Two detained after French influencer's scorched body found in vineyard
Sonia Bellina's body was "abandoned" after "a murder of rare savagery", the family's lawyer says.
Two individuals have been apprehended following the discovery of a French influencer's charred remains in a vineyard. Sonia Bellina had been visiting her family in southern France in anticipation of her 30th birthday.
The local prosecutor has announced that two men are in custody after the burned body of a young woman was found in a vineyard in southern France. On Wednesday, Nîmes prosecutor Cécile Gensac issued a statement confirming that the body located in the Saint-Gilles vineyard was that of social media influencer Sonia Bellina. The 29-year-old, who had approximately 260,000 followers on TikTok, was in the area visiting family a month before her 30th birthday.
The prosecutor stated that the two men were taken into police custody on Wednesday due to "evidence suggesting their direct or indirect involvement in the incident." A murder investigation was initiated by police after a farmer discovered a body lying between rows of vines in the village near Nîmes on August 12. However, authorities did not confirm Bellina's identity for several days. The prosecutor's initial assessment indicated the body belonged to a young woman, but further tests were required for confirmation.
In her latest update on Wednesday, Gensac reported that various investigations and DNA analysis had enabled authorities to confirm Bellina's identity. She acknowledged that Bellina's name had been "widely circulated over the past 48 hours."
Prior to Gensac's update, the family's lawyer informed French media that relatives were certain the body was Bellina's. Mourad Battikh told broadcaster RTL that the 29-year-old's body had been "abandoned" and "almost thrown away like garbage," describing it as "a murder of rare savagery."
In the days since the scorched body was found, the identity and circumstances of the death had fueled online speculation and rumors. A woman identifying herself as the influencer's sister, who did not share her name, expressed her conviction that the body found in the Saint-Gilles vineyard was her sister's before official confirmation. In an interview with the Midi Libre newspaper, she recounted her family's ordeal and the harassment they have reportedly faced, stating that some individuals have claimed Bellina "deserved what happened to her."
The family's lawyer has taken a firm stance regarding online comments, stating he would "let nothing slide." Battikh affirmed that anything published would be scrutinized and reported if necessary. "The family is going through an extremely violent ordeal," he said in a press release, adding: "They request respect for their privacy and their grief and will not be making any further statements."