Per Elisa – Il Caso Claps reconstructs one of the most shocking recent crime cases: the murders of Elisa Claps and Heather Barnett at the hands of Danilo Restivo. The events unfold over nearly two decades, spanning from Potenza, Italy, to the English coastal town of Bournemouth, beginning on September 12, 1993.

It is a Sunday morning when Elisa Claps says goodbye to her brother Gildo. She is 16 years old and leaves home to attend mass, agreeing with her brother to be back by noon. Elisa meets Danilo Restivo, then 21, at the Church of the Holy Trinity. From that moment, she is never seen again. The search for her begins immediately. Yet, Elisa’s body remains still, hidden for nearly twenty years in the attic of that very church where she was last seen alive.

Nine years later, on November 12, 2002, in Bournemouth, on England’s southern coast, Heather Barnett, a single mother of two teenagers, is found at home, lying on the floor, covered in blood, and horribly mutilated. Her children run into the street seeking help. They are met by a concerned and caring neighbor—Danny, the Italian man living next door. They call him Danny, but his real name is Danilo. Danilo Restivo.