Two high school students facing rape charges are accused of assaulting four teens in a varsity basketball locker room, according to court documents detailing the attacks.

At Mark Morris High School in Longview on February 19, police arrested two teens on charges of second-degree rape, unlawful imprisonment with sexual motivation, indecent liberties with forcible compulsion, and indecent exposure, according to city officials, Us Weekly previously reported.

Court documents obtained by KOIN say that the teens, who are 16 and 17, brought junior varsity basketball players inside the varsity team’s locker room, where they allegedly sexually assaulted them during multiple incidents occurring between November 2025 and January 2026.

A police investigation was initiated after a father of a 14-year-old boy said that a few varsity basketball players had attacked his son on several occasions, according to court documents viewed by the TV station.

Six players are accused of being involved in the assaults, but only two have been criminally charged, according to police, the TV station reported.

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The names of the students who have been arrested were not released because of their ages, officials have said.

“The Longview Police Department recognizes the concern this situation has created in our community and understands that many are looking for updates,” police said in a news release on Wednesday, February 25. “The investigation remains active, and detectives continue their work each day.”

After the 14-year-old’s father called police on February 9, an officer spoke with the freshman Mark Morris student, who said that “he and other [junior varsity] players had been getting pulled into the varsity team room and sexually assaulted, according to a probable cause statement published online by KATU.

While detailing some of the assaults, the 14-year-old said that varsity players allegedly put “their penises and buttocks” on the victims’ “face and mouth,” engaged in “digital penetration of their buttocks,” and “one incident where the varsity players took a can of Bio-Freeze and sprayed it into his rectum,” the probable cause statement says.

The three other victims include a second 14-year-old, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, according to police.

The 17-year-old told investigators that on one occasion, a suspect “exposed his bare genitals” and “rubbed his genitals on the drinking portion of [his] water bottle after basketball practice on January 28, the probable cause statement obtained by KATU says.

This teen told his father, who notified the Mark Morris Basketball coach, leading to the school to investigate alleged assaults inside the locker room, the court filing says.

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In a statement on February 19, Longview Public Schools Superintendent Karen L. Cloninger said that the accusations were “deeply troubling and inconsistent with what our school district stands for,” KOIN reported.

“We remain committed to cooperating with the law enforcement investigation,” the statement added.

The two teens facing charges initially appeared in court on Friday, February 20, KATU reported. They are scheduled to return to court on March 3.

It is unclear if they retained legal representation or entered pleas as of February 26.

“These cases are serious and require careful, methodical investigation,” Longview police said. “Detectives are actively reviewing evidence, following up on leads, and assessing information as it is received. While everyone would prefer a quick resolution, a thorough investigation takes time and attention.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

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Jennifer Lopez recently shared a touching tribute to her “wonder twins” on their 18th birthday, emphasizing their unbreakable bond: “It has always been the three of us,” the singer continued. “We have been on this journey together.”

And in light of the milestone, Max and Emme’s journey to adulthood with their famous parents (dad is Latin music icon Marc Anthony) is anything but typical, an insider shared exclusively with Us Weekly. But the superstar exes have always put their children first.

“They have had a very atypical childhood. They have lived between New York, Florida and California on and off, and attended boarding school in Florida for some time,” said the insider. “In the past few years, they have been in school in California and lived at home with Jennifer, and this is the closest she has ever been with them in a more traditional way.”

The former power couple wed in June 2004 and separated in July 2011, finalizing their divorce in June 2014, six years after welcoming twins Emme and Max, who turned 18 on February 22.

J. Lo, 56, and Anthony, 57, “have always moved around a lot and worked in different locations, and Marc is famous for his nonstop touring schedule,” the insider added.

Lopez notably kicked off her new concert residency, Up All Night Live in Las Vegas, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in December 2025, and her final gig is set for late March.

Anthony also has his own Vegas…My Way! residency, which kicked off February 13 at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, and runs through August 2026.

