Summer Bay is reeling after one of its darkest twists yet, with police officially declaring the death of the character portrayed by Rachael Carpani in a harrowing new Home and Away storyline that has left fans shaken.

In scenes set to air in the coming weeks, the actress’ much-talked-about return takes a devastating turn when authorities confirm her character has been murdered, following the discovery of chilling security camera footage that clearly shows who entered her home on the night she disappeared.

The storyline begins with growing concern as Carpani’s character abruptly vanishes, leaving behind unanswered phone calls, an untouched car, and a house that appears disturbingly frozen in time. As residents of Summer Bay rally together, the tension escalates when police quietly seize security footage from nearby properties — and what they find changes everything.

Viewers will watch in horror as detectives analyse crystal-clear images capturing a familiar figure entering the house late at night. The footage, according to police within the show, leaves “no room for doubt” about the timeline — or the suspect. The revelation sends shockwaves through the Bay, particularly as the individual caught on camera is someone deeply woven into the community.

In a gut-punch moment, police deliver the news no one wanted to hear: the case is no longer a missing persons investigation. Carpani’s character is officially declared dead.

Cast insiders describe the storyline as “emotionally brutal” and “one of the most confronting arcs the show has tackled in years.” Grief ripples through Summer Bay as friends struggle to process not only the loss, but the betrayal implied by the footage.

The fallout is immediate. Old secrets resurface. Relationships fracture under suspicion. And as the suspect’s identity spreads, the town is divided between disbelief and fury. Was this a crime of passion? A long-buried feud? Or something far more calculated?

Rachael Carpani’s performance is expected to be a standout, with flashbacks revealing the final days — and final fears — of her character. Producers hint that these scenes will recontextualise everything viewers thought they knew, revealing subtle warning signs that were missed until it was too late.

“This storyline is about trust, denial, and the danger of assuming we truly know the people closest to us,” a show source teased. “The security footage is just the beginning.”

As the investigation deepens, fans can expect courtroom drama, explosive confrontations, and one final twist that threatens to destroy more than one life in Summer Bay.

One thing is certain: after this devastating chapter, Home and Away will never be the same again.