<P> In the summer of 2015, Entertainment Weekly reported that the series would launch a Murder mystery plot in late August as the show was to celebrate its 50th anniversary . The plot would feature several characters, including some fan favorites as victims . The story was slated to climax during the week of November 8, 2015, the official anniversary date . On the episode which aired on September 24, 2015, the episode culminates with the revelation that Wilson's Ben is the mysterious Necktie Killer when he is shown going over the evidence . Wilson was invited to a meeting with executive producer Albert Alarr and then headwriter Josh Griffith where they informed him of the plans for Ben . Wilson was immediately excited about the story . However, Wilson also experienced a little bit of apprehension about the decision . "They either want me to fail...or they trust me ." But the producers quickly assured the actor it was the latter . And once he got into it, Wilson felt the changes allowed for him to play the role more "honestly ." Wilson admitted that the way he worked changed "Because they were writing for me . They wrote me an amazing story, which ended up being the threat of the entire show . They trusted me with it ." In an interview with Soapcentral.com, Wilson said "I got to really know Ben and attack him and play it out to its fullest . I'm grateful they wrote as much as they did and really took the time on the story . They put a lot of care into it, and we all stepped up ." Wilson described the plot twist as "some of the most fulfilling work of my career ." </P> <P> He said of the character change, "It's really night and day" from the Ben viewers had come to know . Wilson relished in portraying the "bad guy ." The was very grateful because "they really did write for Ben" and that allowed him to take a lot of "chances and risks ." He continued, "I played things that I had never done ." In an interview with Michael Fairman from On - Air On - Soaps, Wilson revealed that when the story started filming, even he was not aware that Ben was the killer . Ben dumps the evidence in the river believing he has covered his tracks . The scenes were filmed in one take and Wilson later revealed that he wanted to re-shoot the scenes because he knew the fans wouldn't miss a beat and would notice that there was air in the bag--which would keep it from sinking . Ben is able to "keep his game face on" in public, until he is alone and "can kind of revel in what has happened ." In private, Ben takes "deep breathes, and try to regain his composure ." </P> <P> The killer's first victim is Melissa Archer's Serena Mason, who is strangled to death . Chad (Billy Flynn) is implicated as a suspect because of their drunken confrontation the night before . Less than a month later, the killer claims another victim when Paige Larson (True O'Brien) is strangled to death with a red necktie . Chad once again appears to be the prime suspect as he had been harassing Paige who had witnessed the altercation with Serena . Following Paige's murder, there was immediate speculation that Ben was framing Chad or that Clyde had framed Chad on Ben's behalf . On the episode that aired on September 24, 2015, the killer tries and fails to kill one of the show's most iconic characters, Doctor Marlena Evans, portrayed by veteran actress Deidre Hall . Wilson later admitted that he wasn't too enthused about Ben's choice of victims, specifically True O'Brien's character . "That one got me the most because True is so young" Wilson explained . </P> <P> During the interview with Fairman, Wilson confirmed that Ben would take more lives . "There is a lot more to this story" he teased . "The body count will rise" he declared . On the episode which aired on October 9, 2015, Ben would claim a third, and most significant victim--Will Horton (Guy Wilson) as he discovers Ben is the killer . Until Will, Ben is "somebody who doesn't know what he's doing ." It is Will's death that forces Ben to face the reality of his actions . Before the episode aired, Wilson identified Will's murder as the turning point for Ben: "That's the full change for him . When that happens, then he will be aware of everything that is happening in real time, rather than playing this game where he is thinking he is doing something right, when it's not ." </P>

Who did ben kill on days of our lives