A bombshell! Cédric Jubillar has confessed to the disappearance of his wife, Delphine Jubillar, who vanished on the night of December 15-16, 2020, in Cagnac-les-Mines, Tarn. The confession is contained in a handwritten letter delivered in recent weeks to his lawyer, Pierre Debuisson. Debuisson claims to have received a detailed document containing a "confession of guilt."
The 38-year-old painter and drywall installer, sentenced in the first instance to 30 years in prison for the murder of his wife, had until then always denied any involvement. His appeal was scheduled to begin on September 21, 2026, in Toulouse.
The night of December 15-16 is at the heart of the case
In his letter, Cédric Jubillar recounts the evening of December 15-16, 2020, when Delphine Jubillar, a 33-year-old nurse and mother of two, disappeared from the family home. His account describes another argument in a couple already experiencing difficulties, at a time when Delphine was considering starting a new life.
The precise details of the events are not yet public. Cédric Jubillar's lawyers indicate that he is reserving this information for the justice system and that he is ready to provide the necessary details. This statement is crucial: until now, the case has relied on a collection of circumstantial evidence, without a body being found, without a formally established crime scene, and without a full judicial confession.
The blue Peugeot 207 was used to transport the body
One concrete detail has now emerged from Cédric Jubillar's confession: Delphine's blue Peugeot 207 was allegedly used to transport her body. This directly relates to one of the elements debated during the investigation and trial: the car's supposed movement on the night of her disappearance.
Cédric Jubillar, however, disputes certain elements considered so far in the body of evidence, particularly the exact direction in which the vehicle was parked. He maintains that the car was moved, but not under the circumstances described by several witnesses during the proceedings.
Delphine's body, the immediate issue
Delphine Jubillar's body has never been found. This absence has marked the entire case, from the initial searches to the trial in Albi. Search parties, specialized excavations, canine searches, dives, technical investigations, and field operations all failed to locate her remains.
Cédric Jubillar now says he is ready to provide information on the location of the body. If this information is formally presented to investigators or magistrates, a new search could be launched. The judicial priority will then be twofold: to find Delphine Jubillar's remains and, if the evidence still allows, to try to establish the exact cause of her death.
An appeal trial completely restarted
The appeal trial was scheduled to begin on September 21, 2026, before the Toulouse Court of Assizes and was expected to last approximately four weeks. These confessions alter the nature of the proceedings. The first trial, held in Albi in 2025, involved a defendant who denied the charges. The appeal could now proceed with a defendant who acknowledges his responsibility, while still withholding some details of the circumstances for the court to determine.
Further investigation could be ordered. This would allow Cédric Jubillar to be formally questioned, his statements to be recorded in a report, and the new evidence he presents to be verified. This scenario could impact the appeal trial schedule if the investigations take time.
Five years of denials erased by a letter
Since his indictment and imprisonment on June 18, 2021, Cédric Jubillar denied any involvement. He maintained this stance throughout the investigation, the trial, and after his conviction. In October 2025, the Tarn Assize Court found him guilty and sentenced him to 30 years' imprisonment. He appealed.
The letter thus marks a clear break. It comes after a change in the defense team: the former lawyers, Alexandre Martin and Emmanuelle Franck, were replaced in 2026 by Pierre and Guy Debuisson. Frank Berton, who had joined the team, subsequently withdrew from the case a few days before the confession was revealed.
A case without substance, now with confessions
The Jubillar case had become one of the most closely followed criminal cases in France precisely because it combined several gray areas: nighttime disappearance, body not found, absence of a crime scene, couple in separation, children present in the house, disputed statements and debated material evidence.
The confession does not close the case. It opens a new phase. The justice system must now verify what Cédric Jubillar says, compare his statements with the physical evidence already gathered, search for Delphine's body, and determine what can still be established about the night of December 15-16, 2020. The five-year silence has been broken. The heart of the case, however, remains in the hands of the justice system.
