Emmerdale fans 'work out' what John Sugden buried in woods as 'it can't be Mackenzie'

Emmerdale fans have predicted that Mackenzie Boyd (played by Lawrence Robb) is still alive as they speculated what John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) has buried in the woods. During Thursday's hour-long episode, John hunted Mack with a bow and arrow after he finally discovered that the former army medic was responsible for Nate Robinson's (Jurell Carter) death.

Despite Mackenzie trying his best to escape, John eventually fired an arrow through his back, severely wounding him. Mackenzie begged for his life as he laid bleeding out, but John appeared to end his suffering by bludgeoning him to death with a rock. The episode ended with John looking at what appeared to be Mack's deceased body in the back of his van, which was covered in blood.

Friday's episode opened with John burying something in the woods, across from the house he is staying in with husband Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller). Later, when Aaron spotted blood in John's van, he expressed his heartbreak over accidentally hitting a deer when it jumped out in the road.

John explained how he tried to help the bleeding deer before it got up and ran away. The episode has left fans questioning whether John truly killed Mack, or if something else was in the back of his van which he later buried in the woods.

Believing John was actually disposing of the alleged murder weapon, one theorised: "John didn't have his bow and arrows at the beginning of tonight's episode. I think he's buried them. Mac was in the van and he's got him hostage somewhere."

Sharing the same theory on Facebook, another said: "What if Mack's body is still in the woods in Emmerdale and what we saw today was John burying the bow and arrows instead of Mack."

A third agreed: "That's what I think he has buried. What if Mack is behind that hole and John is treating him - back to hero syndrome."

A fourth shared: "I think John buried his bow and arrows, then took Mack somewhere to keep him hostage."

Another echoed: "Is it Mack buried in the woods? We are all hoping he's not dead and I'm convinced he isn't, could John have been burying his bow and arrows as I don't recall seeing them."

Others suggested that John was telling the truth about hitting a deer, and that was what was bleeding in his van and what he later buried.