Colleen King was killed off-screen last year but her death has since been swiftly swept under the rug, leaving viewers desperate for answers.

The ex-wife of Carl King, Colleen had been a part of Emmerdale since her soap debut in April, 2004, when actress Melanie Ash first set foot in the eponymous village with her two children, Tom and Anya. She briefly appeared in the Dales in 2005 when the pair of youngsters paid Carl a visit.

Six years after her first arrival in Yorkshire, Colleen told Carl she was considering emigrating to Saudi Arabia with both Anya and Tom and the trio left the following day.

While Tom later returned to embark on a relationship with Belle for the first time, Colleen was never seen again and her son announced she had succumbed to a fatal heart attack in October, 2023.

But as Tom’s (played by James Chase) abrasive behaviour continues to escalate into a full-blown coercive control storyline, viewers have been wondering if his version of events is accurate.

Many fans of the Yorkshire-based drama have speculated he could have been involved in his own mother’s demise, but more theories have emerged online as some viewers suggest there could be another unexpected twist ahead for Belle.

1. Murdered by her own son

A majority of viewers have grown increasingly convinced throughout recent months that Tom may have murdered his mother Colleen, with the theory first appearing on X, otherwise known as Twitter, in shortly after news of her death reached the village.

“I’m starting to wonder if Tom murdered his mum”, one viewer questioned at the time. Another later added: “Tom has definitely murdered his mum… why else would he be so shifty? Or maybe the lad who beat him up??”

The vet’s lack of emotion had then prompted another soap fan to comment: “Is Tom a sociopath? Very cold about his mum’s death. No feelings. Or is it just that’s he’s not a very good actor?”, while another found his decision to not attend Colleen funeral “strange.”

And with Tom being exposed as physically violent and unsafe partner for Belle, as he was recently seen punching her in the stomach, the speculation that he could also be a murderer has only grown. But things could be even more complex.

2. Driven to commit the irreparable

Belle Dingle (portrayed by Eden Taylor-Draper) was pushed over the edge during Thursday’s (May 23) trip to the Dales as Tom made snarky remarks about her late mother Lisa Dingle. This left her in an emotionally reactive state and, crumbling under Tom’s continuous abuse, she physically lashed out and pushed her beau to the floor.

Vanessa Woodfield and Rhona Goskirk both rushed to Tom’s rescue as he successfully manipulated them and village GP Liam Cavanagh that his wife was unstable and potentially abusive towards him – a reality for survivors of coercive control and domestic abuse who struggle to get over after their ordeal, with some experiencing considerable damage to their mental health as they blame themselves for their abuse.

This begs the question – could Colleen King have endured a similar treatment? One viewer kicked off the conversation on X: “I wonder if Tom did the same thing to his mum.”

One theory now suggests that Colleen, tired of being mistreated by her son, ended her life in a desperate bid to get away from him, with Tom lying about the circumstances of her death to throw everyone off his scent. Yet this fails to clear up another mystery – where is Tom’s sister Anya?

3. Tom is a red herring

Tom has easily been pointed out as Colleen’s killer by viewers but his sister Anya remains a complete enigma.

Anya has seemingly been held at arm’s length from both Emmerdale and her brother’s life and she hasn’t been heard from or seen since November, 2012, when she came back to the village after her father Carl’s murder.

Unlike her older brother, Anya has not been proven to be a villain but one could theorise she may be revealed as a killer down the line. Tom appeared surprise when Belle figured out that Colleen had passed away, hinting he may not have known all the details.

With Carl King’s genes, Anya’s potential involvement in Colleen’s death – and probable run from justice – wouldn’t be far-fetched. This could then lead her straight back to the village to wreak more havoc, and maybe even reveal herself as the village’s new serial killer following Meena Jutla’s incarceration in 2022. Could she already be in the village under another name?

4. Fake death twist

What if soap bosses had another twist in mind and Colleen was, actually, never really dead?

As mentioned, Colleen’s off-screen death has been seemingly pushed aside since it was first mentioned, with Tom blankly stating she had passed from a heart attack. However, a small handful of viewers have theorised that she may not even be dead and could be gearing up to expose her son’s abusive ways with Anya’s help.

Both Colleen and Anya could aid Belle in her efforts to get away from Tom and reveal they have also been tormented by him throughout their years as a family.

Emmerdale viewers have begged for Belle’s brothers Cain (Jeff Hordley) and Sam (James Hooton) to rush to her aid as Tom’s abuse increases in intensity.

But with the vet managing to manipulate villagers into believing he’s a victim, the wedding planner may need more people who are familiar with Tom’s ways to finally bring him comeuppance. Could Colleen be the one to end Tom’s reign of terror in Dale Head?