Related: Jennifer Lopez’s Best Quotes About Motherhood and Coparenting

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Proud mama! Jennifer Lopez is a triple threat performer but being a mother is her favorite role to date. “Happy birthday to my beautiful, brilliant coconuts 🥥🥥,” the Marry Me actress gushed via Instagram in February 2023, celebrating kids Max and Emme’s 15th trip around the sun. “You bring so much joy and happiness to my heart and soul. […]

And over the years, the twins’ relationship with their parents has evolved.

“When the children were little, they definitely spent more time with [Anthony], and he would do what he could to accommodate their schedule, even sending private jets to bring them to see him,” the source added. “But that became more difficult and more infrequent.”

“It was [due to] a variety of things — the kids getting older and being in boarding school, Marc traveling. It wasn’t one thing,” continued the source. “Jennifer is the primary parent. [Marc] defers to her. It works for everyone.”

In her social media post the “All I Have” songstress gushed about her journey to motherhood reflecting on the unforgettable day her twins arrived. “When I would hold you as infants, I honestly felt as if I were holding two angels sent straight from heaven above,” she wrote in the post on Instagram alongside a video featuring some of her favorite memories over the years. “My life was changed forever. I cannot believe you are now adults.”

“It has always been the three of us,” the actress continued. “We have been on this journey together. We have always had each other to hold on to and be that steady presence in the middle of any snowstorm. And I promise you, my beautiful coconuts, no matter how big you get, that’s how it will always be.”

Related: J. Lo: My Kids Struggle With Feeling ‘Judged’ for Having Famous Parents

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Shutterstock; Inset: Courtesy of Jennifer Lopez/Instagram Mama bear. Jennifer Lopez opened up about wanting to “protect’ her 15-year-old twins — who have struggled with the realities of having famous parents.  “I think being the child of famous parents is really not something many people can understand and I feel for [my kids] for that because […]

Eight years after her split with Anthony, J. Lo married fourth husband Ben Affleck in 2022. They divorced three years later. (Lopez was previously married to Ojani Noa from 1997 to 1998 and to dancer Cris Judd from 2001 to 2003.)

Anthony is a soon-to-be father of eight. In addition to his kids with J. Lo, the crooner is also dad to Arianna Muñiz, 31, and Chase Muñiz, 28, with ex-girlfriend Debbie Rosado, as well as Cristian Muñiz, 24, and Ryan Muñiz, 22, with his first wife Dayanara Torres and son Marco, 2, with current wife Nadia Ferreira. (Anthony and Ferreira, 26, announced in January that they are currently expecting their second child together.)

“Marc is a very loving father, he loves all of his children,” continued the source. “He provides for them financially and that is his standard of being a good father. He may not be able to give his time and physically be there, but he communicates with all of his children and tries to provide for them.”

“All in all, they are all on good terms at this point. He is healthier physically and emotionally than he was when they were younger,” added the source.

“The twins have relationships with some of [their older siblings]. Marc’s older sons have always tried to foster a relationship with Max.”

And the insider told Us the one-time celebrity couple also remain friends.

“Jennifer and Marc are amicable. They have no ill will toward each other,” said the source. “They understand each other and their unconventional lifestyles.”

Bold and the Beautiful recalls that Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) and Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) have hated each other for decades, but their mutual dislike is about to reach new heights, especially because they are both defending people they love.

We’re going to talk about things getting really, really unpleasant between Bill and Ridge. I suspect things are going to go to a whole new level that’s nuclear. Let’s get into it.

Bold and the Beautiful: Ridge Forrester’s Flip-Flop on Eric Forrester’s Future at Forrester Creations

So, recently we had a rare moment where Bill was shocked because Ridge agreed with Bill that, yes, he discarded Eric Forrester (John McCook). That came right after Ridge had that heart-to-heart with Eric and realized he hadn’t been listening to his dad or considering his father’s feelings. It came off like Ridge was blinded by his fear of losing Eric.

Ridge did agree with Bill on that point, but it wasn’t too long until Ridge was back to raging and being high-handed and making decisions for Eric behind his back. He told Ridge that he would come back to Forrester, but he didn’t say when. And he didn’t say that he was cutting off his arrangement with Katie Logan (Heather Tom).

