Days of our lives: PLAN EXPOSED! Steve Trapped & A “Bloody” DiMera Baptism? – JAN 19-23
Days of Our Lives: PLAN EXPOSED! Steve Trapped & A “Bloody” DiMera Baptism? – JAN 19–23
Salem is heading into one of its most chaotic, nerve-shredding weeks yet, and if you thought the drama had already peaked, think again. The spoilers for January 19–23 promise a perfect storm of danger, deception, family warfare, and shocking accusations that will leave no one untouched. From a risky trap meant to flush out a stalker, to a jaw-dropping arrest inside the Horton House, to a DiMera baptism that feels more like a battleground than a blessing, this week is Days of Our Lives at its most unhinged.
Let’s break it all down, storyline by storyline, because every thread is about to collide in explosive ways.
A Dangerous Game: Stephanie, Steve, and Alex’s Plan Backfires
At the center of the week’s tension is Stephanie Johnson’s terrifying stalker storyline, which pushes Steve “Patch” Johnson straight into overprotective father mode. Steve is not the kind of man who waits patiently for police updates—when his daughter is in danger, he takes action. And that urgency sets the stage for a plan that sounds clever on the surface but feels like a ticking time bomb underneath.
Stephanie decides the best way to draw out her stalker is to announce a fake engagement to Alex Kiriakis online. The logic is simple: if the stalker is obsessed, seeing Stephanie “belong” to another man—especially someone as bold and alpha as Alex—should provoke a reaction. It’s bait. And in classic Salem fashion, it’s also wildly reckless.
Alex is not exactly a calm, predictable choice. He’s impulsive, emotional, and has a complicated history with Stephanie. Fake engagements in Salem have a nasty habit of turning real—or at least emotionally messy—and this one already feels doomed. Is Stephanie protecting herself, or is she inviting a whole new kind of chaos into her life?
Steve, for his part, doesn’t trust the setup for a second. Even though Alex is supposedly helping, Steve’s instincts tell him something isn’t right. So he does what Steve Johnson always does: he starts watching. The spoilers reveal that Steve begins tailing Alex after the fake engagement announcement, and that surveillance leads to something completely unexpected.
But here’s the twist—what if Steve’s discovery isn’t proof that Alex is untrustworthy, but proof that Alex is in danger too? There’s a real possibility that the stalker shifts focus and targets Alex as a way to remove him from the picture. Or worse, what if Steve realizes Alex is enjoying the engagement a little too much? If Alex’s feelings are becoming real, this entire operation could blow up spectacularly, leaving Steve trapped in a web of half-truths and unintended consequences.
One thing is certain: this plan is not going to end the way Stephanie hopes.
Shockwaves at the Horton House: Jeremy Horton Arrested
Just when Salem thinks it has a handle on the stalker situation, everything takes a dark turn. Jada Hunter, Salem’s by-the-book, no-nonsense police commissioner, has been quietly working the case. Her wedding shopping outing isn’t about centerpieces or china patterns—it’s a cover for hunting down a predator.
By the end of the week, the investigation leads her straight to the Horton House.
The image alone is chilling. Julie Williams answering the door. Jeremy Horton standing nearby. And then the click of handcuffs. Jada announces that the evidence points to Jeremy as Stephanie’s stalker.
It’s a bombshell—and one that feels deeply wrong.
Jeremy Horton has plenty of flaws. He can be arrogant, reckless, and dripping with entitled confidence at times. But a calculating stalker who terrorizes women? That doesn’t fit his psychological profile. Jeremy is usually the guy cleaning up disasters or accidentally creating them, not orchestrating something this sinister.
Everything about this arrest screams setup.
The timing alone raises red flags. Jeremy has been involved in high-stakes business dealings, making him the perfect scapegoat for someone who needs a distraction—or someone who wants him out of the way. Whoever planted the evidence had intimate access to his life, his routines, and his digital footprint. That narrows the suspect list dramatically and suggests the real villain may be hiding in plain sight.
