The Breakthrough is a thrilling murder mystery on Netflix that is based on a real-life case that happened in Sweden. A double murder in 2004 that shocked the whole country is the subject of the show—which is directed by Lisa Siwe. It grew into one of the biggest investigations in Swedish history. But what makes the show even more interesting is the part that Stina Eriksson plays as a reporter who is investigating. So, is she based on a real person? Let us look at the facts and see how they relate to what’s happening in real life.
The Breakthrough (2025) Plot
The idea for the show came from a real double murder that happened in Linkoping, Sweden, in 2004. A young boy named Mohammed Ammouri and an old woman named Anna-Lena Svensson were tragically killed on October 19, 2004. The names of these victims were changed for the show but the events were shown exactly as they happened in real life. The killer wasn’t caught right away, and the case wasn’t solved for 16 years.
The fact that the murders happened at random made the case even harder to solve. The killer didn’t know Mohammed or Anna-Lena, and there was no clear reason for the killing. It wasn’t until DNA genealogy was used in the investigation that the police finally made progress and found the killer’s family. Daniel Nyqvist, the younger of two brothers, was eventually found to have been the main criminal. Daniel admitted to killing the people and said that voices in his head told him to do it.
Is Julia Sporre’s character Stina Eriksson Based On A Real-Life Journalist?
In the series—Stina Eriksson (played by Julia Sporre)—a journalist plays a significant role in uncovering the truth behind the murders. She works for the Swedish newspaper Ostgota Correspondenten and is writing about the investigation. At the end of the series, it comes out that Stina is, somewhat surprisingly, the killer’s cousin.
But is Stina real? Even though she is a main character in the show, she is not based on a real journalist. But it’s possible that Stina’s character is based on real-life journalist Anna Bodin. She wrote a book about the case with DNA expert Peter Sjolund, which helped solve the crime. The newspaper Dagens Nyheter is one of the biggest in Sweden, and Anna has worked there since 1998. Anna and the character of Stina Eriksson may be related, but it’s not clear how. It’s possible that Anna’s work inspired the creation of Stina.
The Use of DNA Genealogy in the Investigation
The use of DNA genealogy to find the killer is one of the most important parts of The Breakthrough. It happened in real life, so this is not just fiction. He helped the police solve the case after years of no progress thanks to his work as a professional DNA genealogist.
By comparing DNA samples from the killer to those in online databases like GEDmatch and FamilyTree, Peter was able to find the killer’s family. This is called genetic genealogy. At the time, this new method wasn’t often used in criminal investigations but it helped them link the killer to his distant relatives. Daniel Nyqvist was finally found after years of searching in vain. He had been living alone and had refused to take part in the police DNA swabbing program.
The Arrest and Trial of Daniel Nyqvist
When the younger brother—Daniel Nyqvist was arrested—the murder investigation took a big turn for the worse. Daniel had been living alone but when police questioned him. he admitted to killing the people. He told them that voices in his head told him to kill two people but he didn’t know either of them.
The Breakthrough accurately portrays the real Daniel Nyqvist’s case, including his history of mental health problems and his life of living alone. Daniel was finally found guilty of the murders in 2020, and he was sent to a mental hospital.
Even though Stina Eriksson isn’t based on a real journalist—Anna Bodin—who co-wrote a book about the case seems to be the model for her character. The series accurately shows how DNA genealogy was used in the investigation and how Daniel Nyqvist was eventually caught. The story in The Breakthrough may be made up to make it more dramatic but the main events and the part DNA technology plays in solving the case are based on real events.
Read More: The Breakthrough: A Real-Life Double Murder Case—Where Is Daniel Nyqvist Now?