John McCook said in an interview that Eric was going to come back to Forrester Creations, but on his own terms, which means his own timeline. Ridge assumed just because he wanted to that Eric was going to walk away from Logan ASAP. But we’ve had no confirmation like that from Eric.

The Battle Over the Logan Launch and Eric’s Designs on B&B

Recently, Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Ridge agreed that Eric is definitely done at Logan. With no irony at all, Ridge was saying he treated his dad like a child before and he wasn’t going to do it anymore. And then five seconds later, he was already back to it.

He told Katie, Bill, and then later Brooke that Eric was done at Logan. He said it in the confrontation with them and then again at Brooke’s house right after saying, “I treated my dad like a child and I’m not going to do it anymore.” And He literally just did it a second later.

It would be nice if Ridge would step back, take two seats, and let Eric decide what he’s going to do with his life. Meanwhile, Katie and Bill were talking over at Spencer and he told her, “No matter what, the designs that Eric made are going to be used for the Logan launch because Bill already paid Eric a big chunk of change to create them.”

Dollar Bill Spencer Refuses to Back Down Against Ridge on Bold

Katie’s worried about pressuring Eric, but Bill’s mindset is don’t care, Logan’s still going to launch. Now, he doesn’t want Eric hurt or anything, but he’s also not going to stop the momentum they have going. And he’s definitely not going to let Ridge talk to Katie that way and then convince her to tank her own business.

So, we’re about to see things really ratchet up between Ridge and Bill like it was back in the heyday, especially since Ridge and Brooke keep attacking Katie. I know if you’re on team Brooke, you’re going to see it the other way, but we know Dollar Bill isn’t going to stand still for his wife being talked to like that.

Ridge is going to lose it over Logan keeping Eric’s designs. He’s already mentally put them into the Forrester couture line when Bill bought and paid for those designs. Let’s talk about the massive war brewing between Bill and Ridge and how bad this may get.

Legal Disputes and Specific Performance in the Fashion Industry on Bold and the Beautiful

The first thing I see happening is Bill may be adamant that Eric has to honor his commitment to Logan. Now, Ridge says it’s over and he has said that Eric’s not working there anymore. Both he and Brooke have insisted that Eric’s time at Logan is done, but it’s not Ridge or Brooke’s decision. It is Eric’s.

However, he may decide to walk away. The stress may just be too much and he doesn’t like the materials that Bill was buying. Or, Eric may decide to stay at Logan and finish the one collection he promised, but Bill’s attitude may rub Eric the wrong way. That’s conflict that could make him step back.

Bill can’t force Eric to finish the line and help launch Logan, even if they did have a signed contract about that, because that’s called personal service. You can’t force somebody to do something. If they decide not to fulfill the contract, you can go sue them and you can get damages, but you actually can’t force them to do the work. That’s called specific performance. A judge can’t make somebody do a job. You can make them pay for refusing to do the job that they agreed to, though.

Bill Spencer Threatens to Expose Forrester Family Secrets

If Eric doesn’t honor their verbal agreement, worst case, Bill could try and sue Eric for damages. But more likely, Bill would just press forward and use Eric’s designs and even keep his name on them just because he probably can.

Katie seems nervous about it. She cares about Eric and doesn’t want to hurt or upset him. But if he leaves Katie in the lurch, she may not have a lot of choice. And that’ll infuriate Ridge and I think he’ll go off on Bill and Katie about it.

The second thing I see going down is Bill could take Ridge and Eric’s family drama into the public eye and do damage in the pages of Eye on Fashion. Bill could air out the dirty Forrester laundry and tell the world that Ridge fired Eric, aka forcibly retired him.

Public Fallout and Potential Sabotage for Forrester Creations on B&B

Bill could make it public that Eric turned to Logan to make Ridge, you know, and so Bill could say this to make Ridge and Brooke look terrible to the whole fashion industry. What Ridge did to Eric was rotten. Whether he meant it to be or not, even though Ridge had good intentions, he did hurt Eric.

