A 32-year-old man has been placed under formal investigation for premeditated murder in France following the discovery of the body of social media influencer Sonia Bellina in a vineyard.
The body of the 29-year-old victim, who had more than 250,000 social media followers, was discovered naked and partially burned last week in fields south of Nimes in the Gard department, where she had been staying with her family.
Investigators said the suspect was Bellina's last contact before her disappearance during the night of August 11 to August 12. According to case findings, the pair met for a paid sexual transaction as part of her work as an escort, following an initial contact between them the previous night.
The suspect has admitted to having sexual relations with Bellina on the night she vanished, but he has refused to offer further details to authorities. He exercised his right to remain silent when brought before magistrates and has not given statements to investigating police officers.
Criminal history and electronic monitoring
According to information from the investigation, the suspect has a heavy judicial past with 16 prior convictions recorded on his criminal history. His record includes past convictions for drug trafficking and domestic violence against a former partner.
At the time of his arrest, the suspect was wearing an electronic anti-reconciliation bracelet. In France, these tracking devices are assigned by judicial authorities to protect domestic abuse victims by enforcing mandatory distance boundaries around former partners.
Under French law, being placed under formal investigation, known as mis en examen, signifies that an investigating magistrate has identified serious or corroborated evidence implicating a suspect. The specific charge of assassinat under the French penal code denotes premeditated murder.
Autopsy findings and investigation status
Authorities confirmed that an autopsy performed on Bellina's body has not yet enabled forensic examiners to establish the exact cause of death.
The Gard department is an administrative territory located in the Occitanie region of southern France, with the city of Nimes serving as its prefecture.
