As I delve into the heart-wrenching tale of Melissa Halstead, a woman whose life was tragically cut short by a monster masquerading as a partner, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of sorrow and anger. A young mother, struggling to make ends meet in a foreign city, only to find herself ensnared in the clutches of a man who would ultimately end her life in the most gruesome fashion.
Heed this note: The following content includes detailed accounts of domestic violence and physical abuse, which might be upsetting or disturbing for certain readers.
Over the course of four episodes, you can now watch “Until I Kill You” on ITVX, a gripping tale about Delia Balmer, a lonely individual who unwittingly enters into a swiftly escalating romance with John Sweeney, someone she discovers later is in fact a cold-blooded killer.
According to Balmer’s book “Living with a Serial Killer,” a new drama titled “Until I Kill You: The Real Story” has been released alongside it. This drama delves into the chronology of Sweeney’s brutal murder spree, as well as his relentless pursuit of Balmer.
Balmer chose to pen her personal account for a TV series as she desired truthful representation of her life experiences. Frequently, the media failed to depict accurate events, and essential topics close to her heart were neglected. Her published book underwent editing, and many parts of her original writing were left out.
I recently encountered Nick Stevens, the playwright, at my literary agent’s office. He incorporated some incidents from my writing that didn’t make it into the published book. I provided thorough feedback on his drafts, and he implemented many of my recommendations. Where feasible, he made the necessary adjustments as per my suggestions.
If you’ve already seen Until I Kill You or are considering watching it and are curious about the true events surrounding Delia Balmer’s life, here is a comprehensive overview for your reading pleasure.
Until I Kill You true story: What happened to the real Delia Balmer?
Originating from Canada and nurtured in the heart of America, I harbored aspirations of becoming a dancer someday. My passion for exploration led me to bid farewell to my loved ones in Texas and embark on a new journey, settling down as a nurse in bustling London.
On an occasion, when Balmer was living a rather secluded lifestyle, she decided to visit a local pub one evening due to its excellent jukebox. It was here that John Sweeney walked up to her at the counter and offered to treat her to a drink.
Sweeney seemed like an engaging carpenter from Merseyside, and soon, there was a strong connection between them due to their shared carefree personalities and passion for exploration. Sweeney shared his tales of traveling across Europe for work with Balmer, and despite not initially seeking a relationship, things progressed rapidly between the two.
In “Until I Kill You: The Real Story,” Balmer mentions that he brought Sweeney to Texas to introduce him to his family, yet her parents found him hard to accept, as Balmer puts it.
Stewart Balmer, during the documentary, commented that it seemed his sister had more knowledge about certain matters. He shared an example where he inquired Sweeney if he had ever taken a life, but Sweeney did not provide a clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
However, in their homeland, the U.K., Sweeney began exerting greater control over Balmer, criticizing her looks and how she spent her leisure time. Balmer asserted that she had disagreements with Sweeney and asked him to depart, retiring to her bedroom to rest.
He burst into her room and tied her to her bed, he then reportedly pulled out a knife and gun he kept hidden and interrogated her about ex-boyfriends.
In that location, Balmer stated that Sweeney admitted to murdering his former girlfriend, Melissa Halstead. He claimed that Sweeney encountered Halstead with two other men, and in a violent act, Sweeney shot all three individuals. Subsequently, he dismembered their bodies and discarded the remains in Amsterdam’s canal.
On numerous occasions, Sweeney attacked Balmer. Following a week of detaining her at home, he eventually released her only to vanish. For several months following this incident, Balmer lived in constant dread that Sweeney would assault her once more and made repeated efforts to inform the police about what Sweeney had admitted to her.
Several months passed, and when she returned home, Balmer found Sweeney secretly residing in her apartment. Since she was expected at a friend’s gathering and this same friend was aware of Sweeney’s violent tendencies, Balmer’s friend informed the authorities. Eventually, the police showed up at Balmer’s doorstep, and Sweeney demanded that she make them leave and assure them everything was fine. However, instead of complying, Balmer fled to safety, and the police eventually apprehended Sweeney.
Upon inspecting his belongings, the authorities discovered a hacksaw blade, gloves, rope, a tarpaulin, and adhesive tape. This discovery led to Sweeney being indicted for false imprisonment and causing physical harm, but surprisingly, he was granted bail promptly. Consequently, Balmer remained at potential risk.
On December 22, 1994, Balmer hadn’t been informed about his release yet. After wrapping up her final nursing shift for the year, she headed home only to find Sweeney approaching her in the darkness on that very evening.