If the entire fashion industry finds out what Ridge did to his amazing iconic dad, there could be fallout for Ridge and for Brooke and ultimately for Forrester Creations. We all know Bill would love to see Ridge publicly humiliated on Bold and the Beautiful.

Another way this war could wage is Eric may agree to finish the launch, but only if he gets top-notch Forrester level materials and fabrics that he wants because the cat’s out of the bag now. So there’s no reason they can’t use the same fabric source as Forrester.

Ridge Forrester Plays Dirty to Sabotage the Logan Line on Bold

If they do, Ridge might play dirty and try to get this supplier to cut off Logan and not sell to Katie and Bill to sabotage them. I absolutely think Ridge could do that. Ridge keeps saying Katie’s going to fail and he may decide to make sure that she does.

I also expect as part of this war that Ridge and Brooke are going to keep harassing Katie, if you like that word or not, but keep at her and keep blaming her for Eric and his issues and for him working at Logan. This week, Ridge is snarking to Brooke that once again, Katie didn’t do anything wrong and Ridge was sarcastically calling her “poor Katie.”

Then Brooke was sniping that Katie stole the Logan name and she stole Eric. They are very anti-Katie right now. I can see them trash-talking her to people they know in the industry to undermine Logan’s launch.

A Surprising Bond Between Eric Forrester and Bill Spencer?

This is another way Ridge can make sure Katie fails. I absolutely think he’s capable of doing it. I think Brooke might as well because making sure Katie fails also means that Bill fails and he’ll lose all the money he invested in Logan, and we know Ridge would love that.

One last thing I could see in this Bill versus Ridge war is Katie may have regrets about launching Logan because of just the nastiness that it’s caused. But I suspect Eric may still encourage Katie and want to make the launch great for her.

Eric may do that despite him not liking Bill, and things may shift. You know, Eric and Bill might yet bond. They were halfway getting along, and that would drive Ridge absolutely bat crap crazy. He would be so furious and would blame Katie for Eric bonding with Bill.

Things are about to get wildly dramatic and chaotic for the Forresters and Spencers. We’ll see what happens, but I’m here for it all as Ridge and Bill go to war.

Denise Richards
Ordered to Pay Ex-Aaron $5K in Spousal Bills

Published
February 26, 2026
6:54 PM PST

Young and the Restless puts Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) officially on the dangerous path of drug addiction, and things are about to get dark and messy for him. It’s going to cause problems for all of the Newmans—possibly catastrophic problems.

We’re going to discuss what awful things lie ahead unless Victor Newman (Eric Braeden), Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott), Sharon Newman (Sharon Case), or somebody realizes that Nick is spiraling out right in front of them and performs an intervention before it goes too far. I doubt they will. So let’s get into it.

Nick Newman’s Spiraling Fentanyl Addiction on Young and the Restless

Right now, the writing is on the wall and you can already see what’s coming for Victor’s hothead son. Ever since we saw Nick with that baggie of fentanyl pills from Matt Clark (Roger Howarth), we knew things were going to get rough.

It’s already started because Nick is popping fentanyl after gobbling up multiple bottles of prescription pain pills that his doctor gave him. Sharon mentioned that Nick shouldn’t have gone through those pills so fast. That’s because he didn’t stay in the hospital and properly recover with the good IV drip meds.

Once the legal pain pills ran out, Nick turned to fentanyl. So, what happens when he runs out of Matt’s little baggie of pills? Well, that’s when I think things are going to really take a sharp downturn for Nick. I want to talk about what his downfall looks like if nobody stops it.

Will Nick Newman Turn to Street Dealers for More Opioids on Y&R?

I think it’s highly likely that once the pills from Matt are gone, Nick will turn to a street dealer for either more fentanyl or more opioid pills of some other type. Matt is back soon, but I would hope that Nick wouldn’t ask Matt to refill his drug baggie because a lot of people in LA overdosed on bad fentanyl.

I’m sure Nick doesn’t want to give Matt the satisfaction of knowing that he got him hooked on fentanyl or give him the chance to kill him. But I bet that Matt will see the signs of addiction written all over Nick. Of course, that would just thrill Matt.

