On Wednesday, January 7, at 9:25 p.m., French network W9 is turning the spotlight back on a grim criminal case that still haunts a family and raises uncomfortable questions about the justice system. A new episode of Enquêtes criminelles, titled Who Killed Influencer Magali Berdah’s Sister-in-Law?, revisits the brutal double homicide of Karine Teboul and her partner, Frédéric Ruberto, in Allauch, near Marseille, in the night of October 9–10, 2021.
A Late-Night Text Message, Then Silence
Hours before the killings, nothing suggested the tragedy that was about to unfold. Fifty-year-old single mother Karine Teboul sent what looked like a routine loving message to one of her daughters, Julie: “Good night, I love you, I’ll text you tomorrow morning.” The next day, that follow-up message never came.
Alarmed by the sudden silence, Julie went to the apartment of Karine’s companion, 46-year-old Frédéric Ruberto, where her mother was supposed to be. Once inside, she made a horrifying discovery: both Karine and Frédéric were dead, their bodies hidden beneath a sheet. Shocked, she immediately alerted neighbors and emergency services.
The Neighbor Who Became a Prime Suspect
From the outset, investigators focused on the people present around the crime scene at the moment the bodies were discovered. Among them was a neighbor who had shown notable concern for Julie and was nearby when she raised the alarm. His behavior, combined with other elements uncovered by the police, quickly drew increased scrutiny.
Authorities eventually identified this man, Alexis Moumdjian, as the primary suspect in the double murder. While the broadcast does not act as judge and jury, it retraces in detail the clues and testimonies that led investigators to place him at the center of the case.
A Double Murder, a Central Suspect — but Still No Criminal Trial
The W9 documentary delves into the complex legal journey surrounding Alexis Moumdjian. According to relatives of the victims, the evidence they are aware of appears overwhelming. Yet Moumdjian has consistently denied killing Karine and Frédéric.
Instead, his defense invoked a severe depressive state and claimed that his judgment was completely impaired at the time of the events — a legal concept in France akin to the notion of criminal insanity in the United States. This strategy dramatically changed the course of the case: rather than moving toward a traditional criminal trial, the proceedings shifted toward psychiatric assessment and medical oversight.
Today, the suspect is no longer behind bars. He is reportedly subject only to psychiatric monitoring, a situation that the victims’ family views as an injustice and a systemic failure. For them, the possibility that there may never be a public trial, despite the brutality of the crime, is deeply disturbing.
Family Members Speak Out Against a “Broken” System
The episode of Enquêtes criminelles gives extensive space to the voices of those closest to the victims. Karine Teboul’s daughters — Melissa, Kim, and Julie — describe not only their grief but also their frustration with a legal process they perceive as opaque and ineffective.
Karine’s brother Stéphane and his wife, well-known French influencer Magali Berdah, also appear in the program. Together, they question how someone described as dangerous can be living in relative freedom under psychiatric supervision rather than facing a full criminal trial. Their interventions highlight a key question at the heart of the documentary: where should the line be drawn between mental illness and legal responsibility when the alleged acts are as serious as a double homicide?
What the W9 Crime Special Hopes to Unpack
Presented by journalists Nathalie Renoux and Michel Mary, this installment of Enquêtes criminelles blends personal testimony, case files, and expert analysis. The aim is not only to reconstruct the timeline of the night of October 9–10, 2021, but also to explain how a case that began like a classic criminal investigation turned into what many relatives now call a judicial dead end.
The documentary examines the influence of psychiatric expertise on criminal proceedings in France — an issue that resonates with broader debates in the United States and elsewhere. When specialists conclude that a suspect’s mental health at the time of the offense eliminates criminal responsibility, the justice system can be redirected toward medical care instead of incarceration. This legal framework, intended to protect individuals whose judgment was abolished by mental illness, can also leave families of victims feeling that there has been no accountability at all.
A Story With Global Resonance for True-Crime Audiences
While the crime occurred in a small town on the outskirts of Marseille, the questions raised are universal. For American true-crime fans used to watching series on Netflix, Hulu, or other platforms, this W9 episode offers a window into how another country handles insanity defenses, institutional responsibility, and the sometimes-tense balance between public safety and patients’ rights.
The case also gained additional visibility in France because of the involvement of Magali Berdah, a high-profile figure in the social media and influencer world. Her participation adds a layer of media scrutiny, but at its core, this remains a deeply personal family tragedy and a legal saga that, for now, feels unresolved.
When and Where to Watch This Episode of Enquêtes criminelles
The special episode titled Who Killed Influencer Magali Berdah’s Sister-in-Law? is scheduled to air on Wednesday, January 7, at 9:25 p.m. on W9 in France. The documentary revisits the deaths of Karine Teboul and her partner, Frédéric Ruberto, and explores why the main suspect has not faced a standard criminal trial to date.
Responsibility, Mental Health, and the Limits of Justice
Ultimately, the W9 investigation poses a challenging question: how should societies respond when a suspect is considered both potentially dangerous and yet, according to psychiatric reports, not fully responsible for their actions at the time of the crime? The families of Karine and Frédéric argue that the current system leaves them without the closure and recognition a trial might provide.
By revisiting the Allauch double homicide, Enquêtes criminelles invites viewers to reflect on the intersection of law, medicine, and morality — and on the human cost when justice appears to stall.
FAQ
What case is featured in this episode of Enquêtes criminelles?
The episode focuses on the double homicide of 50-year-old Karine Teboul and her partner, 46-year-old Frédéric Ruberto, who were found dead in Ruberto’s home in Allauch, near Marseille, during the night of October 9–10, 2021.
Who is the main suspect in the Allauch double homicide?
Investigators identified neighbor Alexis Moumdjian as the primary suspect in the killings. He has denied the charges but is at the center of the police investigation and of the legal controversy explored in the W9 documentary.
Why hasn’t there been a traditional criminal trial so far?
The main suspect’s defense relies on the claim that he was suffering from a severe depressive episode and that his judgment was completely impaired at the time of the crime. This argument led authorities to prioritize psychiatric evaluation and supervision over a conventional criminal trial, which outrages the victims’ family.
Who from the victims’ family appears in the W9 broadcast?
The program includes testimonies from Karine Teboul’s daughters — Melissa, Kim, and Julie — as well as her brother Stéphane and his wife, influencer Magali Berdah. They speak about their loss, their anger toward the current legal outcome, and their fear that the case may never be fully heard in court.
