A popular TikTok influencer has been identified as the woman whose partially burned body was discovered in a vineyard in southern France, as authorities continue investigating her death as a murder.
Sonia Bellina, 29, was found dead on Aug. 12 in a vineyard in Saint-Gilles, in France’s Gard region, roughly 450 miles south of Paris.
A farm worker made the disturbing discovery after arriving at the vineyard and finding a body lying between rows of vines.
Police were immediately called to the scene.
The Nîmes Prosecutor’s Office announced that same day that a murder investigation had been opened and that a regional police unit would lead the case.
An autopsy was scheduled for the following day.
For nearly a week, authorities had not officially confirmed the identity of the victim.
Then, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, prosecutors said DNA analysis had confirmed that the body belonged to Bellina.
The prosecutor’s office also revealed that two men had been taken into custody because of what authorities described as evidence suggesting their possible direct or indirect involvement in the case.
Officials have not yet released the identities of the two men or explained exactly what evidence led investigators to them.
Both remained in custody as the investigation continued.
Bellina’s family had already said they feared the body was hers before DNA testing officially confirmed it.
Her relatives told French outlet Midi Libre that Bellina disappeared on Monday, Aug. 10, two days before the body was found.
The family said several details made them believe the victim was Bellina, including breast implants and a ring found with the body that appeared to match one she wore.
Bellina’s sister later spoke publicly about the night she disappeared.
“She said she was going out one evening, but she never came home,” her sister said during a TikTok livestream.
“On Wednesday morning, they found her body in Saint-Gilles.”
Her sister also said the family had been able to track Bellina’s phone using a location-sharing feature.
The loss came just weeks before what should have been a major family celebration.
“We were getting ready for her birthday—she would have turned 30 on Sept. 30,” Bellina’s sister told Midi Libre.
“We had planned a party… She ran into the wrong guy at the wrong time.”
As news of Bellina’s death spread online, her family also pleaded with social media users to stop posting cruel or speculative comments.
Her sister said some people had even suggested Bellina somehow deserved what happened to her.
“People are going too far; it’s awful, and they’re spouting nonsense,” she said.
“It’s harassment — some are even saying she deserved what happened to her.”
She added, “We ask people to respect our grief and let our sister rest in peace.”
Bellina had built a large following online, with more than 260,000 followers on TikTok.
She was especially known for posting lip-sync videos and other short-form content.
Her death has now become the focus of a widening murder investigation.
Authorities have not publicly announced a suspected motive, a cause of death or the exact relationship, if any, between Bellina and the two men currently in custody.
The Nîmes Prosecutor’s Office said additional information would be released as the investigation progresses.