He attacked her with an axe and a knife – cutting off one of her fingers in the process – but a neighbour thankfully intervened and Sweeney fled.
Following the assault, and as Sweeney eluded capture under various disguises, Balmer endured several months in the hospital, recuperating from her severe wounds. Upon her release, she returned to university, making new acquaintances in an effort to restructure her life. However, she was eventually summoned by the police for a confrontation with Sweeney once more.
What happened to Melissa Halstead and Paula Fields?
Four years before crossing paths with Delia, Sweeney was involved with the enigmatic American model, Melissa Halstead. However, she had vanished under strange circumstances.
In 1986, I found myself setting foot on British soil for the first time and crossing paths with Sweeney. We grew close and decided to share a roof together. Unfortunately, my extended stay in the UK led authorities to label me an “overstayer.” To make matters worse, Sweeney’s growing aggression forced me into a difficult decision – I had to flee for my safety.
Back in 1988, I traced her location to Vienna only to find myself apprehended for a vicious hammer attack against her. Yet, even after his heinous act, Halstead came to his aid by bailing him out of prison. However, the situation escalated and I felt compelled to escape to Amsterdam in 1990. In due time, Sweeney managed to find me there, and eventually, we rekindled our relationship, sharing a life together as flatmates.
The next year, Halstead was spotted in just one more photo with Sweeney, but she hasn’t been seen since then. Since the nature of her work and travels made it difficult for her family to notice anything amiss, they didn’t realize she was missing for some time. Without a body being found, however, her missing person’s case eventually stalled.
1990 saw the discovery of a white woman’s dismembered remains in Rotterdam’s Westersingel canal, with her head and hands missing. Due to a lack of identifying features on the body, investigations were unable to proceed further. However, in 2008, Halstead’s identity was finally revealed when Dutch detectives revisited the cold case, compared familial DNA, and made the identification.
In February 2021, two boys discovered a bag along London’s Regent’s Canal, which contained the dismembered remains of a woman later identified as Paula Fields. In all, ten body parts were located in six separate bags distributed throughout the canal.
Initially settled in Liverpool, Fields later shifted to London where she faced challenges as a hardworking single mom of three. Four weeks following the discovery of Fields’ body, Sweeney was apprehended. At first, there was no proof connecting him to Fields, but six years earlier, he was sought for an assault on Balmer.
The police also found gruesome artwork made by Sweeney.
Due to insufficient proof regarding Fields’ murder, the police persuaded Balmer to testify against Sweeney in court, as he had assaulted her in 1994. (The use of “convinced” implies that there was some level of pressure or persuasion involved.)
Eventually, Balmer consented to take the stand in the courtroom, however, a significant upset occurred which forced the court to temporarily adjourn.
Following a conversation with her police contact, Balmer testified about the ordeal she endured. In the end, Sweeney received four life imprisonment terms due to his vicious assault on her.
During his incarceration, additional interrogations uncovered a vast collection of around 300 artworks, poems, and multiple weapons, which depicted even grimmer images related to Fields. The police discovered these items subsequently.
In a later instance, the police requested Balmer to testify once more; however, this time she declined due to the repercussions of her previous testimony. Despite this, in 2011, Sweeney was convicted for the murder of both Fields and Halstead.
At the court proceedings, the jury learned that Sweeney had scribbled on the reverse side of a lottery ticket: “Unfortunate Melissa, cut her into pieces, food for the fish, Amsterdam was less than ideal.
Another drawing depicted a gravestone with the words: “RIP Melissa Halstead.”
As a die-hard movie lover recounting events, I’m sharing the tale of Sweeney, who found himself serving a life term for his attempt on Balmer’s life. In 2011, his sentencing took place at the historic Old Bailey courthouse, yet he refused to step foot outside his cell, so the proceedings were carried out in absentia.
At that point, Judge Mr. Justice Saunders remarked: “The crimes were truly heinous and vile. Due to the removal of their heads, it’s hard to determine exactly how the victims met their end. The disfigurement of the bodies significantly increases the severity of the murders.
Besides showing the ruthless character of the murderer, it also intensified the sorrow of the family members, as they’ve learned that some pieces of their dear ones remain missing.
Airing on both ITV1 and ITVX starting this Sunday, 3rd November, until the 6th of November, you can catch “Until I Kill You” every night at 9 pm on ITV1.
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2024-11-03 23:38