Emmerdale viewers are convinced that Ryan Stocks is the killer of Dr Caitlin Todd, following a flash-forward showing her dead body in a pool of blood. The villainous surgeon met her end after weeks of tormenting Charity Dingle, culminating in a sexual assault and blackmail plot.
Dr Todd's Reign of Terror
Dr Caitlin Todd returned to the ITV soap earlier this year as Jacob Sugden's boss and mentor. However, she bullied the young trainee doctor, making him doubt himself and piling on extra work. She then moved on to blackmail Charity after learning that baby Leyla—claimed to be Sarah and Jacob's baby—was actually the result of a one-night stand with ex Ross Barton, after Charity promised to be their surrogate.
In a recent episode, Todd kissed a drunken Charity, who rejected her before falling asleep. Todd then hovered over her, sneering: "Wake up. Drunk, disgusting w****! One too many? Bad, bad girl. You should know better than to lose control." She then unzipped Charity's trousers, but Charity awoke and realised what was happening, begging Todd to stop.
Charity's Confession and Mack's Revenge
Although Todd was reported to the police, they lacked evidence to keep her in custody, and she left for a new job in Sheffield. Charity later told her partner Mackenzie Boyd the truth about her one-night stand with Ross, which led to baby Leyla, and confided about the assault and blackmail. While Mack and newcomer Serena Sugden urged Charity to report the blackmail, police said they would treat the cases separately.
Mack, spiralling over the truth, was encouraged by Kev Townsend to get revenge. He went to Sheffield to confront Todd, who denied the assault was non-consensual and taunted him, saying no jury would believe Charity. At the end of Wednesday's (July 1) episode, viewers saw Dr Todd lying on the floor in a pool of blood, apparently killed.
Fans Point to Ryan as the Culprit
Fans were heartbroken over a scene between Ryan and Charity, where she ignored him. When Ryan asked what he'd done, Charity sighed and said "you were born," causing Ryan to fight back tears. The pair later resolved the issue, but after Todd's death, some viewers think Ryan is the unexpected culprit.
James Moore took on the role of Ryan in 2018, playing Charity's long-lost son, born after her rape by police officer Mark Bails when she was 14. Ryan has been involved in major plotlines, including Charity's legal battle against his biological father. He recently split from Gail Loman, who left for Devon.
On a Reddit thread, u/jackdeparture theorised: "I think it'll be Ryan. He'll overhear a conversation, as Charity is weirdly talking about it right next to the bar, and he'll snap." u/funnysuccessful4479 added: "I'm thinking Ryan when he finds out confronts Todd and pushes her down the stairs in a struggle." @claudettestea on X agreed: "I think it should be Ryan over Noah," while @vickij101 added: "I def think Ryan is in with a shot at a major storyline."
