Days of Our Lives divulges that the Salem Police Department has an APB out on Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark) for the kidnapping of Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein). But the thing is that Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) confirmed both their phones are off, and there are other signs that Jeremy might be a victim right alongside Stephanie.

Now, Rafe didn’t confirm he might be a victim, but Rafe said it’s like both of them just disappeared. So we’re going to talk about that. I’m going to tell you why I am increasingly certain that Days is tricking and misleading viewers. We got a lot to unpack on this messy Jeremy situation. Let’s get to it.

Is Jeremy Horton Being Framed for Stephanie Johnson’s Kidnapping on Days of Our Lives?

I’ve said here all along that Jeremy didn’t do the stalking and wasn’t going to be Stephanie’s kidnapper. Whenever the police focus on just one person and they never consider other possible suspects, that’s always when they miss stuff. If you watch true crime shows, you know.

And that’s what’s happening here. Stephanie decided that she is so amazing that Jeremy must still be obsessed with her. And that was reinforced when Stephanie had that nightmare where Jeremy was saying he loved her and he only came back to Salem for her.

It was the most egotistical nightmare I could imagine—like I’m so fabulous, everyone’s obsessed with me. And then Stephanie woke up after nightmare Jeremy shot Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson).

Identifying the Real DOOL Culprit and Hired Thugs in Salem

Because if you haven’t figured it out yet, it’s not Jeremy behind the kidnapping. The one who took Stephanie was somebody else. Somebody I think was paid to take her—a henchman or a hired thug. The actor’s name is Dan Coons.

So, it’s not either of them, not even intending to be them. Not like a body double or anything. Meanwhile, I suspect that Jeremy may have been snatched right along with Stephanie—right before her, actually.

And of the two of them, it’s likely Jeremy is in more danger than Stephanie. And I’ll tell you why. Because the real kidnapper is Owen Kent (Wes Ramsey), a blast from Stephanie’s past, who was fixated on her, and he still is. So, maybe Stephanie’s not being that egotistical. Maybe every guy she’s ever dated still wants her.

The Flawed Evidence Against Jeremy Horton in the Stalking Case on Days

But not only may Owen be scapegoating Jeremy, but because he physically hurt Stephanie when they were together, Owen might want to retroactively punish Jeremy for hurting the woman that he obsessively loves.

Up to now, it’s been just one circumstantial thing after another that had Alex, Stephanie, Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu), and Steve Johnso (Stephen Nichols) all certain that Jeremy was stalking Stephanie. And now they think they’ve got this smoking gun.

Jada re-watched the Horton Town Square Halloween video and decided that was enough to arrest Jeremy because some dude in a mask and a mad scientist costume slashed a knife at an unsuspecting Alex. Getting hit with a pumpkin saved him from getting stabbed.

They even showed a little still shot of the video to Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes), who is now completely convinced that this masked guy—whose face you cannot see and can’t see anything about him other than his outfit—is definitely Jeremy. And that means he’s a stalker and kidnapper.

Jumping to Conclusions: Alex and Jada’s Olympic-Level Assumptions

What’s even more insane is the moment that Alex realized that EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) didn’t send that photo frame to them, he instantly decided it was bugged. If jumping to conclusions was an Olympic sport, Alex and Jada would both have gold medals at this point. I think Steve and Kayla Brady (Mary Beth Evans) might have bronze.

When Stephanie was kidnapped, it was at the same time the cops went over to arrest Jeremy at the elementary school and couldn’t find him. He had been all packed up, Julie said, and was planning to leave Salem right after school got out that day to drive to New York to be with his father, Mike Horton (Roark Critchlow).

And whatever else you think about Jeremy, I doubt that he would ditch and leave a room full of fifth graders alone for the rest of the day, especially with wicked little Rachel Black (Alice Halsey) in the room. He knows better. She cannot be unsupervised.

The Theory of Jeremy Horton’s Abduction from Salem Elementary on DOOL

And the school told the police that he excused himself to the restroom and never came back. So, Jada suspects he climbed out a bathroom window and he fled on foot because his car is still in the lot.

