A partially burned body found among vineyards in Saint-Gilles, in the Gard department, on the morning of August 12 has been formally identified through DNA analysis as Sonia Bellina, a 29-year-old content creator, prosecutors in Nîmes confirmed this week. The body was discovered at dawn by an agricultural worker.
Bellina, who was originally from the Gard region and had recently relocated to Paris, had built an audience of around 250,000 followers on TikTok, where she mostly posted dance and comedy videos. She was due to turn 30 on September 30. Her family had reported her missing in the days before the body was found.
On August 19, Nîmes prosecutor Cécile Gensac said investigators had taken two men into custody that same day, citing evidence suggesting possible direct or indirect involvement in the case. Both remain in police custody as the investigation continues, and no charges have yet been filed.
The family's lawyer, Mourad Battikh, said this week that unverified claims and private material about Bellina had circulated online since she was reported missing, and described the ordeal facing her relatives as severe. He said the family intends to pursue formal complaints over that material regardless of whether it is later taken down.
This account draws on reporting by La Dépêche.