Days of our Lives Recap, May 5: Amy blames Holly for Sophia's death

On the Tuesday, May 5, 2026 episode of Days of our Lives, Alex and Joy agreed on a plan, Julie gave Stephanie advice, Philip told Gabi a secret, and Amy vowed to punish Holly for having driven her daughter to suicide.

Joy makes a big decision on Days of our Lives

At the Salem Inn, Joy assured her daughter that she would help her feel at home in Salem. After Kelsey fell back asleep, Jeremy called Joy to tell her that he was moving back to New York. Joy whispered to Kelsey that she hoped they had better luck in Salem.

Stephanie started her morning by staring at her gun. After a moment, she put the gun back in the desk drawer before Alex joined her in the living room just as a text with the paternity test arrived, confirming that Alex was Kelsey’s father. Before Stephanie and Alex could talk about it, Julie arrived and announced that Jeremy had moved out of town overnight. Julie explained that Jeremy had told her that he had done the right thing for the wrong reason, but she did not know what that meant.

While Alex went to pick up coffee, Stephanie told Julie about Jeremy’s plan to lure Joy back to Salem to break up Stephanie’s marriage. Julie admitted that Jeremy’s motives were questionable, but that he had been right about the baby. Stephanie agreed that Alex deserved to get to know his daughter, but lamented the bad timing. Julie reminded Stephanie that life was unpredictable.

“Sometimes the challenge makes love grow stronger,” Julie said. Julie told Stephanie about how her fiance had married her best friend who had been pregnant with his child. “If I’d have gotten what I wanted then, I never would have met Doug,” Julie said. Julie told Stephanie that if her relationship with Alex was meant to be, it would survive anything.

When Alex arrived at the pub, Joy was there with Kelsey. Alex told her about the paternity test result. “What now?” Joy asked. Alex said he wanted to spend time with their daughter, so Joy admitted that she was open to moving back to Salem if Alex wanted them to stay. Alex said he did. Joy then asked about Stephanie. Alex told Joy that the issues with Stephanie were about more than a baby. Alex filled Joy in on the details of the kidnapping and the aftermath. “This is going to be hard no matter what,” Alex said. When Alex returned home, he told Stephanie about his conversation with Joy.

Philip's good advice

Philip revealed a secret to Gabi | Image: ABC

When Philip woke up, Gabi was staring at an article about Liam. She complained about Ari’s interest in a criminal and vowed to keep Ari from Liam. Philip reminded Gabi that her daughter was headstrong, and that if Gabi pushed, Ari would pursue Liam just to spite her mother. Angry, Gabi told Philip that he was not a father, so he did not have a say in her decision. With a shrug, Philip rolled over to go back to sleep.

After a moment, Gabi apologized. Philip explained he had only wanted to remind Gabi what it was like to be a teenager. Philip encouraged Gabi to put herself in Ari’s shoes, and let Ari make her own mistakes. Philip confessed that he was a father. Philip told Ari about the mix-up with a surrogate, and that his son had been put up for adoption. Philip said he had looked for his son, and he hoped to find him one day. Philip told Gabi that although he agreed that Liam was bad news, he knew from his experience that forbidden love was irresistible to a teenager. Gabi reluctantly agreed.

Distraught Amy lashes out

Tate, Holly, and Ari were a mess about Sophia | Image: Peacock

Jada called Amy down to the police station to inform her that they found evidence that Sophia was injured or dead. Jada asked Amy for Sophia’s DNA to run against the blood on the backpack they had found by the river. As Amy fought back tears, Jada offered to send an officer to the house to pick up Sophia’s toothbrush.

Amy blamed Holly for Sophia’s disappearance, saying she hoped that Sophia knew how much she loved her. “Is there any chance that Sophia is still alive?” Amy asked. Jada refused to draw any conclusions until they found Sophia, but she admitted it was unlikely.

Tate, Holly, and Ari spent all night out looking for Sophia. When they stopped in the square to regroup, Brady called Tate to tell him that the police believed Sophia had jumped in the river and was dead. Holly confessed that although a part of her was relieved that Sophia was gone, she had not wanted her to die. Ari told Holly that she was not the only one that had fought with Sophia in the hours before her disappearance. Shaken, Tate lamented that he had faked an interest in Sophia during the pregnancy.

“I hurt her. She acted out because of what I did,” Tate said. Holly comforted Tate as he broke down in tears. Holly and Ari told Tate not to blame himself for Sophia’s mental illness or her death. As Holly told Tate that Sophia had done this to herself, Amy interrupted to say that Holly was to blame. Holly started to apologize, but Amy told her to stop. Tate defended Holly.

Amy read aloud from Sophia’s suicide note, “Holly’s cruelty and bullying have made my life unbearable.” Amy argued that Ari and Holly’s comments online had turned everyone against Sophia. “If any of you had any sympathy at all, they would not be dragging the Salem river for my baby’s dead body,” Amy stammered. Holly thought about her last conversation with Sophia, and how she had told Sophia that a part of her wished that Sophia was dead. Amy vowed to make Holly pay for her cyberbullying.

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