I feel like Jeremy was lured out one way or another by Owen or a henchman to leave the classroom and then they drugged him. They used the same drug they used on the cop. Then they could shove Jeremy into one of those big rolling trash cans like custodians have at schools.

Just roll him right out back, toss him into a van, drive away. That would be the perfect plan for Owen to kill two birds with one stone. That way, Jeremy is implicated in the kidnapping, he’s got no alibi, and Owen can punish him. And then he also still has Stephanie free and clear because nobody’s looking for him.

The Mystery of the Black Hoodie and Silicon Masks on Days of Our Lives

Meanwhile, Days has fans thinking that Jeremy is roaming the streets of Salem in a black hoodie with Stephanie’s phone in his hand. But I am increasingly certain that Jeremy is tied up somewhere just like Stephanie is. And that’s Owen in a Jeremy mask. For what it’s worth, the actors are nearly the same height and build.

Not that that matters in the world of Days of Our Lives and silicon masks. They will slap them on anybody and people rarely realize it’s not the other person. Abigail Deveraux (AnnaLynne McCord) is one of the few examples where she figured out Ava Vitali (Tamara Braun) was wearing a Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) mask and basically slapped it off of her.

Also, Rafe said the sedative used to knock out the cop is something not sold in the US. And Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) immediately said, “So, how does this elementary school teacher get it?” Exactly. Thank you, Cat. She’s thinking like somebody who’s actually investigating.

Owen Kent’s History with the DiMera Family and Dr. Rolf on Days

So, Owen Kent worked for the DiMeras. And I’m certain it’s them that broke him out of the prison transport years ago. So, he could have gotten a mask from Dr. Wilhelm Rolf (Richard Wharton) or another shady source. Owen may have been hiding out in Europe this whole time thanks to the DiMeras.

So, he could have come back with an agenda to get Stephanie, punish Jeremy. And frame him so Owen could get away with Stephanie and nobody would be the wiser. If you remember your Days history, Stephanie dated Jeremy back in 2007 and they had a toxic and abusive relationship.

And then in 2009, that was when Stephanie was kidnapped by Owen. He was working as a handyman/gardener for the Kiriakises and he got wrapped up in the DiMera versus Kiriakis feud. EJ had Owen kidnap Stephanie as leverage against her then-boyfriend Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier).

Owen Kent’s Unhealthy Obsession and the Future Reveal

After kidnapping Stephanie, we had Owen holding her in a bunker and also the morgue for a while. That’s fun. And during the captivity while he was holding her, Owen got attached to Stephanie and it turned into this full-blown obsession. She was the object of Owen’s unhealthy affection. And then Stephanie, of course, was horrified by Owen’s increasingly unhinged behavior.

So, he may have scapegoated Jeremy this time so he could just get away clean with Stephanie. And no one would have any idea that Owen stole her. And if Stephanie never turns up and Jeremy never turns up, he can literally get away with kidnapping and murder.

So, after months of Stephanie assuming that Jeremy did it, I really am looking forward to the look on her face if she sees Jeremy is also a kidnapping victim. And what would be the ultimate slapback at Alex and Stephanie for their assumption is if it turns out Jeremy actually saved Stephanie, which I think he would.

Marlena Evans as the Voice of Reason for the Horton Family on DOOL

I think it’s not going to be too long before Steve grabs the guy in a black hoodie, certain that he’s nabbing Jeremy, only to see that it’s Owen. Also, this week, Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) is kind of the voice of reason, telling Kayla that Jeremy doesn’t fit the profile of someone who would kidnap Stephanie.

I don’t know if Kayla’s going to listen and think that they should cast a wider net or carry on with the assumption it’s Jeremy. From the moment he was back and went to apologize to Stephanie, Jeremy claimed he had worked hard on himself to get over anger issues, got a teaching degree. And he’s making a difference in the lives of kids.

His students really liked him. Stephanie from the jump didn’t believe him, had no faith in anything he was saying. And Jeremy’s past with her remained like it was present.

