Cédric Jubillar, 38, who was convicted last year of murdering his wife Delphine Jubillar despite her body never being recovered, has confessed to the crime from prison. Jubillar sent a letter to his lawyers admitting responsibility for Delphine's death, which occurred in December 2020 at their family home in southern France. He also stated his intention to lead investigators to the location where he disposed of her remains.
Jubillar was sentenced to 30 years in prison following his conviction, although he maintained his innocence throughout the trial. His appeal was scheduled to begin in two months, but his lawyers indicated that this confession might lead to a postponement. Pierre Debuisson, who recently took over as Jubillar's lawyer, stated that his client told him, "I need to tell you the truth. It was me." According to Debuisson, Jubillar confessed that he killed Delphine after a marital dispute, using his car to move the body on the night of her death.
The case began in December 2020, during a COVID-19 confinement period. Cédric Jubillar contacted police reporting his wife missing. Delphine Jubillar, then 33, was a night nurse and the couple had two young children. Investigations revealed the couple's relationship was strained, with Cédric Jubillar reportedly a regular cannabis user with unstable employment, and Delphine involved with another man she met online, with divorce talks underway.
Extensive searches of the surrounding countryside, including disused mine shafts, were conducted by police and local residents. Although Delphine's body was never found, authorities built a case against Cédric Jubillar, leading to his investigation and detention in mid-2021. Malika Chmani, the lawyer representing the couple's two children, expressed relief for the children and hope that Jubillar will now reveal the body's whereabouts.