EastEnders fans have concocted a compelling new theory about the Christmas Day murder of Anthony Trueman, pointing the finger at a suspect much closer to home than Kat Slater's prime target, Chrissie Watts. While Kat remains convinced the villainous Chrissie delivered the fatal blow, a growing number of viewers are speculating that the real culprit is Jean Slater, driven by a deep-seated hatred for her cousin, Zoe.
The Christmas Confrontation That Turned Deadly
The dramatic events unfolded on 25 December in the Queen Vic. Anthony Trueman, played by Nicholas Bailey, had just discovered that Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) had kept his children a secret from him. A furious confrontation turned physical, leading Zoe to push Anthony away. Both characters hit their heads and collapsed. When Zoe later regained consciousness, she found Anthony dead beside her.
In the episode that followed, Zoe's mother, Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace), immediately suspected Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman). Chrissie had recently been revealed as Zoe's stalker, using Zoe's long-lost daughter, Jasmine (Indeyarna Holness-Donaldson), to torment her. Chrissie's motive stemmed from her belief that Zoe escaped justice for her role in the death of Den Watts two decades prior.
Why Fans Believe Jean Slater is the Prime Suspect
However, dedicated fans of the BBC soap are looking past Chrissie towards another character with a powerful grudge: Jean Slater (Gillian Wright). Since Zoe's return to Walford, Jean has relentlessly blamed her for all the family's troubles, particularly the departure of her daughter, Stacey. Jean has repeatedly voiced her desire for Zoe to disappear.
One fan articulated the theory online, stating: "I’m starting to think Jean killed Anthony. She hates Zoe, she blames her for Stacey’s departure, and she wants her gone." They crucially added, referencing Jean's known bipolar condition: "On top of all that, she’s off her meds..." This suggests Jean's fragile mental state could have pushed her to extreme action.
Another viewer argued that Chrissie being the killer presents logical flaws. They pointed out that Chrissie's DNA would be all over the scene, a major risk for someone recently released from prison. They also noted that Chrissie had no prior knowledge of Anthony's plan to confront Zoe, making it an unlikely crime of opportunity for her.
Jasmine's Testimony and the Plot Thickens
On Boxing Day, a conversation between Kat and Jasmine seemed to solidify Chrissie's guilt, with Jasmine insisting she was too scared of Chrissie to go to the police. Yet, this has also sparked suspicion. A third fan questioned Jasmine's honesty, proposing: "I think Jasmine was lying about Chrissie being the one who killed Anthony."
The fan's reasoning highlighted the narrative inconsistency: killing Anthony purely to frame Zoe would be an enormous and unnecessary risk for Chrissie, potentially sending her straight back to prison. This leaves the door wide open for another, more personally motivated killer to have seized the chaotic moment in the Vic.
The theory gaining traction is that Jean Slater could have entered the pub, seen the unconscious Anthony, and finished him off in a calculated move to frame Zoe for murder. If successful, this would permanently remove Zoe from Walford, achieving Jean's desperate wish. As the investigation continues on screen, fans will be watching Jean's every move with heightened scrutiny, convinced the truth is far more twisted than a simple revenge plot from an old enemy.
