Summer Bay has been plunged into devastating grief following the shocking death of a beloved resident, Theo. The tragedy has cracked open a mystery surrounding a corrupt councillor and sparked emotional turmoil that is tearing apart the lives of Justin, Leah, and Mackenzie.

The devastating news was delivered when police officers called at Justin and Leah’s house to confirm Theo’s death. A grief-stricken Leah was taken to the scene of the crime, witnessing the horrifying sight of a body bag being zipped closed and wheeled into an ambulance.

At the police station, a devastated Lacy was interviewed, revealing the heroic circumstances of Theo’s final moments. She explained that corrupt Councillor Wendell attempted to run her over, but Theo stepped in to save her life. Now, the search is on for Theo’s killer, with David torn between his police investigation and his duties to his daughter, Lacy.

The immense shock has sent Leah into a spiral of denial. She furiously confronts Lacy, pointing out that Lacy’s risky scheme against Wendell got Theo killed. Still desperate to reject the truth, Leah demands to know how anyone can be certain Theo is dead, since she never saw his body. Despite David confirming that Theo’s mother had already identified the body, Leah remains fixated on the idea that her nephew is still alive. Her distress alarms Justin, who worries that Leah is facing another breakdown.

The emotional destruction is compounded by the arrival of Theo’s mother, Cassandra. Cassandra’s visit to collect her son’s belongings reveals the extent of Theo’s secret life, as she is shocked to learn he had moved out and was involved in illegal car racing and a messy relationship with Lacy. After witnessing Leah’s angry outbursts at the police station, Cassandra turns her fury on Leah, pointing out that she had entrusted her to look after her son. In an explosive escalation, Cassandra bans Leah from attending the funeral and warns her to stay away from her family altogether.

Meanwhile, the tragedy has reopened old wounds for Mackenzie. Still struggling with the recent loss of her own baby following a miscarriage, she is hurt that Levi attempted to shield her from the news of Theo’s death, believing he is tiptoeing around her grief. Her pain peaks when she receives a text from Dean with a photo of her new baby niece, a stark reminder of everything she has lost. In a moment of breakdown, Mackenzie decides to take an impulsive trip to Queensland to help with the new baby, refusing to listen to Levi’s concerns or his plea for her to share details of their IVF attempts and miscarriage with Dean.

In other events, Joe is confronted by Tane over an emotional voicemail he left about his feelings for her. As Tane steps in to support Joe, who is reeling from the news about Lacy and Theo, he offers her much-needed comfort, encouraging her to process her emotions without judgment and confirming that she was not to blame for her own mother’s accident. Elsewhere, Remy has given newlyweds Cash and Eden some space, announcing he has moved out and paid the rent for the remainder of the year as a generous wedding gift.