The Breakthrough Ending Explained: Who Is the Real Killer And How Did They Find Him?
The Breakthrough and in its original language: Genombrottet is the Swedish series that has caught thousands of subscribers from Netflix with its story loaded with suspense and drama. So, after enjoying their 4 episodes maybe you had any doubts about his outcome. So, in the following lines, I present your final explanation. It is worth specifying that production is based on real facts exactly in the second-largest criminal investigation in the history of Sweden. The story unfolds in 2020 when a genealogist solved a double murder that had been perpetrated 16 years earlier.
The truth is that, for the first time in Europe, a police case of this type used genealogical research. In this way, the show focuses on an unexpected hero, an unusual collaboration, and the search for a murderer. However, it is also the story of how an unsolved crime affects society and what happens to people who do not know the identity of the culprit and his motives. (Genombrottet, “The Breakthrough“, 2025) follows the obsessive investigation of John, a Swedish policeman who, after 16 years of the unsolved murder of Adnan and Gunilla in Linköping, uses genealogy to find answers. Helped by Per, an expert genealogist, and facing pressure to close the case, John navigates through a tangle of family secrets, personal tensions, and new investigative techniques to uncover the truth behind brutal crimes.
The Breakthrough Ending Explained: Who Is the Real Killer And How Did They Find Him?
ATTENTION SPOILERS. Towards the end of the Netflix series, the journalist Stina discovers that John had contacted Per to find the murderer, so he intends to interview the genealogist about the process he was carrying out. Initially, he was opposed to talking to the press woman. However, accept the meeting on the condition that Stina allows you to take a sample of oral swabs… since you need more research participants. Eventually, it is revealed that this event is key to solving the case since the results show that the murderer is related to the journalist. In this way, Per concludes that the culprit is one of the young woman’s cousins and, after reducing the search, deduces that the criminal is a man identified as David Nilsson. Of course, the authorities manage to stop him and ultimately David agrees to be responsible for the deaths of Adnan and Gunilla. It turns out that the subject was a loner who claimed that “the voices in his head” forced him to commit the murders, making it clear that he was mentally disturbed. “The Breakthrough” concludes with the decision of Stina to publish a text detailing the investigation around the case, as happened in real life with the launch of the book “The Breakthrough” by Anna Bodin and Peter Sjölund.
Who Was the Murderer?
After years of dead ends, Per finds a crucial link in analyzing the collected DNA tests. He discovers that Stina, a journalist who covered the case, is the cousin of two men: David and Stefan Nilsson. Based on the killer’s profile —lonely, unstable, and with no solid family ties, John decides to focus on David. Although the prosecutor doubts the genealogy methodology, John gets the arrest warrant, fearing that David will run away if he suspects anything. With an operation underway, the police detain David without resistance. Subsequent analyses confirm that David is the killer of Adnan and Gunilla. In an interrogation, David confesses to having committed the crimes because “the voices” promised him peace if he killed.
What Happened to David Nilsson?
David is sentenced to indefinite psychiatric care after being declared mentally unstable. Although his fate seems closed, his lack of appeal leaves a sense of ambiguity. This reflects the frustration of an investigation that, while finding the culprit, does not offer clear answers about the real motives behind the crimes.
Stina’s Connection and the Impact of Genealogy
Stina, whose family relationship with the killer was key to solving the case, decides to write a book about the use of genealogy in crime resolution. This detail adds an interesting layer to the case, highlighting how a modern technique can open closed doors for decades. However, it also raises ethical questions about privacy and the use of family data in criminal investigations.
Conclusion of The Breakthrough
The Breakthrough is a story that mixes the police thriller with a human touch, reflecting how personal obsessions and technological advances can intersect in the search for truth. Although the ending solves the mystery, it leaves a sense of emotional emptiness, especially by not exploring in depth the consequences of its characters’ decisions. Closing with John trying to rebuild his relationship with his son brings a hopeful touch but fails to compensate for the abrupt tone and lack of development of some key issues.
What Means The End of The Breakthrough?
The outcome of the Netflix series evidences how the life of David contrasted strongly with his brother Stefan, highlighting the unpredictability of mental illness. On the other hand, the closure of the case gave some peace to the families of the victims, who waited years for justice to be done. Thus, as a token of appreciation and symbol of the shared journey, the father of Adnan gave the watch of his deceased son to John. It should be noted that this is a fictional account based on the actual double homicide of Mohammed Ammouri and Anna-Lena Svensson in 2004. And just like in the series, it took 16 years for the killer Daniel Nyqvist to be arrested. The latter admitted that he heard voices that forced him to commit the murders and, over time, he was condemned to indefinite psychiatric care.
