What happened to Lauren in Coronation Street – murder, kidnap and grooming

Coronation Street’s Lauren Bolton has been missing for months now – and fans are finally about to discover what happened to her.

The teenager, played by Cait Fitton, was last seen on-screen in February 2024

. Now a murder investigation has been launched after bloodstains were discovered at her

Precinct flat – even though no body has been found. Roy Cropper was soon arrested and is now in prison awaiting trial for her suspected murder.

Lawyer Dee-Dee Bailey is also on the case, trying to prove Roy’s innocence – but this week Roy’s attacked in prison by far-right activist Griff, who knew Lauren’s dad and is determined to find out who killed her.

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But Roy’s not the only suspect in the frame. With Lauren’s almost boyfriend Bobby on the case, the net seems to be closing in on whoever did hurt or kidnap Lauren, with viewers in for an explosive finale later this week.

What happened to Lauren on Coronation Street?

Corrie fans believe they've worked out a chilling twist in Lauren's murder investigation

Coronation Street’s Lauren Bolton has been missing for months (Image: ITV/Danielle Baguley/REX/Shutterstock)

Lauren was last seen on our screens back in February 2024, when she was fired from her job at Roy’s Rolls, when Roy caught her snooping through a customer’s bag. He later headed round to her flat with a final wage packet and some extra cash – which had DS Swain suspicious.

Lauren had also been seeing a mystery man who bought her an expensive necklace – but who also left her battered and bruised. She was creating content for racy subscription site OVidz at the time, which left her pals concerned.

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After she disappeared, Roy headed round to deep clean her flat to get it ready to rent out, but bloodstains were later found on the curtains. Swain became even more suspicious of Roy and bundled him in jail, while also interrogating Daniel Osbourne who had paid for her GCSE English exam and has a history of paying sex workers.

Who killed Lauren in Coronation Street?

Griff and Roy in Corrie

Roy Cropper is currently in prison for suspected murder (Image: ITV)

Daniel and Roy aren’t the only suspects. With Bethany Platt’s former groomer Nathan Curtis back on the scene, plenty of fingers are pointing at the rapist, who has an established ‘type’ in vulnerable young women and girls. Nathan insists he’s turned his life around, though.

Fans have plenty of other theories, including that Dee-Dee’s boyfriend Joel is responsible for killing Lauren after a receipt for an expensive jewellers fell out of his wallet. One fan pointed out on X: “It’s Joel! Back at Christmas Dee De found a receipt for jewellery and thought it would be for her.”

Corrie

Joel is at the forefront of fans’ suspicions

Someone else agreed: “Exactly. I’ve been saying it’s Joel. Plus, the flowers he bought Dee Dee for Valentine’s Day are the same flowers Lauren had that she got from her boyfriend. Also, Joel’s wife was being shady about his cheating. She might have caught Joel on that website Lauren was on and that’s why him and his wife broke up.”

Others have even suggested new cop Kit – who is Bernie’s long-lost son – could be responsible, as he’s tasked with investigating the case and could be trying his best to cover up his own actions. Even youngster Max has been acting shady, with boxes of Lauren’s hair-dye found under his bed.

Is Lauren dead in Coronation Street?

Corrie

Lauren actress Cait Fitton appeared to confirm her exit (Image: ITV)

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