Abigail Deveraux is a name that carries weight in Salem. If you've been watching NBC (and now Peacock) for any length of time, you know the Deveraux family is basically the heartbeat of the show. But the journey of Abigail Days of Our Lives fans have been on lately? It’s been a total rollercoaster. We aren't just talking about your standard soap opera wedding or a quick "who's the daddy" plotline. We’re talking about a character who has been murdered, resurrected, recast, and reimagined more times than most viewers can keep track of without a spreadsheet.
Soap fans are a loyal bunch. They remember everything.
People still talk about the Kate Mansi era like it was yesterday, even though Marci Miller stepped into those shoes and absolutely crushed the "Chabby" (Chad and Abby) romance too. But honestly, the recent twists involving her "death" and the subsequent return of a woman who looks exactly like her—but claims to be someone else—has turned the fandom upside down. It’s messy. It’s confusing. It’s exactly why we keep tuning in.
The Brutal Murder of Abigail Deveraux: What Actually Happened?
Let’s go back to that night in June 2022. It was horrific. Abigail was found stabbed in her own bed at the DiMera mansion. For a long time, the show felt different. It felt emptier. When a legacy character like Abigail is killed off, it usually signals a massive shift in the show’s canvas.
The "Whodunnit" lasted for months. We saw Chad DiMera, played by the incredibly talented Billy Flynn, spiral into a grief-stricken mess. It was raw. It felt real. For a while, it seemed like Leo Stark was the prime suspect. Then it looked like Gwen Rizczech—Abigail’s half-sister and eternal rival—had finally snapped. But the truth was even weirder. It turned out to be Clyde Weston. Yes, Ben Weston’s creepy father.
Why would Clyde do it? Pure, unadulterated malice. He wanted to hurt EJ, and Abigail was collateral damage. It felt like a waste of a great character at the time. Fans were furious. You don't just kill off Jennifer Horton and Jack Deveraux’s daughter for a B-plot villain's revenge.
The Problem With Soap Deaths
Death in Salem is... flexible. We know this. Dr. Wilhelm Rolf has a "resurrection serum" that basically acts like a get-out-of-jail-free card for the writers. But with Abigail, there was a body. There was a funeral. There was a grieving husband who sat by her grave for two years.
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The 2024 Return: Is She Actually Abigail?
Fast forward to the current era on Peacock. Suddenly, a woman named "Anna S." or "Greene" or whatever alias she’s using this week appears on the screen. She looks exactly like the Abigail we remember (well, the Anna Lynn Galvin version, specifically).
Here is where things get complicated. Chad is desperate to believe it's her. He wants his wife back. His kids, Thomas and Charlotte, need their mother. But the show is playing a very dangerous game with the audience's heartstrings. Is this a case of amnesia? Is it a brainwashed Abigail? Or is it a "lookalike" hired by someone like Konstantin or a vengeful DiMera?
The mystery of Abigail Days of Our Lives viewers are currently obsessed with revolves around DNA tests. We’ve seen enough soaps to know that DNA tests in Salem are about as reliable as a weather forecast in a hurricane. They get swapped. They get forged. They get "hacked" by someone sitting in a dark room with a laptop.
The Impact of Recasting a Legend
You can't talk about Abigail without talking about the actresses. Ashley Benson (of Pretty Little Liars fame) played her as a teen. She brought that rebellious, "I'm a Deveraux but I'm also a mess" energy. Then Kate Mansi took over and gave us the definitive Abigail—fragile, fierce, and deeply tied to the show's history.
When Marci Miller stepped in, people were skeptical. It’s hard to replace a fan favorite. But Miller brought a different kind of soul to the role. She handled the "Split Personality" storyline—where Abigail shifted between "Gabby" and "Dr. Laura"—with a level of skill that honestly deserved an Emmy. It was high-stakes drama that explored mental health through a soap lens, even if it was a bit "out there" at times.
