ITV Share By Carena Crawford Jan 15 2026 By Carena Crawford Jan 15 2026 Fans now sure Laurel didn't kill Ray, but have a new theory she was involved in Celia cover-up Laurel is definitely hiding something Arthur Thomas Laurel Thomas Ray Walters Who Killed Ray? Share By Carena Crawford Jan 15 2026 By Carena Crawford Jan 15 2026 Laurel Thomas is acting so guilty in Emmerdale she might as well wear a sign saying she killed Ray. But fans are convinced that she didn’t and it’s actually a red herring. However, they do think she has something huge to hide – and it’s something she would definitely be asking for forgiveness for, that’s for sure. The guilt over Ray is eating Laurel alive in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV) Laurel and Ray in Emmerdale Former vicar’s wife Laurel is high on the suspect list after the murder of her boyfriend Ray Walters. Laurel had just found out he wasn’t who he said he was and was in fact running a county lines drug operation and a human trafficking ring. Despite the fact Ray wanted to be with her – and even killed his mother to make sure it could happen – Laurel was not interested in their happy ending. She told him in no uncertain terms to get away from her and stay away. Ray was distraught and next week we will discover he went back to Mulberry after the alteraction we’ve already seen. He bursts inside and begs Laurel to understand his traumatic past and why he did what he did. She refuses to allow him to be the victim, so he instead implores her to let him go free. article continues below Read all the latest spoilers Laurel decides to let him walk away, but furious Arthur is determined to make him pay. Meanwhile, Nicola wants Laurel to lure Ray into a trap to ensure justice is finally served. Later, we discover Arthur has stolen Ray’s bag and he and Laurel find drugs in it. An angry confrontation ensues, but will it be the end of Ray at Laurel’s hands? Laurel knows something about Ray’s last hours (Credit: ITV) Did Laurel kill Ray in Emmerdale? This week it’s been clear Laurel is hiding something. She dumped Ray’s stolen bag in the bins at the Hide, looking deeply suspicious. She has also been in the church praying for forgiveness. But for what? Murder? Or something else? Fans now think they’ve worked it out. Believing Laurel to be innocent of Ray’s murder, and one thinks something else happened that has made her feel so guilty. On X one viewer suggested: “Pretty sure all the ‘I’ve sinned’ stuff with Laurel is a red herring to make us think she killed Ray. My theory is he won her round somehow and then she helped him conceal Celia’s body.” With the question remaining over where Celia’s body actually is, could this be true? Laurel did seem to fall pretty hard for Ray, could she have been taken in by him all over again and even helped him? Is her upset now actually that she is grieving for the man she loved? Arthur wanted to make Ray pay for his mum’s suffering (Credit: ITV) A cover-up? Other fans are sure she is covering for Arthur, who is the real killer. “I reckon Laurel didn’t kill Ray, but she’s covering up for Arthur…” said one, another agreed: “Arthur killed Ray, I’m calling it now, and Laurel is covering for him.” “I’m convinced that Laurel is covering up for Arthur,” added a third. So just what is Laurel hiding? All will be revealed next week. Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns Share Good to Know Share By Carena Crawford Jan 15 2026 By Carena Crawford Jan 15 2026 Previous Story Next Story
