In October 2016, Caz tells Tyrone that Maria is threatening her to get out of the flat and goes missing framing Maria for "murdering her" by putting blood on the walls, Maria is questioned by the police however the rest of the street including Tyrone back Maria but Caz is nowhere to be seen. Tyrone and Fiz later find Maria's rug with blood stains on in the bin and tell the police, the police question Maria. After coming back from the police station Maria and Aidan hug unaware that Caz is watching in the distance. Maria later goes into the pub whilst everyone is talking about her and lashes out at pregnant Michelle Connor. Caz cuts herself in Maria's flat and wipes the blood on Maria's hairdressing scissors. Maria later finds these and with Aidan's help they dispose of them. However, Aidan's father Johnny Connor (Richard Hawley) finds them and alerts the police, which leads to Maria being arrested. Maria is released after Aidan's sister and Caz's ex-girlfriend Kate Connor (Faye Brookes) leads Caz to believe she wants her back and rings the police. Aidan goes to pick Maria up from the police station and they nearly kiss. Aidan then later confesses that he loves Maria despite his relationship with Eva. However, on Christmas Eve, Maria is sentenced to twelve months imprisonment for illegally marrying Pablo.