In a stealthy launch that’s turning into one of the most talked-about true crime binges of early 2026, ITV has quietly unleashed Body in the Water on its free streaming platform ITVX, delivering a 10-episode gut-punch series that plunges straight into the darkest corners of murder investigations: cases where killers thought water would swallow their crimes forever—only for police divers, forensic pathologists, and relentless detectives to drag the brutal truths back to the surface.
The series, narrated by Riley Neldam and produced by Yeti Media, wastes no time in delivering nightmares. Each hour-long episode dissects a real-life case from the UK and US where bodies—whole, dismembered, or concealed—were dumped in lakes, rivers, creeks, tidal estuaries, swimming pools, or even bathtubs. Viewers are warned upfront about “distressing scenes,” and they aren’t exaggerating. Graphic reconstructions, crime scene photos (heavily blurred but still haunting), expert interviews, and the cold mechanics of water forensics combine to create a suffocating atmosphere of dread. Fans on social media are already cautioning friends: “Watch if you dare—this will haunt you long after it’s over.”
The opener sets the tone with pure Scottish terror: police divers training in the depths of Loch Lomond stumble upon human body parts. What begins as a routine exercise spirals into a gruesome discovery linked to the notorious “Limbs in the Loch” killer William Beggs. The episode details how Beggs dismembered 18-year-old Barry Wallace in 1999, dumping the remains off Rowardennan pier in black bin bags, expecting the loch’s minimal tide to carry them away. Luck—and sharp-eyed divers—foiled him: an arm and leg surfaced the very next day. Former detective Jeff Adams recounts the chilling moment his team found the evidence, while tidal experts explain why Beggs’ choice of location was a fatal mistake. The prime suspect flees, forcing investigators into a protracted manhunt that exposes the killer’s arrogance and the painstaking work of piecing together dismembered remains.
From there, the series crosses the Atlantic and back, each installment more harrowing than the last. One episode uncovers a missing UK expat’s body in a sunken Toyota revealed by drought at a remote lake—two years after disappearance, the car preserved the grim secret until nature intervened. Another follows US police as a missing woman’s remains wash up on a Florida tidal estuary shore; CCTV, DNA, and a cryptic note lead straight to her ex-partner. In a particularly gruesome case, dismembered parts of a missing woman surface in an alligator-infested creek, forcing divers into nightmare conditions to recover evidence.
The show doesn’t just recount facts—it dissects the science and psychology behind water disposals. Why do killers choose water? It destroys evidence, delays discovery, complicates cause of death (drowning vs. murder), and buys time to flee. Forensic divers explain the unique challenges: low visibility, currents, decomposition accelerated by water, animal interference, and the sheer difficulty of searching vast bodies like lochs or bays. Pathologists detail how water affects bodies—bloating, adipocere formation, insect activity underwater—while criminal psychologists explore the mindset of perpetrators who believe submersion equals erasure.
Viewers are binge-watching in droves, often in one sitting despite the warnings. On TikTok and Twitter, reactions pour in: “Absolutely shocking—what that person suffered before going in the water is unimaginable,” one true crime fan posted after episode one. Another: “This series is giving me nightmares. The way they show the recovery dives is terrifying.” The 10-part format allows seamless marathons—all episodes available now on ITVX, free with registration—making it dangerously easy to keep watching even as the stories grow darker.
The series builds on the success of similar ITV true crime offerings, arriving amid a wave of documentaries like the upcoming John Wayne Gacy special. But Body in the Water stands out for its focus on a specific disposal method, highlighting how water—often seen as peaceful—becomes a criminal’s ally and an investigator’s nightmare. Communities shattered by these cases come alive through interviews with grieving families, detectives who never gave up, and divers who risked their lives in murky depths.
As true crime fans devour it, the show raises uncomfortable questions: How many more bodies remain hidden in our waters? What drives someone to such cold calculation? And when justice finally surfaces, does it ever truly heal the wounds?
ITV’s low-key drop has turned into a viral sleeper hit. If you’re brave enough, dive in—but don’t expect to sleep easily afterward. These are the cases that prove some secrets are too dark to stay submerged forever.
