurel, April, his own mother, and his closest friend. Knowing Jai would protect Arthur, fans suggest Ray’s body may have been hidden using Jai’s van — a chilling possibility that adds yet another layer to the mystery.

What’s fueling the speculation is Emmerdale’s long-standing reputation for misdirection. Red herrings are a staple of the soap’s biggest mysteries, and viewers believe Laurel’s visible grief and Rhona and Marlon’s obvious guilt may be too obvious to be genuine. Arthur’s silence, his timing, and his emotional ties to April have positioned him as the most unsettling suspect of all.

As flashback episodes unfold and secrets begin to surface, the village is set to be torn apart by the truth. Ray Walters’ death is not just the end of a villain — it’s the culmination of months of trauma, manipulation, and moral collapse. Whoever delivered the final blow, the impact will be lasting.

One thing is certain: when the truth finally comes out, Emmerdale fans expect to be shocked. Whether it confirms their theories or flips the story on its head, Ray’s murder is poised to leave the village — and its viewers — forever changed.