Two Men Detained After DNA Confirms Influencer Sonia Bellina Found Burned in Southern France Vineyard

Two men have been placed in police custody after DNA and investigative work confirmed that charred remains discovered on 12 August in a Saint-Gilles vineyard near Nîmes belong to 29-year-old social media influencer Sonia Bellina, local prosecutor Cécile Gensac said on Wednesday.

The discovery prompted a murder investigation after a farmer found a body between rows of vines. Authorities initially described the remains as those of a young woman while awaiting further tests; DNA analysis and other inquiries later established the victim's identity.

Gensac said the two men were detained following what investigators described as "evidence suggesting their direct or indirect involvement in the incident." The case remains under active inquiry and officials have not released further details about the suspects.

"The body had been abandoned, almost thrown away like garbage," Bellina's lawyer, Mourad Battikh, told broadcaster RTL, calling it "a murder of rare savagery."

Bellina, who had roughly 260,000 followers on TikTok, was visiting family in the area about a month before her 30th birthday. In the days after the discovery, the victim's identity and the circumstances of her death fueled intense online speculation and harmful rumours.

Members of the family — including a woman who identified herself as Bellina's sister — told local media they were convinced the remains were those of the influencer before officials confirmed the identification. The family has reported harassment and abusive commentary online; their lawyer warned that defamatory or illegal posts will be pursued.

Authorities have asked for respect for the family's privacy while the investigation continues. No further public comments are expected from the family at this time.