[REVISION HISTORY]

Saint-Gilles murder investigation

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-19 17:08 UTC → 2026-08-19 20:15 UTC · added ~~removed~~

On August 12, 2026, authorities in Saint-Gilles, Gard, launched a murder investigation after an agricultural worker discovered a partially burned woman’s body in a vineyard. Cécile Gensac, the prosecutor of Nîmes, stated that the victim’s identity had not yet been established at the time of the initial discovery. By August 18, the investigation evolved into a suspected assassination inquiry. Following DNA analysis, prosecutor Cécile Gensac officially reclassified the case as an assassination. Authorities confirmed the victim is 29-year-old Sonia Bellina, a TikTok influencer from Nîmes with approximately 260,000 followers, who had been reported missing on August 10. Two men have been arrested and placed in custody; investigators believe their involvement may be direct or indirect. Forensic teams noted that flammable products were reportedly used to burn the body at the scene. Bellina’s family, including her sister Mia, had previously noted that Sonia planned to meet a former partner on the evening she disappeared. The family has expressed distress regarding the crime and requested that platforms like TikTok mitigate online rumors and harassment concerning the victim’s personal life. Legal counsel for the family has indicated they are taking steps to document and report such behavior to social media platforms. The Gard gendarmerie and the Nîmes research brigade continue to lead the inquiry, utilizing forensic examination and on-site samples to determine the full circumstances of the death.

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