Model Found Dead in Ex’s Car After Panic Text to Mom

A 25-year-old model was found dead in the car of her former boyfriend on Monday after customs officers pulled the vehicle over on a highway in southern France. The discovery came just hours after she had sent a panicked text to her mother warning that the ex-boyfriend had shown up at her home. The case remains under active investigation as of April 26, 2026.

Larissa Brito was found in the rear seat of the vehicle during a routine customs inspection near Brignoles, a commune in the Var department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Reports from French media say she had been stabbed and was already dead when officers opened the car. The man identified in reports only as Mathieu, her ex-boyfriend, was said to be the owner of the car and was at the scene when the body was discovered.

The discovery has shaken the quiet motorway stop, normally associated with checks for fuel or tobacco smuggling. According to the initial reports, the vehicle was stopped as part of an unplanned customs-control operation on the A8 corridor, an area frequently used by travelers crossing between the Italian border and the French Riviera. Neither the exact time of death nor the weapon used has been officially confirmed.

What has drawn particular attention is the text message that Brito is believed to have sent to her mother only hours before her body was found. The message reportedly described a worrying encounter with Mathieu at her home. Reports also state that Brito told her mother that Mathieu had connections to organized-crime circles. The full contents of the message have not been made public, and investigators have not commented on whether it triggered an immediate response from her family.

The case has now been classified as a homicide investigation, according to multiple reports. A team of gendarmes specializing in criminal inquiries has been assigned to the case, and forensic experts have begun examining the vehicle. An autopsy is expected to determine the precise cause and timing of the stab wounds.

No arrest has been officially reported in connection with the death as of this writing, and prosecutors have remained tight-lipped about the identity of any potential suspect. The man described as the owner of the car has reportedly been questioned, but no details about his status have been released by authorities. Officers are also looking into the relationship between Brito and her ex-boyfriend, including any history of domestic conflict or restraining orders.

The location of the discovery has added another layer to the investigation. Brignoles sits in the Var, a department where law enforcement has long dealt with drug trafficking, organized crime, and high-speed car stops. Customs agents operating in the region routinely conduct random checks on major roads, and it is this kind of stop that led to the grim find.

Authorities may now be focusing on whether the organized-crime connection mentioned in the text message is relevant to the killing. Investigators in such cases often examine phone records, CCTV footage from homes and roadways, and the victim’s timeline over the final hours. Any links between the ex-boyfriend and wider criminal networks would likely be probed as part of the inquiry.

The case has also reignited broader concerns about violence against women in France. French statistics and police data have shown that a significant number of homicides each year involve women killed by a current or former partner. Advocacy groups have repeatedly pointed out that the period after a breakup is one of the highest-risk moments for victims, especially when there is a history of control, jealousy, or threats.

Brito’s death has led to expressions of grief from those who knew her in the modeling and creative community. Several friends have described her as outgoing and vibrant in posts shared online, though none have been confirmed by her family. Her family has not issued a public statement so far, and the model’s name has been circulating on social media in French and international channels as people seek answers.

The investigation is at an early stage, and French law enforcement often avoids releasing suspect details while forensic work is completed. The priority for officers will now be to establish the hours immediately before Brito was found, including where she traveled, who she met, and whether the text message to her mother was part of a fast-moving sequence of events.

Authorities have not yet spoken publicly about whether they believe the killing was planned or opportunistic. The fact that the body was discovered in the car during a routine stop suggests that the vehicle may have been on the road after the incident, which could mean the driver was unaware of the body or that the circumstances were far more complex.

For residents of the Var region, the incident is a rare and unsettling reminder that major crimes can surface in unexpected places. The customs checkpoint that led to the discovery was not mounted because of any specific alert, but the ordinary nature of the stop may end up being crucial in unraveling what happened.

Police have appealed for anyone with information about Brito’s movements, or about the vehicle involved, to come forward. As of April 26, 2026, the inquiry remains open and further forensic or procedural developments are expected in the coming days.

This article will be updated as new information becomes available from French authorities and local media reports.