A 70-year-old woman, identified as a close neighbor of a British mother-of-four who was fatally stabbed in her home in France, has been formally accused of the murder. The victim, Karen Carter, 65, was killed in Trémolat, Dordogne, in April 2025. The suspect, whose name has not been disclosed, is currently in custody on suspicion of premeditated murder, which carries a potential life sentence, according to Jacques-Édouard Andrault, the state prosecutor in Périgueux.
Allegations suggest that the victim, Karen Carter, was caught in a dispute related to her romantic relationships. She was in the process of divorcing her husband, Alan Carter, based in South Africa, and was involved with Jean-François Guerrier, a retired executive who resided nearby. This situation reportedly caused tension, involving Marie-Laure Autefort, 70, and another neighbor.
Following the tragic incident, Mr. Guerrier, and Ms. Autefort were briefly detained but later released without charges. Philippe Monribot, Ms. Autefort’s brother, acknowledged her feelings for Mr. Guerrier but dismissed any notion of her involvement in the crime.
Mr. Guerrier, who had hosted a wine tasting event on the day of the murder, discovered Ms. Carter in a critical state at her residence. Despite providing information to the authorities, he denied any wrongdoing. The investigation led to Ms. Autefort’s arrest, although she presented an alibi and denied any connection to the crime.
Both suspects, along with other individuals, including guests from the wine tasting party, provided DNA samples for examination. However, no matches were found to the forensic evidence at the crime scene, leaving the case with limited tangible leads.
The charged woman was apprehended on the same day as Marie-Laure Autefort and is described as a close acquaintance of Karen Carter. She was officially charged with premeditated murder on July 2 and is currently under judicial supervision due to her age, which involves constant monitoring by law enforcement.
As the investigation continues, Karen Carter’s family and legal counsel hold strong suspicions regarding the perpetrator. They anticipate that justice will prevail and the truth behind the tragic event will be unveiled.