With Matt free as he is right now, I also expect that Nick is going to go looking for more pills so that he can be ready to hunt Matt down and physically fight him. Right now, he’s just not able to do that. He’s in pain and he’s weak. The drugs are causing significant problems.

Nick seeking out street drugs is also very dangerous. He would be out there buying unknown substances from sketchy people. That could be really, really bad.

The Newman Family Notice Nick’s Increasing Aggression and Erratic Behavior on Young and the Restless

The second thing is, I think Nick is going to scare Nikki, Victor, and all the Newmans with his ongoing pain that should be diminishing at this point. Plus, we’ve got Nick’s growing aggression, and the family’s already been talking about him behind his back.

Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) expressed her concern for Nick and said he wasn’t acting like himself, but he brushed her off. She warned Nick to be careful with the pain meds, and he brushed her off again. Victoria is on alert, but she’s also very distracted by the Newmans losing their business and her wanting revenge on Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford).

Nikki and Victor were also a little thrown by Nick’s outburst regarding Matt. They know how much Nick hates Matt, but they can tell this is not Nick’s usual behavior. It’s over the top. He’s already snapped at Sharon and Noah Newman (Lucas Adams).

Nick’s son and ex-wife were probably the first ones to get worried. Sharon and Noah are soon going to have more to worry about because things are only going to get worse from here. I’m sure Nick is going to keep taking the fentanyl until it runs out and then take whatever illegal pain medication he can get his hands on.

Phyllis Summers Faces Nick Newman’s Drug-Fueled Fury

The next thing I expect is that Phyllis is going to have to deal with a drugged-up, angry Nick. He is getting more and more confrontational with Phyllis. We know Nick has already fallen into this area where he’s just beyond session furious with Phyllis for stealing his family’s empire.

Nick flat-out vowed to destroy Phyllis. He just got in her face again this week. It was right as Sharon was actually making progress with Phyllis and was softening her up.

But Nick is so drug-addled and unhinged that he came in like a bull in a china shop, raging. Phyllis then decided that he and Sharon were tag-teaming her, and she walked out. Sharon was very clearly annoyed and told Nick she was making progress with Phyllis, but of course, Nick didn’t believe it.

I do wonder if Phyllis might also notice something’s off because she has a long history with Nick. She knows him very well and she knows about his temper. We all know about his temper, but this is a new level.

Y&R Shocker: Could Sharon Newman and Phyllis Summers Team Up to Save Nick Newman?

Maybe Phyllis will warn Sharon that she thinks something is seriously wrong with Nick over and above his anger regarding Matt and the Newman business. Even if Sharon and Phyllis tried to tell the Newman family, they might not listen on Young and the Restless.

The Newmans hate Phyllis and they would probably disregard Sharon because they’re so busy trying to get back their company business. In the end, we could see Sharon and Phyllis actually working together to try and help Nick if his family doesn’t do anything.

Also, With Matt Clark back on the scene in Genoa City in March, we could see Nick get his wish and kill Matt. However, it might come off looking like Nick murdered him instead of it being self-defense, especially if he kills Matt while hopped up on illegal street drugs.

Will Nick Newman Murder Matt Clark While Under the Influence?

We know Matt is already threatening Noah, and we’ve heard Nick tell multiple people that he was going to literally kill Matt. Given Nick’s pain and his drug rages, he may actually do it.

If Nick goes nuts and flat-out murders Matt, he might be arrested and face criminal charges. That would give Matt the last laugh looking up from hell. If Nick comes after him like that, Matt might even get the chance to frame Nick again for his murder like last time.

You may remember when Matt ripped out his own breathing tube to implicate Nick in his death. Nick beat those charges last time, but he might not get so lucky this time. If Nick kills him while high on drugs, he might go to prison when what he really needs is rehab.