The current mystery uses Anna Lynn Galvin. This is a bold move. It pulls from the show's past while trying to forge a new path. Some fans love the nostalgia; others feel it cheapens the "perfect" ending Chad and Abby supposedly had.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Abigail Mystery
A lot of casual viewers think Abigail was just a "damsel in distress." That’s a total misunderstanding of the character. Abigail was a journalist. She was a mother. She was a woman who survived being kidnapped by Ben Weston (The Necktie Killer) and being trapped in a burning cabin.
She wasn't just Chad's wife. She was the anchor for the Horton and Deveraux families. Without her, the show lost its center of gravity. That's why the writers are working so hard to bring her—or some version of her—back into the fold.
Why "Chabby" Is the GOAT Couple
Every soap needs a "Supercouple." In the 80s, it was Bo and Hope or John and Marlena. In the modern era, it’s Chad and Abigail.
Their chemistry is undeniable. It’s that classic "Star-Crossed Lovers" trope. He’s a DiMera (the villains). She’s a Horton/Deveraux (the heroes). It shouldn’t work. Their families hate each other. They’ve been through:
- Abigail’s affair with EJ (Chad’s brother... yikes).
- Ben Weston trying to burn them alive.
- The "Gabby" personality falling in love with Stefan DiMera.
- Multiple faked deaths and disappearances.
Despite all that, they always find their way back. If this new woman isn't Abigail, it’s going to crush Chad. And frankly, it might crush the audience too.
The Dr. Rolf Factor
We have to mention the mad scientist in the room. Dr. Rolf is the reason half the cast is still alive. If Abigail actually died on that bed, the only way she’s back is if Rolf got to her body before the undertaker did.
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Think about it. We’ve seen it before with Will Horton. We’ve seen it with EJ. We’ve even seen it with Bo Brady. If there is a tube of green liquid nearby, no one is ever truly gone. The speculation right now is that Abigail was "swapped" at the hospital, and a realistic cadaver was left in her place. It sounds insane. Because it is. But in Salem, it’s just another Tuesday.
What’s Next for the Abigail Storyline?
If you're following the show right now, you need to keep your eyes on the small details. Look at the way this "New Abigail" reacts to certain names. Watch how she interacts with the kids.
There are a few theories floating around the fan forums:
- The Pawn Theory: She is a brainwashed Abigail, similar to how Hope was "Princess Gina."
- The Secret Twin: Because everyone in Salem has a secret twin they didn't know about until they were 35.
- The Long Con: She’s an actress hired to infiltrate the DiMera fortune.
Honestly, the most satisfying answer would be that it’s really her, and she’s just been through hell.
Actionable Insights for the Dedicated Viewer
If you want to stay ahead of the curve on this storyline, you've got to do a little homework.
- Watch the old clips: Go back to the 2022 murder episodes. Look at the crime scene again. There were details about the knife and the placement of the body that might come back into play.
- Follow the writers: Ron Carlivati loves a long-game reveal. If a character mentions a "missing person" in a throwaway line, pay attention. It’s usually a breadcrumb.
- Check the credits: Sometimes the way an actor is listed in the closing credits gives away whether they are playing "Character X" or "Mystery Woman."
- Ignore the DNA: Seriously. Until you see a character actually stand in a room with their parents and have a visceral, emotional reaction that can't be faked, assume everyone is lying.
The saga of Abigail is far from over. Whether she's a ghost, a clone, a brainwashed survivor, or a total fraud, she remains the most talked-about person in daytime TV. The legacy of the Deveraux family depends on her. And as long as Chad DiMera is searching for the truth, we’ll be right there with him, staring at the screen and yelling at our TVs.
Make sure you're caught up on the latest Peacock episodes before the next Friday cliffhanger. This story is moving fast, and in Salem, if you blink, you might miss a resurrection.
Next Steps for Fans:
To get the full picture, re-examine the footage of Abigail’s final confrontation with Clyde Weston. Compare her mannerisms in those scenes to the "New Abigail" appearing in current episodes. Often, the actors drop subtle physical cues—a specific way of holding a pen or a certain tilt of the head—to signal to the audience who they really are before the script officially confirms it. Pay close attention to her interactions with Jack and Jennifer; a mother always knows, and Jennifer’s reaction will be the ultimate litmus test for this mystery.