Just when Days of Our Lives fans thought one of Salem’s most tragic chapters had finally closed, a stunning new twist threatens to blow the story wide open.

Mounting evidence now suggests that Stefan DiMera may not be dead after all—and that his notoriously manipulative mother, Vivian Alamain,

has once again outwitted law enforcement with a deception worthy of the DiMera name.

What initially appeared to be a heartbreaking but definitive end for Stefan is rapidly unraveling into a tangled web of lies, forged documents, and calculated misdirection. At the center of it all stands Vivian, whose history of elaborate schemes makes her the prime suspect in what could become one of the most explosive resurrections Salem has seen in years.

Vivian’s Story Begins to Crack

Vivian recently told Rafe Hernandez and Eli Grant that her son Stefan died late last year after complications stemming from a heart transplant. According to her account, Stefan’s heart—originally transplanted from his identical twin, Jake DiMera—failed, leading to his quiet death overseas. To reinforce her claim, Vivian provided a photo of Stefan’s headstone in Alamainia and later produced an official death certificate.

But almost immediately, red flags began waving.

The death certificate was not filed until December 2025—nearly two months after Stefan allegedly died in October. For seasoned investigators like Rafe and Eli, that delay alone was enough to raise serious suspicion. And when paired with Vivian’s long, notorious history of forging legal documents, the story began to crumble.

This is, after all, the same woman who once forged a letter from Victor Kiriakis to manipulate Titan’s line of succession, a scheme so convincing it temporarily reshaped the power structure of an entire corporation. If Vivian could pull that off, faking a death certificate would be child’s play.

A Disturbing Discovery in Alamainia

Determined to get answers, Rafe and Eli took the extraordinary step of exhuming Stefan’s remains for DNA testing while in Alamainia. At the same time, they investigated surveillance footage from Vivian’s estate—expecting routine confirmation of her claims.

What they found instead changed everything.

The agents tracked down a former housekeeper Vivian had abruptly fired. During questioning, the woman revealed a truth that directly contradicted Vivian’s story: Stefan had been held captive in the house against his will. Not Dmitri, as Vivian had previously claimed—but Stefan himself.

Even more chilling, the housekeeper insisted Stefan appeared to be in good health during his captivity. He exercised, tried to stay strong, and frequently spoke of missing his wife, Gabi Hernandez. The timing of those conversations placed Stefan alive and well months after he was supposedly “ill.”

When Rafe and Eli informed the housekeeper that Stefan was believed to be dead, her shock was genuine. She had seen no signs of sickness. No weakness. No decline. Just a prisoner desperate to return home.

The Truth About Stefan and Gabi

This revelation reframes everything Gabi has believed for over a year.

Until now, Gabi has lived with the painful assumption that Stefan chose to leave her—and Salem—behind. She signed divorce papers she believed were legitimate and grieved the loss of her husband believing his departure was voluntary, and his death unavoidable.

But viewers know the truth: Stefan wanted to reconcile with Gabi. He wanted to repair their marriage and return to Salem. That future was stolen from him the moment Vivian’s henchman knocked him unconscious and smuggled him out of the country.

Vivian not only imprisoned her son—she forged his signature on divorce documents and delivered them to Gabi, ensuring the emotional damage was complete. For Vivian, control mattered more than Stefan’s happiness, especially since she never approved of Gabi as her daughter-in-law.

The DNA Twist That Changes Everything

On the surface, the DNA results from the exhumed remains seem to confirm Stefan’s death. The FBI lab reportedly found a match. Case closed—or so it appears.

But here’s the fatal flaw: Stefan had an identical twin.

Jake DiMera’s DNA would be an exact match.

If Vivian swapped Jake’s remains into Stefan’s grave, the DNA test would still confirm “Stefan” was dead—even if he was very much alive somewhere else. It’s a perfect crime, designed to exploit the one biological loophole investigators might overlook.

The question now is whether Rafe and Eli will consider the possibility that the wrong DiMera was buried.

Vivian’s Bigger Game

The implications go far beyond Stefan’s fate. If Stefan truly died in October, Vivian would have had little reason to partner with Clyde Weston and orchestrate the recent DiMera kidnappings. But if Stefan is alive, everything clicks into place.

By faking Stefan’s death, Vivian could maneuver behind the scenes to seize control of Stefano DiMera’s estate—potentially planning a future where Stefan resurfaces to reclaim his birthright once the danger passes. This would also explain why Vivian appeared so tense during questioning, her carefully curated performance slipping just enough to expose fear beneath the bravado.

Vivian doesn’t gamble without a payoff. And right now, all signs point to Stefan being her ultimate prize.

Fallout Waiting to Explode

If Stefan is alive—and all evidence suggests he is—the fallout will be catastrophic.

Gabi, who is slowly moving forward with Philip Kiriakis and even planning a romantic getaway, would be blindsided. Her grief would instantly transform into rage and heartbreak once she learns her future was stolen from her by Vivian’s manipulation. Philip, who has been a steady source of comfort, could become collateral damage in a love story rewritten overnight.

Ironically, Philip himself owes much of his current power at Titan to Vivian’s schemes. Losing Gabi because of Vivian’s deceit would be a cruel twist of fate—one that perfectly fits the show’s tradition of poetic irony.

Is Stefan Coming Back?

On Days of Our Lives, death is rarely permanent—and Stefan DiMera’s story is waving every possible red flag that a return is imminent. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. Gabi is on the brink of emotional commitment. Vivian’s lies are closing in on her. And Rafe is pushing harder than ever for the truth.

When Stefan finally escapes—whether from captivity or exile—the emotional shockwaves will rock Salem to its core.

For now, Vivian may believe she has fooled the FBI. But secrets have a way of surfacing in Salem. And when this one does, it won’t just resurrect Stefan DiMera—it will expose a mother’s betrayal, shatter fragile new romances, and rewrite the future of the DiMera legacy once again.