About The Body Next Door

2015, Wales: the discovery of a dead body wrapped in plastic uncovers a gripping murder mystery intertwined with a dramatic family saga, makes headline news and sends shockwaves across the world.

The discovery of a body wrapped in plastic in Beddau in Wales sends shockwaves through the community; what starts as a seemingly harmless prank rapidly evolves into a sinister investigation.

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The Body Next Door on Viasat True Crime – Did Leigh Sabine Commit the Perfect Crime?

A Mystery That Lasted 18 Years

The small, quiet village of Beddau in South Wales became the center of a nationwide sensation in November 2015 when a gruesome discovery was made. In an ordinary garden shed, among tools and household items, human remains were found. At first glance, they resembled a medical skeleton—an object meant for study, something seemingly unrelated to a crime. However, with each layer of plastic unwrapped, investigators realized they were holding evidence of murder. The body, wrapped in over 40 layers of plastic, was not a mere replica—it was the mummified corpse of a man who had been dead for nearly two decades. Who was he, and who was responsible for his death? The shocking true-crime documentary series The Body Next Door explores this mystery, premiering on Viasat True Crime on March 3 at 21:00 CET. Subsequent episodes will air on Tuesday and Wednesday at the same time.

Who Was Leigh Sabine?

As the police investigation began, all leads pointed to one person—Leigh Ann Sabine. She seemed to be just an eccentric elderly woman who had recently passed away from cancer. However, her past concealed secrets that shocked the entire community. Born in Britain, Leigh emigrated to New Zealand with her husband John in the 1960s. There, they had five children—children who were eventually abandoned and placed in foster care. Leigh and John never returned for them, though they briefly reconnected with their now-adult offspring in the 1980s. During that period, the couple moved to Australia, where Leigh pursued her dream of becoming a cabaret singer. But her career never took off as she had hoped.

In the mid-1980s, the Sabines returned to the UK, settling in a modest home in Beddau. Leigh was seen as a vibrant yet mysterious figure in the neighborhood. She shared various stories about her life—some true, others clearly fabricated. She spoke of grand successes, extensive travels, and her unhappy marriage. Yet no one suspected that a dark reality was hidden within her tales.

A Crime Hidden from the World

In 1997, John Sabine suddenly vanished. Neighbors inquired about his whereabouts, but Leigh always had an answer—John had left her, moved away, and cut off contact. In reality, he had never left their shared home. The investigation revealed that Leigh had killed him by striking him on the head with a heavy stone frog figurine she kept by her bedside. The blows were fatal. After the murder, she meticulously covered up the crime—wrapping the body in multiple layers of plastic, using construction materials and household wrap. She carefully secured the remains before placing them in the garden shed. For 18 years, her husband's mummified body remained there, arousing no suspicion.

During all this time, Leigh continued to benefit financially from John's disappearance. She collected his pension and government benefits while convincing everyone around her that her husband had simply left. Strangely, she even began treating the crime as a grim joke—on several occasions, she hinted to acquaintances that she "might actually have a body in a bag," but no one took her words seriously. Some saw it as part of her eccentric nature, while others dismissed it as mere storytelling.

Leigh's Final Words

A few months before her death, Leigh Sabine told her hairdresser, "People will talk about me when I'm gone. I might become famous." When asked why, she cryptically responded, "Because of the body in the bag." Her words took on a chilling significance when, after her passing, her friends decided to sort through her belongings. That was when they stumbled upon a carefully wrapped package they assumed contained a medical skeleton. Planning to use it for a prank, they unwrapped it—only to immediately call the police.

In The Body Next Door, viewers will uncover the full details of this shocking case. What secrets did Leigh Sabine hide? Why did no one uncover her crime for 18 years? How did she manage to live with such a burden while profiting from the deception? The documentary also reveals the accounts of those who knew Leigh—people who never suspected their neighbor harbored such a dark secret.

The series premieres on March 3 at 21:00 CET on Viasat True Crime. Don’t miss this chilling tale of mystery, manipulation, and a crime that remained hidden for nearly two decades.

STEP INTO A WORLD SHROUDED IN MYSTERY AND DECEIT