Who murdered Sophie Toscan du Plantier? The true story behind the Netflix documentary series explored

Sophie Toscan du Plantier's murder has remained a mysterious enigma since its occurrence in 1996 - the case falling flat soon after the discovery, due to a lack of leads.

Thanks to the newly released Netflix documentary titled "Sophie: A Murder in West Cork" covering the murder, it has gained a ton of traction and generated buzz, reinviting the question into the spotlight once again - Who murdered Sophie Toscan du Plantier?

The documentary series on Sophie Toscan du Plantier's murder spans over 3 episodes and features interviews with those who personally knew Sophie, as well as several people who were involved in the murder case.

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What happened to Sophie Toscan du Plantier, and who did it?

Sophie Toscan du Plantier was a French television producer, living in Ireland. On the 23rd of December, 1996, she was found murdered outside her house in County Cork, Ireland, dressed only in her nightwear and boots. Her neighbor had found her at 10am the next morning, and after an autopsy, it was found that her face had sustained multiple injuries to the point where her neighbor was unable to identify her.

One man, named Ian Bailey, was heavily suspected of being Sophie Tuscan du Plantier's killer and had been arrested twice, but the charges did not stick due to a lack of forensic evidence. In the past, he sustained multiple charges of committing domestic violence and was convicted of assault in 2001. He was known for being a heavy drinker and often committed acts of violence while under the influence, according to a psychiatrist's testimony.

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Contradicting claims and an admission of guilt

While Bailey continues to insist that he is innocent, many witnesses have come out with their own testimony contradicting his words. Several witnesses claimed that they had seen him at the scene of the murder as reporters were gathering, with a scratched and battered arm and an injured forehead.

He attempted to shift the blame onto Sophie's husband Daniel, stating that he must've murdered her in order to protect his assets in case of a divorce. He also alleged that Sophie Toscan du Pontier had "multiple male companions," perhaps attempting to take the heat off himself.

"She was found murdered outside her house in County Cork, Ireland, dressed only in her nightwear and boots"

Several months after the murder occurred, a 14-year-old named Malachi Reid approached the police telling them that Ian Bailey had confessed to him, saying he "bashed her (Sophie Toscan du Plantier's) brains out." 2 years later, at a New Year's Eve party, Bailey spoke to local couple Rosie and Richie Shelley, telling them "I did, I did it - I went too far." Bailey has testified to not knowing Sophie Toscan du Plantier, yet several people have come out denying this.

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Tensions run high as Ian Bailey successfully avoids jail

Despite the seemingly suspicious amount of coincidences pointing towards the guilt of Ian Bailey, he has remained out of the hands of the police to this date. In 2019, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison by a court in France; however, Bailey successfully fought to avoid extradition, owing to the ruling by the Irish High Court that was left unchallenged by the Irish State. He is unable to leave the European Union, without assuming a very high risk of being arrested immediately.

Sophie Toscan du Plantier's family were extremely disappointed by the decision; they had formed the Association for the Truth About the Murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in order to seek a fair and just end to the case. They continue to fight in hopes of attaining justice for Sophie.