The husband of a British expatriate murdered in France has publicly addressed speculation about his involvement in his wife's death, following the charging of a 70-year-old neighbor by French authorities. Karen Carter, 65, was found stabbed eight times at her home in the Dordogne village of Trémolat in April 2025. Her husband, Alan Carter, who resides in South Africa, stated that the accusations against him intensified his grief and expressed hope that the recent developments would clarify his position.

"I am aware that there were some people who suspected I was involved in Karen’s death, which exacerbated the sense of shock and bereavement, and I hope this goes some way to showing how wrong they were," Alan Carter told The Times. He added that he and his family are relieved by the progress in the case, which has taken over a year.

French investigators have formally charged Marie-Laure Autefort, a 70-year-old resident of Trémolat, with the premeditated murder of Karen Carter. The charge was formally laid by an investigating judge in Périgueux on July 2. Autefort was initially taken into custody on April 30, 2025, shortly after the incident, but was later released. The judicial inquiry, opened on May 7, 2025, led to her indictment.

The prosecutor's office indicated that the suspect was a woman who had developed strong feelings for Jean-François Guerrier, a retired executive who was romantically involved with Karen Carter. Guerrier, 75, lived near Ms. Carter and reportedly informed police that Autefort had fallen "madly in love" with him.

Philippe Monribot, Autefort's brother, confirmed her affection for Guerrier and her distress over his relationship with Ms. Carter but dismissed the notion that she was capable of murder. He suggested that initial police investigations were flawed.

According to local reports and a police source cited by the Mail, Autefort's initial alibi involved caring for others in Trémolat and appeared credible. Her background as a respected care worker with no criminal record, coupled with concerns about her physical capacity to commit such a violent act, contributed to her initial release. However, inconsistencies in her statements emerged during the ongoing investigation, leading to her formal charging.

Karen Carter was in the process of divorcing her husband, Alan Carter, 66, at the time of her death. She divided her time between France and South Africa. She and her husband had owned their French property, a holiday rental, for 15 years. Their four adult children reside in the UK, the US, Australia, and South Africa.

On the day of her murder, Ms. Carter had participated in a football training session and later attended a wine tasting event. Guerrier had asked her to call him upon her safe arrival home, but when she did not, he drove to her residence and discovered her body. Despite medical efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene due to severe blood loss.

Marie-Laure Autefort is currently under judicial supervision due to her age, which involves constant surveillance by judicial police without requiring her to remain in a cell. She is a resident of Trémolat but is not currently permitted to stay in the village.

The family of Karen Carter, through their lawyer Reda Hammouche, had expressed a strong opinion regarding who they believed was responsible for her death even before the recent charging. Their lawyer stated that following a detailed review of the case file, they had a "hunch" about the perpetrator, though details were withheld due to the ongoing investigation.