French authorities have detained a suspect after TikTok influencer Sonia Bellina was found dead in a vineyard in Saint-Gilles, local prosecutors announced.
The Nîmes Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed on August 20 that one of two men arrested in connection with the murder inquiry remains in custody after an extension to his detention was granted. A second individual arrested during the same operation on August 19 was released after evidence failed to establish his involvement in the events.
Bellina's body was discovered partially burned in the vineyard on August 12, prompting judicial authorities to open an immediate murder investigation. An autopsy was scheduled for August 13, though prosecutors have not yet released the findings.
Disappearance and discovery
The influencer, known for posting lip-sync videos on TikTok, went missing on August 10. A woman who identified herself as Bellina's sister shared details of her disappearance during an August 17 TikTok live broadcast with local French news outlet Midi Libre.
"She said she was going out one evening, but she never came home," her sister told Midi Libre, in statements reported by broadcaster France 3. "On Wednesday morning, they found her body in Saint-Gilles."
Saint-Gilles is a commune in the Gard department of southern France, situated near Nîmes, where the regional criminal investigation unit handling the case is based.
Online abuse and family response
Following the discovery of her body, Bellina's family faced online hostility. Her sister told Midi Libre, according to the BBC, that some social media users claimed Bellina "deserved what happened to her."
In response to the online comments, family lawyer Mourad Battikh stated he would "let nothing slide" while requesting public respect and privacy for the grieving family.
"The family is going through an extremely violent ordeal," Battikh said in a press release reported by the BBC. "They request respect for their privacy and their grief and will not be making any further statements."
Investigators from the Nîmes criminal investigation unit continue to gather evidence as the murder investigation remains ongoing.