Clearing Jeremy Horton’s Name and What to Expect Next on Days of Our Lives

So Steve, Kayla, Alex, Jada—all of them are judging him based on this and all these years of work he’s done on himself. None of that matters. And in the end, I think Jeremy’s accusers are going to have to swallow their pride.

I think once Stephanie’s saved, they’re going to have to apologize to Jeremy for ruining his life and his reputation when he’s been innocent all along. We’ll know more when Owen pops up on Friday. Wait to see if he’s got Jeremy’s mask on his face or maybe in his back pocket.

Whew, TeaMates! The timeline is in shambles after Nique popped out in the passenger seat of NBA YoungBoy’s car, and let’s just say the internet hasn’t clocked out since. As social media users speculated about what the link-up could mean, Fredo Bang, who has past romantic ties to Nique, weighed in, adding more fuel to the fire.

RELATED: Whew! Yaya Mayweather & Starr Deja’nee React After Nique Shares Clip Of Herself Cruising Around With NBA YoungBoy (VIDEO)

Fredo Bang Calls Nique a “Toy” After Fan Asks About NBA YoungBoy Link-Up

On Thursday, Feb. 26, Baton Rouge rapper Fredo Bang addressed the viral clip Nique posted to her Instagram Story, which showed her riding alongside NBA YoungBoy. The short video quickly sparked speculation online, even prompting Fredo to chime in.

One X user wrote, “I wanna tag Fredo Bang and say how do you feel about yo ex linking up with yo main opp 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣,” appearing to reference Fredo and Nique’s past relationship, as well as the long-rumored tension between Fredo and NBA YoungBoy.

Although he wasn’t tagged, Fredo responded anyway.

In a quote tweet, he replied, “I don’t have any opps and thats not my ex, that was my toy for short period…”

He continued in follow-up posts, writing, “Y’all gotta stop passing out these titles, when was that mine I was sharing 😂😂😂,” before later adding another tweet asking to be left out of the situation altogether.

RELATED: Internet User Accuses Nique Of Being With Her “Home Girl’s Man” Following Clip From NBA YoungBoy’s Passenger Seat — She Responds

Nique Fires Back At Fredo Bang In The Shade Room Teens Comments

After The Shade Room Teens shared Fredo’s remarks, Nique wasted no time responding.

Within minutes, she dropped a GIF of the Joker with the caption, “And. Here. We Go!” She followed up with a pointed message: “Had that mf throwing cheap a** pictures in the pool yearsss ago !!! Come on now, beat it!! Leave me tf alone you overly GROWN a** man!”

Users quickly connected the dots.

Back on Dec. 9, 2021, Fredo Bang posted a video of himself tossing framed photos of himself and Nique into a pool. He captioned the clip, “f*** em 😂.” The resurfaced footage served as a reminder of their history, sparking reactions from many users in the comments.

Social Media Reacts

Instagram user @vsgkentuckyfinest88 wrote, “Nique got the internet SHOOK, and I’m here for it !!”

Another Instagram user @dimepiecex_ wrote, “He want moment! So bad !”

While Instagram user @_its.imprib wrote, “😂😂😂 now Fred you was crashing out over nice we ain’t forgot don’t try to down play her”

Instagram user @snowsimonnie wrote, “The fact yall let nique and yb rage bait yall is crazy 😂😂😂”

Another Instagram user @yannnshxt._ wrote, “in my opinion, nique winning 😬”

While Instagram user @qdharealest_ wrote, “You mad a whole song tho 🤦🏽‍♀️”

Instagram user @_lovebtw_ wrote, “Nique responding to everybody she got time today”

Another Instagram user @jstlkap wrote, “Ain’t nobody throwing pictures in the pool over a toy… 😂😂 they damn sure ain’t recording it then posting it on the internet for attention”

While Instagram user @aaliyahmeshell_ wrote, “Tryna flex and got embarrassed 🤡”

RELATED: Not Pressed? Jania Meshell Returns To The ‘Net As Social Media Urges Her To Get Her Lick Back On Nique After NBA YoungBoy Pop-Out

Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for The Pitt Season 2 Episode 8.

