ITV’s Manhunt: The Real Story Behind the Investigation That Finally Brought Levi Bellfield to Justice

ITV’s acclaimed three-night drama Manhunt has gripped audiences across the UK, revisiting one of the most significant murder investigations of the early 2000s. Led by Martin Clunes in a strikingly understated performance as Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton, the series charts the painstaking police work that ultimately brought serial killer Levi Bellfield to justice. While the drama is compelling on screen, the true events behind the story are even more sobering.

At the centre of the investigation was the murder of 22-year-old French student Amelie Delagrange. Having moved to Twickenham only three months earlier, Amelie was in the UK to continue her studies and pursue her love of the English language. She worked in a Richmond patisserie, lived with friends, had a boyfriend, and was described by her mother, Dominique Delagrange, as a bright, responsible young woman who never caused her family concern. Her future was full of promise.

On the evening of 19 August 2004, Amelie failed to arrive home after spending time with friends. She was later found critically injured on Twickenham Green and died shortly afterwards. Her death sent shockwaves through the local community. It was a case with no clear motive and no immediate suspects, and early leads did not point investigators toward a single explanation.

The following months saw police sift through CCTV footage, examine phone data, review witness statements, and dig into possible patterns. It was during this early stage that the police team, eventually led by DCI Colin Sutton, began forming connections between Amelie’s death and earlier unsolved cases in the region.

The most significant parallel emerged with the murder of 19-year-old Marsha McDonnell, who had been attacked the previous year on 4 February 2003. Marsha had recently completed her A-levels and was enjoying a gap year before starting university. She dreamed of traveling to Australia and was described by family and friends as warm, bright, and full of plans. Her murder in Hampton, just miles from Twickenham, similarly lacked a clear motive or explanation. As with Amelie’s case, early inquiries yielded few breakthroughs.

When Sutton joined the investigation, he brought with him a reputation for methodical, detail-oriented detective work. Manhunt depicts this approach accurately: rather than relying on dramatic interrogations or instinct-driven leaps, Sutton prioritised thorough analysis of the evidence already available but never fully connected. One of the breakthroughs came from reviewing CCTV footage that eventually linked a vehicle of interest to both scenes.

Gradually, the focus narrowed onto a man already known to local authorities: Levi Bellfield. His pattern of behaviour, movements, and connections to the areas involved aligned alarmingly with the emerging timeline. But suspicion alone was not enough. Sutton’s team spent months assembling a web of records, witness observations, and circumstantial details that built a compelling case.

Manhunt illustrates the relentless pressure on investigators: public concern was growing, multiple women had been attacked in similar circumstances, and families were desperate for answers. The drama also highlights the emotional weight carried by the victims’ families, whose grief remains central to understanding the real story.

Bellfield was eventually arrested, charged, and later convicted of the murders of Amelie Delagrange and Marsha McDonnell, as well as the murder of 13-year-old schoolgirl Milly Dowler in Surrey. The show does not sensationalise these events but instead focuses on the persistence required to secure justice after years of uncertainty.

What makes Manhunt so compelling is not only the performances—Clunes’ portrayal of Sutton is notably restrained, capturing the quiet determination of real detectives—but also the respect it pays to the victims. Rather than glorifying the crimes, the series honours the dogged work of investigators who refused to let the cases grow cold.

In the end, the true story behind Manhunt is one of patience, diligence, and unwavering commitment. It is a reminder that behind every headline lies a long path of unseen labour, and behind every police file is a family whose world has been changed forever. Through its careful dramatization, ITV offers viewers a deeper understanding of the investigation that finally brought a dangerous predator to justice.