The villain is confirmed to be dead as his body is found in the river, two weeks

after his mysterious disappearance. The revelation comes as three young men spot

Joel’s body floating in the water. News reaches Craig Tinker first, so he approaches

DS Lisa Swain and Kit Green with the information at the police station.

With Kit now overseeing the Joel investigation, it’s down to him to break the news to Dee-Dee Bailey and Lauren Bolton at the hospital. Lisa carries out the informal duty of letting the rest of the community know at the Rovers Return.

Later that day, Kit informs Lauren that a post-mortem has been carried out and the results show that Joel was dead before he entered the water.

This means that Joel’s death is now a murder investigation – and first on the agenda is finding out where Lauren was on September 27, the night of his demise.

Later in the week, further information is brought to light as Kit tells Lisa that Joel died from two blows to the head. A heavy weapon was used in the crime – most likely a crowbar.

There’s a new suspect when DS Swain finds out that Yasmeen Metcalfe threw Mason Radcliffe out of her home because she found out he had a crowbar.

Lisa warns her daughter Betsy to stay away from Mason, but Betsy has other ideas and tips off her friend that the police are already onto him.

Mason tries to dispose of the crowbar in a bin outside the factory, but he’s caught covering his tracks by Kit.

Other suspects in the mystery include Max Turner, Ronnie Bailey and Ed Bailey, who all quickly raise concern with their shifty behaviour following the news about Joel. But who really killed him?