About halfway through Season 2 of The Pitt, a lot has already happened, with Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) struggling to get through his last shift before a three-month sabbatical. Meanwhile, Dr. Frank Langdon (Patrick Ball) is back, despite Robby’s concerns, and a new attending, Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi), is getting ready to assume Robby’s place. However, as Episode 7 shows, Robby’s not the only doctor struggling, as Al-Hashimi is inwardly panicking and trying to reach her therapist. There’s no time for the staff to get too distracted, because a cyberattack has just forced the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center to shut down its entire network. What else can happen in Episode 8, “2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.”?

Joy Saves the Board in ‘The Pitt’ Season 2 Episode 8

Robby isn’t happy that Al-Hashimi didn’t warn him about the hospital’s cyberattack response after meeting with PTMD’s CEO. She insists she was on her way to inform him, but Robby’s not hearing it. Maybe the department chair should break the news, so together, Robby and Al-Hashimi inform the doctors and nurses about what’s going on. Everything from the digital patient board needs to be copied onto a dry-erase version. Too bad Dr. Dennis Whitaker (Gerran Howell) was only able to snap an unfocused cellphone photo before it all went down. Then, Joy Kwon (Irene Choi) impresses everyone by reciting the contents of what was on the original board, courtesy of her photographic memory.

With that taken care of, Dr. Trinity Santos (Isa Briones) goes back to Deaf patient Harlow Graham (Jessica Flores) and talks to her through an interpreter. Harlow works from home and looks down at a screen all day, so neck pain appears to be the source of her headache. Meanwhile, Robby and Dr. Jack Abbott (Shawn Hatosy) show off the old school chart rack that the staff will be using. Everything’s done on paper, just as it was way back when. They even break out a fax machine!

Robby moves on to an incoming patient, Howard Knox (Craig Ricci Shaynak), who’s presenting with abdominal pain. Dr. Cassie McKay (Fiona Dourif) and med student James Ogilvie (Lucas Iverson) jump in to assist. They decide on a CT scan, which will be a struggle because he’s obese and can’t lie down properly for the machine, and it’s then that Ogilvie makes inappropriate comments about Howard’s weight in front of the patient. At the same time, Victoria Javadi (Shabana Azeez) takes Roxie Hamler’s (Brittany Allen) parents to her room. They decide to take their grandsons out for ice cream as Roxie gives her father a long, grateful look.

Al-Hashimi shows up to assist with Howard’s care, and the doctors numb his throat in preparation for a tube insertion. As that’s happening, Al-Hashimi leaves to help Dr. Samira Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) and Dr. Melissa King (Taylor Dearden) treat Brook Maccord (Staci Lynn Fletcher), a woman with sudden-onset blindness in one eye. As that’s happening, Nurse Princess Dela Cruz (Kristin Villanueva) is trying to keep up, doing Dana’s (Katherine LaNasa) job because she can’t stop in the middle of Ilana Miller’s (Tina Ivlev) sexual assault exam. While it initially looks like Ilana may have left, Dana waits just in case she comes back, and Ilana returns with Emma Nolan (Laëtitia Hollard), ready to keep going. After the exam, Ilana tells Dana that she’s glad she was here today. It’s a feel-good moment that’s soon shattered by a frustrating reality. When Dana drops off the evidence kit, she discovers another one still sitting there from two weeks earlier, so she calls the police and gives them hell.

A Kind Patient Shows the Best of the Doctors and Nurses on ‘The Pitt’ Season 2 Episode 8

Caleb Jefferson (Christopher Thornton) introduces Javadi to Nicole Steadman (Adargiza De Los Santos), who runs a parent support group, and suggests that Jackson Davis’ (Zack Morris) parents speak with her. Meanwhile, as Cassie and Ogilvie return to Howard, she lets the new guy know that he needs to treat patients with respect. The group huddles to talk about what’s next. If he needs surgery, Howard’s looking at a 50% chance of death. Before the tube goes down his throat, taking away his ability to speak, Howard takes a beat to thank everyone in the room.

