Who Killed Ray in Emmerdale? The Village Murder Mystery Explained

6 January 2026 Television

Ray Walters’ Death Rocks Emmerdale

Emmerdale has just confirmed that Ray Walters is dead, but who it was that murdered him remains to be seen. The shocking death of the villainous character, portrayed by Joe Absolom, has launched one of the soap’s most gripping whodunit storylines of 2026. For the last lot of months, Ray has been manipulating April and Dylan into dealing drugs for him and Celia. And on top of that, he has been helping Celia run the farm full of forced workers.

Multiple Suspects with Strong Motives

There are quite a lot of people who want him dead. And in tonight’s episode (January 5) we saw multiple characters look a bit shifty – and they all have motives. Among the prime suspects are Laurel Thomas, who discovered Ray’s criminal activities after falling for him romantically, and Marlon Dingle, who was furious about Ray’s manipulation of young April.

Throughout tonight’s episode, Laurel gave off quite a few signs that she was definitely guilty of something. She was seen cleaning scissors, and appearing like she was about to break down in tears. Other suspects include Rhona Goskirk, who made mysterious phone calls, and even the young victims themselves—April and Dylan—who suffered under Ray’s control.

Police Investigation Intensifies

Emmerdale businessman Jai Sharma falls under suspicion next week, as Hotten Police launch an investigation into Ray Walters’s murder. Jai, Caleb and Billy are left shocked when Ray’s body is found in one of the trucks. The discovery has sent shockwaves through the village, with police interviewing multiple residents.

Before Ray’s death, he murdered his mum Celia in the hope of escaping from her influence and starting a new life with Laurel. This adds another layer of complexity to the case, as Ray himself was a killer trying to break free from his criminal past. As the investigation continues, viewers are left guessing which village resident finally ended Ray’s reign of terror, making this one of Emmerdale’s most compelling mysteries in recent years.