Frenchman Confesses To Killing Wife From Jail In Case That Shocked France

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 2026 – Frenchman convicted of murdering his wife in a case that shocked France has confessed from prison and said he is prepared to help authorities locate her body. Cédric Jubillar, 38, had previously maintained his innocence after the disappearance of his wife, Delphine Jubillar, in December 2020.

According to CBS News, citing AFP, Jubillar was sentenced in October to 30 years in prison for murdering Delphine, who was 33 at the time of her disappearance. Her body has never been found, making the case one of France’s most closely watched criminal trials in recent years.

The confession came just over two months before his appeal trial was expected to be heard. His lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, said Jubillar wrote a confession admitting his involvement and was ready to cooperate with judicial authorities.

Debuisson said his client was prepared to tell investigators where Delphine’s body was hidden after the events of the night of December 15 to 16, 2020. He also said Jubillar now regrets his actions and hopes the confession will allow the couple’s two children to grieve and give their mother a proper burial.

During the earlier trial in Albi, the defence argued that there was no certainty a crime had taken place because Delphine’s body had never been discovered. However, the jury ruled that the available circumstantial evidence was enough to convict Jubillar of murder.

The case had drawn major public attention in France because it involved a disappearance without a body, a highly emotional family tragedy and years of unanswered questions. Delphine went missing from rural southern France during the COVID-19 pandemic, triggering searches and intense media coverage.

The court had previously heard that Delphine had asked for a divorce and was involved with another man before her disappearance. Prosecutors alleged that a dispute between the couple may have led to her death, although the exact circumstances remain unclear.

Following the confession, Jubillar’s legal team said the planned appeal trial may not proceed as scheduled because investigators will need to question him again and carry out searches for the body. His lawyer said further details are expected when Jubillar is formally interrogated.

The lawyer representing the couple’s children welcomed the development, saying it was important for Jubillar to reveal where the body is located. For the family, the confession could mark the first real step toward closure after more than five years of uncertainty.