Emmerdale is preparing to deliver one of its most ambitious and nerve-shredding storylines in years, as the ITV soap launches a full-scale “whodunnit” week

that finally reveals who killed Ray Walters. In a bold narrative twist, the show rewinds time to the exact moment of Ray’s death, unfolding the truth piece by piece through

the eyes of multiple suspects. What emerges is a dark, emotionally charged portrait of guilt, revenge, and desperation—one that promises to leave the village permanently changed.

Ray Walters, played by Joe Absolom, met his end after his chilling modern slavery operation was exposed. Alongside his mother Celia, Ray had manipulated vulnerable teenagers April and Dylan, coercing them into criminal acts that tore families apart. When Ray was later seen zipped into a body bag and dragged away by an unseen villager, viewers were left with one burning question: who finally stopped him—and why?

Now, Emmerdale is ready to answer it.

Emmerdale is set to air who Ray Walters’ killer is soon

Monday, January 19 – Laurel Faces the Monster She Once Loved

The week opens with Laurel Thomas thrust into the spotlight, forcing her to confront the horrifying reality of the man she once trusted. In scenes that rewind to the aftermath of Celia’s murder, Ray is shown standing over his mother’s lifeless body, momentarily stunned before coldly regaining control. He collects his distinctive red holdall and prepares to flee, already thinking several steps ahead.

Meanwhile, Laurel reels as the truth about Ray’s crimes finally sinks in. The man she loved, defended, and believed in is exposed as a manipulator capable of unimaginable cruelty. When Ray turns up at Mulberry, desperate and spinning a familiar victim narrative rooted in his traumatic past, Laurel refuses to listen. Her rejection cuts deep—and proves dangerous.

Ray begs for help, for understanding, for freedom. Laurel’s decision to let him walk away becomes a turning point, particularly when her son Arthur learns the full extent of Ray’s actions. Furious and consumed by the damage Ray has caused, Arthur becomes determined to make him pay. With Nicola quietly pushing Laurel to help lure Ray into a trap, she is forced to make an impossible choice: protect herself and her family, or risk everything to ensure justice is finally served.

Tuesday, January 20 – Rhona’s World Teeters on the Edge

Tuesday shifts focus to Rhona Goskirk, whose perspective reveals a woman unraveling under unbearable strain. As the timeline resets once more, Ray is again seen erasing his fingerprints from the knife lodged in Celia’s back before making his escape. This repeated visual becomes a haunting reminder of how calculated—and dangerous—he truly is.

Rhona’s anguish centers on April’s disappearance. With Marlon already spiraling, Rhona feels the crushing weight of being the one left holding everything together. Fear, exhaustion, and anger collide as she begins to suspect Ray is closer than anyone realizes.

In a chilling moment, Rhona is alone at home when a shadowy figure appears behind her. The tension is suffocating. Is Ray stalking her? Or is someone else already circling, driven to the brink by everything Ray has destroyed? The episode plants seeds of doubt, positioning Rhona as both a potential victim—and a possible suspect.

Emmerdale’s suspects will come to light

Wednesday, January 21 – Marlon Reaches Breaking Point

Wednesday’s episode dives into Marlon Dingle’s emotional collapse, tracing his descent into desperation. Once again, viewers see Ray’s escape play out, but this time the focus shifts to the collateral damage left behind.

Marlon is convinced that April is with Ray. Grief and panic blur into a single, dangerous obsession. Armed with a knife and a sense that he has nothing left to lose, Marlon sets out to confront the man he believes has taken his daughter.

At the same time, the truth about Bear’s imprisonment—and death—comes crashing down on Paddy. When Ray coldly confirms that Bear is dead, Paddy’s devastation rapidly turns to fury. Ray’s cruelty reaches new heights as he threatens Dylan’s safety, daring Paddy to stay silent.

With Marlon and Paddy both pushed beyond their limits, the episode crackles with the threat of violence. Who will strike first? And looming ominously in the background is Ross Barton, quietly preparing a firearm—his intentions unclear, but undeniably deadly.

Thursday, January 22 – The Night Everything Changed

Thursday brings all the threads together, replaying the night of Ray’s murder in devastating detail. As events unfold, viewers finally see how close Ray came to escaping justice altogether.

After killing Celia, Ray’s icy composure cracks just enough to reveal his humanity when he ventures upstairs to Bear’s room. Confronted with the sight of Bear’s lifeless feet, Ray breaks down, shedding a single tear for the man he considered a father figure. But the moment passes quickly. Ray hardens himself once more, burying grief beneath menace.

As he prepares to dispose of his mother’s body, Ray still finds time to intimidate Eve, ensuring Paddy remains under his control. Outside the Village Hall, tensions explode when Arthur steals Ray’s red holdall. When Laurel sees what’s inside—drugs that confirm Ray’s criminal reach—a furious confrontation erupts, bringing the danger closer to home than ever.

Every suspect’s motive is now clear. Every secret is exposed. And the pieces of the puzzle are finally in place.

Friday, January 23 – The Killer Is Revealed

The final episode delivers the shocking aftermath of Ray Walters’ death. In a grim twist of fate, Ray’s body is stuffed into the back of a van at Jai’s depot—only for a catastrophic mistake to occur. Unaware of what he’s transporting, Jai drives off with the corpse, sending shockwaves through the village when the truth emerges.

As the killer is finally unmasked, the emotional fallout hits hard. The revelation forces the villagers—and viewers—to reckon with uncomfortable truths: that Ray’s actions pushed ordinary people to extraordinary extremes, and that justice in Emmerdale is rarely clean or simple.

This explosive week doesn’t just solve a mystery—it leaves scars. Families are fractured, alliances shattered, and the moral line between right and wrong blurred beyond recognition. In exposing Ray Walters’ killer, Emmerdale delivers a powerful reminder that when evil takes root, its consequences ripple far beyond a single death.