The streets of Genoa City have witnessed betrayals, blackmail, and shattered hearts—but nothing could have prepared anyone for the chilling horror now gripping the Newman–Chancellor–Abbot families. In a stunning twist that feels ripped straight from a nightmare, Mariah Copeland and Ian Ward have vanished—after kidnapping baby Dominic Newman-Abbott-Chancellor and fleeing into the darkness.

What began as whispers of unease has exploded into a full-blown tragedy, one that will leave scars across generations. The words that echo in the minds of those left behind are almost too horrifying to process:

“Put it in the car trunk.”

Those four words may come to define the darkest chapter in Genoa City’s history.

A Bond Twisted Into Obsession

Mariah Copeland was once seen as a survivor—a woman who clawed her way out of trauma and manipulation, building a life defined by honesty and love. Her devotion to Tessa Porter, her complicated relationship with Sharon Newman, and her deep connection to Abby Newman had positioned Mariah as a central, trusted figure in Dominic’s life.

But beneath that loyalty, something fragile had been cracking.

Since serving as Dominic’s surrogate, Mariah struggled to let go. Watching Abby cradle the child she carried reopened emotional wounds Mariah never fully healed from. What she told herself was maternal concern slowly mutated into something darker—a dangerous belief that she alone could protect Dominic.

And into that vulnerability stepped Ian Ward.

The manipulative cult leader, long believed to be out of Mariah’s life, reappeared like a ghost from her past. He didn’t force her. He didn’t threaten her. Instead, he whispered the most dangerous words of all:

“You’re the only one who can save him.”

Ian didn’t see Dominic as a child—he saw him as leverage. As power. As a way to reassert control over a city that had cast him out. And Mariah, fragile and emotionally exposed, became his most tragic accomplice.

The Night Everything Shattered

The kidnapping unfolded with terrifying precision.

Abby had stepped out briefly, trusting Mariah to watch Dominic—a trust built over years of loyalty and love. But when she returned, the crib was empty. The house was silent. The air felt wrong.

Security footage would later reveal Mariah carrying Dominic out into the night, her face pale but resolute. Waiting at the curb was Ian Ward’s car.

And then came the moment that will live in infamy.

As Mariah hesitated, clutching the baby, Ian turned to her and whispered:

“Put it in the car trunk.”

For one frozen second, Mariah looked at Dominic, tears streaming down her face. Then she obeyed.

The car sped into the darkness, leaving behind a family destroyed.

Abby’s World Collapses

When Abby realizes her son is gone, her scream cuts through Genoa City like a knife.

Dominic is not just her child—he is her miracle, her second chance after years of heartbreak, loss, and longing. The betrayal is unbearable. The woman she trusted with her son’s life is now the reason he’s vanished.

Devon Hamilton, Dominic’s biological father, is consumed with guilt. Chance Chancellor, still recovering from trauma of his own, spirals into rage. Sharon, torn between defending her daughter and condemning her actions, is shattered.

The entire city unites in panic, but the clock is already ticking.

Because Ian Ward does not run—he schemes.

A Race Against Time

As authorities launch a statewide manhunt, clues begin to surface. Bank records. Burner phones. A trail of lies stretching back weeks.

It becomes clear that this was not a crime of impulse—it was planned.

Ian has safe houses. He has connections. And worst of all, he has Mariah—someone who knows Genoa City’s secrets inside and out.

But the deeper the investigation goes, the more horrifying the truth becomes: Ian may not intend to return Dominic at all. The baby is a bargaining chip, a weapon, a symbol of his twisted need for control.

And Mariah? She’s starting to realize what she’s done.

Mariah’s Breaking Point

On the run, the weight of her actions finally crashes down. Dominic’s cries pierce her soul. The guilt is unbearable. Every mile they drive pulls her further from the woman she once was.

She begins to question Ian’s motives—and her own sanity.

But Ian is already tightening his grip, reminding her that there’s no going back. That Genoa City will never forgive her. That he is the only one who will stand by her now.

He isolates her. Gaslights her. Traps her in a web of fear and dependency.

The nightmare is only beginning.

The Ripple Effects Across Genoa City

This kidnapping will change everything.

Trust is shattered. Relationships fracture. Families are torn apart. The city that once saw Mariah as a hero now sees her as a villain.

But beneath the horror lies a deeper truth: this tragedy was born from unresolved trauma, manipulation, and obsession.

And when Dominic is finally found—if he is found—nothing will ever be the same again.