Alan Carter, the husband of a British woman found stabbed to death in her French home, has spoken out against those who suspected him of involvement in her killing. His comments come after French authorities formally charged a 70-year-old neighbor, Marie-Laure Autefort, with the premeditated murder of Karen Carter, 65, more than a year after the incident.
Karen Carter was found dead on April 29, 2025, at her guesthouse in the rural village of Trémolat, in the Dordogne region of France. Investigators stated she had been stabbed eight times, with one wound penetrating her aorta. The case remained a mystery for over a year, with multiple individuals questioned by police.
"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 from his home in South Africa. He added that his family is relieved by the progress in the case, stating, "We are grateful to the police who have put in a huge effort to get to this point."
Marie-Laure Autefort, a neighbor who lives approximately a ten-minute walk from the victim's home, was formally charged with murder on July 2, 2026. This followed an initial arrest and release in April 2025. The prosecutor's office stated that inconsistencies in her alibi, initially centered on caring for others, emerged after extensive investigation.
The investigation reportedly uncovered a potential motive involving unrequited feelings. Jean-François Guerrier, a 75-year-old retired executive and a man with whom Karen Carter was reportedly involved, told investigators that Autefort had become "madly in love" with him the previous year. Guerrier, who was reportedly close to divorcing his own wife of several decades, had hosted a wine-tasting event on the day of Carter's murder. He later drove to Carter's home after she did not call him as arranged and discovered her body.
Autefort's brother confirmed his sister's affection for Guerrier and her distress over his relationship with Carter but expressed disbelief at the suggestion she could be a murderer. He suggested that initial police work may have been flawed.
Karen Carter, who divided her time between France and South Africa, had been on the verge of divorcing Alan Carter. The couple had owned the French property, a holiday rental known as Les Chouettes, for 15 years. They had four adult children living in various countries.
Autefort is currently under judicial supervision due to her age and is reportedly not permitted to stay in Trémolat. The public prosecutor's office has indicated that the judicial inquiry is ongoing.