Al-Hashimi returns to Brook and tells her about a clot-busting medication that might help her blindness, but there are risks. Some get worse, and there’s a one percent chance of death. After talking about it with her wife, Wendy (Victoria Mack), Brook decides to go for it. Out in the hall, Santos and Kwon are wheeling in Jackie Liddell (Briana Burnside), who’s bitten through her tongue, accompanied by her friend Jaquie Warren (Esther Omegba). Santos numbs up Jackie’s tongue before she gets stitches, and Langdon tries to instruct her, but Santos gets easily annoyed with him. She hasn’t forgotten their past. Catching up on paperwork, Cassie asks Langdon how he’s doing. She’s on nine years and counting of being clean and knows the first year is the hardest, so he can call her if he needs anything. Langdon looks at her with surprised gratitude. Finally, someone else is showing him some sympathy.

Due to confusion over the dry-erase board, Javadi and Ogilvie accidentally end up with the same patient, a man (Ryan Brody) with a horrible rash all over his body. He hasn’t left the house, so he doesn’t know where it came from. Both med students are stumped. Meanwhile, Mel is with Brook when she’s called away by another doctor who has just finished giving her deposition in the same case Mel is worried about, but Mel’s peer assures her that the malpractice suit won’t hold up, since her spinal tap on the patient was perfectly by-the-book.

Related

In Just 49 Minutes, ‘The Pitt’ Completely Changed Who the ER Is Really About

These unsung heroes are the hospital’s heart and soul.

With the tube down his throat, Howard weighs in at 474 pounds, but the max weight for CT is 450, so he’ll be taken to a different hospital with a machine that can fit him. He’s a kind man and the doctors and nurses look at him with care. It’s not the same energy for Jackie’s case, where Santos is still displaying her annoyance with Langdon. Jackie’s so drunk, though, that she doesn’t even remember why she’s there anymore. Joy wonders if they should recommend rehab to the patient, which leads to an uncomfortable look with Santos and Langdon.

Dana and Robby Are Very Concerned About ‘The Pitt’ in Season 2 Episode 8

Image via HBO Max

Al-Hashimi and Mohan are being updated on Baby Jane Doe. She has rhinovirus but is otherwise healthy and doesn’t need to be admitted. The plan is to keep her overnight, then send her to emergency foster care. That’s not an acceptable choice for the doctors. In the break room, Mohan tells Al-Hashimi that she’s thinking of applying for a fellowship, but she doesn’t know which one to choose. Al-Hashimi has seen Mohan’s skills with the elderly and tells her to consider geriatrics.

Meanwhile, when unhoused man Troy Digby (Charles Baker) finally reappears, he admits he was spending the last hour with Louie Cloverfield’s (Ernest Harden Jr.) body. He was his friend and had a lot to say to him. This makes Dana smile. Robby’s standing next to her when Javadi and Ogilvie run up, highly concerned about their patient. However, they’re interrupted by Joy, who figured it all out by simply talking to the guy. It’s a case of dermatitis, caused by squeezing a bunch of lemons outside in the sun.

After Robby checks in on Javadi and Ogilvie’s patient, he talks with Cassie about Roxie. She’s in a lot of pain, so he tells Cassie to up Roxie’s pain meds. Cassie and Javadi wonder if it’ll be too much, but Robby’s convinced that, right now, treating her pain is the most important thing, even if it leads to death, which “could be the best outcome.” Back at the desk, it’s chaos everywhere with the network down. Robby and Dana look out on it all, wondering how they’ll get through the next few hours.

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Release Date

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January 9, 2025

Network

Max

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Showrunner

R. Scott Gemmill

Directors

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Amanda Marsalis

Writers

Joe Sachs, Cynthia Adarkwa

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  Noah Wyle

  Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch

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  Tracy Ifeachor

  Dr. Heather Collins

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Pros & Cons

• James Ogilvie continues to be the perfect character to hate.
• The Howard Knox storyline shows how great the staff is when they work together.
• Shutting down the computers is a hilarious way to show how newer doctors and nurses struggle without modern technology.

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