Full Breakdown
Convicted French Husband Confesses to Murder of Wife After Body Remains Unfound
7/6/2026, 11:05:56 PM
Jubillar Confesses to Killing Delphine Jubillar
On 6 July 2026, Cédric Jubillar, 38, who received a 30-year sentence in October 2025 for the murder of his wife Delphine Jubillar, 33, sent a handwritten confession to his lawyers. He admitted killing her on the night of 15–16 December 2020, moving her body with his car, and pledged to reveal the burial location to investigators. The admission precedes his appeal scheduled for September 2026.
Background and Context of the Disappearance
Delphine Jubillar, a 33-year-old night-nurse from Cagnac-les-Mines, Tarn, vanished at 04:00 GMT on 16 December 2020 after her husband reported her missing. The couple were in a strained marriage; Delphine had sought a divorce. Police searches found no body or forensic evidence. In October 2025, a mixed jury convicted Jubillar on circumstantial evidence, imposing a 30-year term.
Timeline of Key Developments
16 Dec 2020 – Delphine disappears; Cédric reports her missing.
Mid-2021 – Jubillar detained.
Oct 2025 – Conviction and 30-year sentence.
6 Jul 2026 – Confession letter sent.
21 Sep 2026 – Appeal hearing scheduled.
Evidence and Conviction Details
Prosecution testimony included Jubillar’s mother saying he threatened to kill Delphine and hide her where “no one will ever find her,” former girlfriends reporting he claimed to have strangled her and buried her at a burned-out farm, and evidence that Delphine had announced a divorce shortly before disappearing. The jury found this sufficient for conviction.
Implications for Appeal and Investigation
The confession may force a postponement of the September appeal, compel re-interrogation, and trigger new searches for the remains, potentially altering the evidentiary foundation of the original trial. It also highlights procedural challenges in French homicide cases that proceed without a body.
Official Statements from Legal Representatives
Pierre Debuisson, who took over Jubillar’s defence, said the inmate wrote, “I need to tell you the truth. It was me,” and now intends to cooperate fully with authorities. Children’s lawyer Malika Chmani expressed relief for youngsters and urged Jubillar to disclose the burial site promptly. French prosecutors have not commented publicly.
Criticism and Opposition
The defence argued that without a body or DNA evidence, certainty of a crime could not be established, claiming the case relied solely on circumstantial inferences.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
Some reports suggest strangulation as the killing method, while others note the cause remains undetermined. Jubillar’s confession mentions only a marital dispute, offering no details on how Delphine died or where she was hidden. Authorities have not confirmed whether the September appeal will proceed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “A few weeks ago he said to me, 'I need to tell you the truth. It was me.'” — Pierre Debuisson, lawyer
- “Malika Chmani, the lawyer representing the two children, said: "We are relieved for the children.” — Malika Chmani, lawyer for the children
- “It was the worst thing he did in his life,” — Pierre Debuisson, lawyer
- “Now he needs to tell us where the body is.” — Malika Chmani, lawyer
What’s Next
Investigators will re-question Jubillar and may conduct targeted excavations at sites he identifies. The September appeal is expected to be delayed pending these developments.
