As villagers turn on each other over Nate’s murder 6 ‘obvious’ signs they’re missing that it was John

Villagers in Emmerdale are beginning to turn on each other, but somehow they are missing quite a lot of obvious signs that John Sugden killed Nate.

Nate’s body has finally been identified, and the villagers informed. But now begins the journey of them working out who did it. And in doing so, many characters are pointing the finger at each other. With Tracy and Cain now on they’re way for a head-to-head, the real murderer is right in front of their eyes.

In reality, John – who currently has no clue that Nate’s body has been found – is the real culprit. And there are a few things that could paint him in a bad light, the villagers just haven’t realised yet. So let’s have a look at the most obvious clues that John killed Nate.

John killed Nate - but why?
John killed Nate and he’s desperate to keep it a secret (Credit: ITV)

1. John was the last person to see him alive in Emmerdale

Tracy Robinson did tell the detective this last night. And while they were then keen to speak to him, it didn’t sound like anyone thought that was suspicious.

When Nate died, John hadn’t long arrived in the village, and so people didn’t fully know what to make of him yet.

But he was the one who told Tracy that Nate had just left for Shetland. When in reality, he was just covering for what he had done.

John stops Belle from ringing the police
He has been manipulating the situation for months (Credit: ITV)

2. Talked everyone out of looking for him

Another sign that he has something to hide is the fact he literally kept talking everyone out of heading to Shetland.

When he heard Cain Dingle was going, he went to Tracy and filled her head with speculation to get her to stop Cain from leaving. And it worked.

Belle managed to go without him knowing, but when she returned she was determined to report Nate as missing. However, John quickly talked her out of that too, by saying how much it would upset Tracy and Frankie’s lives.

Tracy and John in Emmerdale
Tracy has been confiding in him (Credit: ITV

3. Tracy’s new best friend

Over the last few months John has been plagued by a guilty conscience – and with the fear his secrets will come out. So what has he done? Made himself someone Tracy trusts.

At the start he masked it as professional concern, but he began visiting Tracy and trying to help her however he could (hero complex, much?). And over time, she found herself opening up to him about the whole thing.

All Tracy has to do is open her eyes and realise that John was actually only ever around to ensure his secret stayed hidden – but will she do that?

Aaron and John get ready to marry in Emmerdale
He made sure Nate wasn’t invited to the wedding (Credit: ITV)

4. Uninvited Nate to his wedding

On the run-up to his and Aaron’s wedding, John was concerned when he saw Nate’s name on the guest-list.

Despite knowing that nobody could get through to him, he was still worried that Aaron was going to try. So, to fix it, he told Aaron that he didn’t want Nate to be there, because he had abandoned his family.

It caused a few arguments between the couple, but in the end Aaron gave in to John’s pleas and didn’t reach out to Nate.

The wedding happened – with a shock appearance from Robert – so when they get back from their honeymoon, could Aaron remember John’s persistence of not having Nate there?

John talks to Cain in the cafe
John shows up at the right time (Credit: ITV)

5. John is literally always around in Emmerdale

For a man who doesn’t really have many proper friends, John is somehow everywhere all of the time.

If someone is ill, when something goes wrong, John always jumps in in time to save the day. And it’s usually because he had secretly caused it.

He made Jacob have an allergic reaction, hit Liam over the head (he did think that was Mack), tampered with the slurry machine, and pretended Ella was stalking Chas – and that’s only things in recent weeks.

But somehow nobody has failed to connect John’s appearances at these things as suspicious. Instead they all deem him a hero and boost his ego. So, whenever the truth comes out, everyone will definitely be kicking themselves.

Victoria and John argue in the house
John has a pattern of keeping secrets (Credit: ITV)

6. Has hidden other secrets

John is no stranger to lies – and everyone knows that. He told everyone Aidan Moore was dead, but in reality he was in a coma – that John caused.

When the truth about him being alive came out, Aaron was furious. And it made him wonder what else his partner was hiding. But before long John had been forgiven and they were getting married.

The only person who still thinks John is guilty of something is Mack. And while he probably doesn’t think he killed Nate, he knows there is more to him than meets the eye.

So, after all these obvious signs, all the Emmerdale villagers have to do is properly think back on the last nine months, and they should realise there’s only one name that keeps popping up: John Sugden.

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