And then there’s Julie Williams.
Watching Julie witness Jeremy’s arrest inside her own home is going to be devastating. Susan Seaforth Hayes is poised to deliver powerhouse scenes as Julie’s heartbreak turns into fury. Julie doesn’t quietly accept injustice—especially when it targets her family. This arrest is going to ignite a warpath, and Julie will stop at nothing to prove Jeremy’s innocence.
The most dangerous part? While everyone focuses on Jeremy behind bars, the real stalker is free—and Stephanie may be more vulnerable than ever.
Holy Chaos: A DiMera Baptism Turns Bloody?
From police drama to church pews, Salem shifts gears but not tone. The baptism of baby Trey DiMera should be a tender, joyful moment. Instead, it feels like a powder keg waiting to explode.
With the DiMera name attached, nothing is ever simple. Leo Stark and Javi Hernandez are named godparents, and the spoilers make it clear they’re seated in separate pews—a visual gag that hints at deeper tension. Leo Stark in a church is already headline-worthy. Leo Stark as a godfather? That’s pure Salem madness.
Leo thrives on drama, and there’s no doubt he’ll steal the spotlight, whether through biting commentary, over-the-top prayers, or subtle shade that barely qualifies as subtle. Chaos follows him like a shadow.
But beneath the humor lies something much darker.
Chanel DiMera’s ongoing morning sickness raises serious alarm bells. In soaps, morning sickness is rarely just morning sickness. Chanel is under immense stress—married into the DiMera family, dealing with Paulina’s intensity, and carrying a DiMera heir. That combination alone is enough to make anyone ill.
There’s growing concern that Chanel’s symptoms point to a high-risk pregnancy—or something even more sinister. Poisoning is not off the table, especially considering how many enemies the DiMera bloodline has. And what better place for disaster to strike than a public, emotionally charged baptism?
If Chanel collapses at the altar, it would be tragically on-brand for the DiMeras—and could turn a sacred moment into a horrifying one.
Johnny DiMera, trying desperately to be the “good” DiMera, may find himself at his breaking point, caught between Leo’s antics, Chanel’s health scare, and the crushing weight of his family legacy.
A Family Torn Apart: Chad, Thomas, and the Custody War
While Salem burns around them, the most heartbreaking story of the week unfolds quietly in mediation rooms and private conversations. Chad DiMera is fighting for custody of his son Thomas, while Jack and Jennifer Deveraux believe they’re protecting their grandson from instability.
This isn’t a battle between heroes and villains—it’s a family tragedy.
Thomas, still grieving the loss of his mother, carries an unbearable sense of guilt. He confides in Jeremy before the arrest, believing the conflict is somehow his fault. No child should feel that kind of weight, and it makes this storyline especially painful.
The spoilers hint that everything changes after a frightening incident in the crypt. Whatever happens there becomes a psychological turning point for Thomas, reminding him that despite Chad’s flaws, his father loves him deeply. Trauma has a way of stripping away petty anger and revealing what truly matters.
Chad faces an impossible task. He’s not fighting enemies—he’s fighting family who genuinely love Thomas. If Chad walks into mediation with DiMera arrogance, he will lose. But if he leads with humility, honesty, and Abigail’s compassionate spirit, he might stand a chance.
There’s strong speculation that Thomas himself will be the one to end the war—either by interrupting mediation or speaking privately to the judge. A simple, devastating plea: he wants his dad, but he needs his grandparents too. It’s the kind of scene guaranteed to leave viewers in tears.
Final Thoughts: A Week That Changes Everything
This week in Salem is packed with deception, false accusations, holy chaos, and emotional devastation. Lines will be drawn, trust will be shattered, and not everyone will survive unscathed—emotionally or otherwise.
One thing feels clear: Jeremy is being framed, Alex is walking into a trap of his own, and Chanel may be in far more danger than anyone realizes. Salem is about to learn, once again, that the truth always comes at a cost.
The hourglass is turning—and time is running out.