Days of Our Lives: Owen Kent is Stephanie’s Kidnapper — Wes Ramsey Returns

For months on Days of Our Lives, Stephanie Johnson has been living with a sense of unease. First, she revisited her painful past when her ex-boyfriend, Jeremy Horton, returned to town. Since then, she’s worried that he was stalking her. But today, she realized that it’s another painful memory that has taken its place  — and it’s much more terrifying.

Days of our Lives’ Owen Kent Returns

The manhunt was immediate. Suspicion quickly fell on Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark), Stephanie’s (Abigail Klein) ex-boyfriend, whose past made him an easy target for blame. But as viewers realized today, the investigation has been focused on the wrong man.

The real culprit is Owen Kent, portrayed by Wes Ramsey, who has quietly returned to the canvas after a 16-year absence. Longtime fans will remember that in 2009, Owen was responsible for Stephanie’s earlier kidnapping — back when the role was played by Shelley Hennig. The revisiting of that history adds a layered twist to the current storyline, tying Stephanie’s past trauma directly to her present ordeal.

Double the Trouble

Ramsey spoke with TV Insider about stepping back into Owen’s shoes and what draws him to these darker roles. “I do see some similarities in the fact that when they show up, distressing things seem to happen, and some people seem to be very traumatized,” Ramsey says, comparing Owen to another recent character he portrayed: General Hospital’s Peter August. He added, “I just find that one of the best gifts any actor can be given is to find a way to create drama in the world of daytime television. I have loved playing both of them very much.”

While audiences may associate Ramsey’s recent villain turn with GH, the timing tells a different story. Days of our Lives films nearly a year in advance, meaning Ramsey actually stepped back into Owen’s orbit well before his latest GH appearance aired.

Wes Ramsey Is Far From Salem

In real life, the actor’s current chapter looks far less menacing. Ramsey is the longtime partner of Laura Wright, who plays Carly Spencer on General Hospital. The couple is currently vacationing in Europe, sharing snapshots from their travels on Instagram — a striking contrast to the turmoil unfolding onscreen in Salem.

Back in the fictional world of DAYS, however, the fallout is just beginning. With Jeremy wrongfully accused, Stephanie’s latest nightmare is as much about revisiting old wounds as it is about surviving the present danger.

As the truth inches closer to the surface, the question isn’t only how Stephanie will escape — but how Salem will reckon with the fact that history has repeated itself in the most terrifying way.

Miss a day? Catch up with our daily recaps for Days of our Lives — or be the first to look ahead with our DOOL spoilers at The Soap Scene!