Days of Our Lives is set to welcome back Owen Kent, portrayed by Wes Ramsey, as a dangerous figure from Stephanie Johnson's past. The character, who previously kidnapped her in 2009, appears poised to resume his obsessive pursuit, potentially behind recent stalking incidents targeting Stephanie and her boyfriend Alex Kiriakis. This return promises heightened drama in Salem as Stephanie's life hangs in the balance.
Background on Owen Kent's Return
Owen Kent, played by Wes Ramsey, first appeared on Days of Our Lives in 2009 for nearly 20 episodes. As a gardener and informant for the DiMera family, he was involved in the ongoing feud between the DiMeras and the Kiriakises. During that storyline, Owen developed an obsessive crush on Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) and kidnapped her, leading to his arrest after a rescue by Philip Kiriakis, Melanie Jonas, and Brady Black. He escaped custody when the transport truck was hijacked, leaving Stephanie traumatized and contributing to the end of her relationship with Philip.
Current Plot Ties
Official Comings and Goings news confirms Owen's imminent return to Salem with an agenda. Recent episodes have built suspense around a stalker targeting Stephanie, who has found stability in her relationship with Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson). The couple rekindled their romance on Valentine's Day 2025 and moved in together that fall. Suspicious events include creepy anonymous fan mail, a poisoned soda delivered to Alex—leaving him groggy—and a near-stabbing incident on Halloween where the attacker, dressed in black gloves, only sliced Alex's coat.
While Alex and Stephanie initially suspected Jeremy Horton (Trevor Donovan) due to his own troubled history with her, evidence points elsewhere. A winter promo reveals Stephanie's kidnapping, with Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) mistaking the perpetrator for Jeremy before discovering Owen. This twist clears Jeremy, who has been wrongly accused of related incidents like manipulating a dating app or the pumpkin catapult mishap at a school event.
Implications for Stephanie's Storyline
Stephanie's success as a naughty book author has made her a public figure, potentially drawing Owen out of hiding. Her past includes abusive dynamics with Jeremy, a failed reconciliation with Alex in 2022 marred by his jealousy, a brief romance with Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn), and complications with ex Everett Lynch (Blake Berris), who suffered from dissociative identity disorder. Now, with Owen closing in during her book tour, her life mirrors the murder mystery in her novel, as hinted by Susan Banks (Stacy Haiduk). This could boost her book's sales amid the real danger.