A Possible Overdose Could Lead Nick Newman to Rehab or a Mental Facility on Young and the Restless

One final thing that could come from this addiction storyline is that Nick could actually overdose. I feel certain that if he does, he would survive. The fentanyl that Matt gave him might have been clean, or maybe some of the pills are tainted. Detective James Burrow (Matt Cohen) has already mentioned overdose deaths from Matt’s fentanyl ring.

Obviously, we don’t want Nick killed off and we don’t want Josh Morrow leaving. I don’t think it would happen. But if he ODs, then Victor, Nikki, Noah, Sharon, and everybody would see just how serious this is and that Nick is drowning in addiction and really needs help.

Rehab would be great. A psychiatric hospital might also be a good place for him after the Matt ordeal. It would be wild if he ended up at a mental health facility and it was the same one Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes) was sent to. That is also where the soon-to-return Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) pops up.

We’ll see where this all lands. Things are heating up for Nick, and his drug-fueled rages this week are just the tip of the messy iceberg. I have a feeling things are about to get a lot worse for Nick and the Newmans before they get better.

Eva Marcille is proud of how far she has come after winning America’s Next Top Model.

More than 20 years after being crowned the winner on cycle 3 of Tyra Banks’ reality show, Marcille, 41, (who was previously known as Eva Pigford) explained her career evolution after earning the title of Top Model.

“I walk into a room, and I am known as Eva — not the model girl, not the this and not the that, and not because it wasn’t hard. It was very difficult to pay my dues,” Marcille exclusively shared with Us Weekly while supporting her new Lifetime movie, Pushed Off a Plane and Survived. “But [Tyra] gave me the opportunity to pay my dues on the back end, and a lot of entertainers have to pay it on the front end, and then they’re famed. A lot of people from Top Model didn’t realize becoming famed doesn’t mean that you now have a career.”

From the moment Marcille was crowned the winner, she made it her mission to “fight for that career.”

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“That’s what I feel like was missing on Top Model because I got the scarlet letter. I changed my name to Marcille so that when I walked into an audition, I wasn’t prejudged,” she explained to Us. “But I’m prejudged in everything I do, and so I am not going to hang my hat on Tyra and make it as if she is the reason why the industry has been difficult.”

Marcille added, “The industry is difficult because it is difficult — period. Tyra did us — did me — a service, and helped me a lot. And I’m very appreciative of her.”

Like many previous America’s Next Top Model participants, Marcille has watched Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.

Models, judges and Banks herself agreed to look back at the reality show’s complicated legacy in an eye-opening Netflix documentary series.

While some contestants are quick to criticize Banks, 52, Marcille has empathy for the TV personality who became the first Black woman to appear on the covers of GQ, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and the Victoria’s Secret catalog.

“I don’t know what the world wants from Tyra,” Marcille shared. “I know I heard her say ‘sorry’ multiple times. I’m not one to tell you how genuine I thought it was or was not. I definitely heard it, but I think it’s really hard when your back is up against the wall and the entire business is now pointing a finger at you and not for anything you did good, but for only your flaws. … I feel for Tyra. I truly do, because this is the day and age where we gaslight and we blackball and we cancel. It’s a cancel culture, and I don’t think she deserves that.”

Modeling aside, Marcille is excited for fans to see her next movie role on Lifetime.

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Related: ‘Top Model’ Winner Eva Marcille Was ‘Gobsmacked’ by New Netflix Doc

Former America’s Next Top Model Eva Marcille is weighing in after the reality series was explored in a new bombshell Netflix documentary. “I watched it and after I watched it, I was gobsmacked,” Marcille, 41, said during the Thursday, February 19, episode of CBS Mornings. “I was in awe … My mouth was wide open. […]

In Pushed Off a Plane and Survived, a skydiving trip turns into a nightmare when Jaynie (played by Marcille) plummets 4,000 feet from the sky and somehow survives against all odds.

“Lifetime does a beautiful job at finding stories that are ripped from the headlines, and as an actor, art depicts life,” Marcille shared. “What yummier story to tell than a real-life story and to be pushed from a plane?”

Pushed Off a Plane and Survived premieres on Lifetime Saturday, February 28, at 8 p.m. ET.

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.