A 70-year-old woman has been formally charged with murder in connection with the April 2025 death of British expatriate Karen Carter. Carter, 65, was found stabbed multiple times at her home in Trémolat, a village in the Dordogne region of France.
The suspect, identified as Marie-Laure Autefort, a neighbor of Carter's, was charged on July 2 by an investigating judge in Périgueux. Autefort is reportedly under judicial supervision due to her age, which means she is under constant surveillance but not held in custody. The prosecutor indicated that she is not currently permitted to stay in Trémolat.
Investigators have suggested a potential motive linked to a romantic entanglement. Carter was reportedly on the verge of divorcing her South Africa-based husband while also involved with Jean-François Guerrier, a retired executive who lived near her property. Autefort is alleged to have been romantically interested in Guerrier, leading to a dispute over his relationship with Carter.
Philippe Monribot, Autefort's brother, confirmed his sister's feelings for Guerrier and her distress over his relationship with Carter but expressed disbelief that she would commit murder. He also criticized the initial stages of the police investigation.
According to the prosecutor, Autefort was taken into custody on April 30, 2025, during a preliminary investigation and was later released. The judicial inquiry, opened on May 7, 2025, led to her indictment.
Carter, a mother of four adult children, was found dead outside a guesthouse she operated in Trémolat. Reports indicate she suffered eight stab wounds, with one injury penetrating the aorta, leading to massive hemorrhage. On the day of her death, Carter had participated in a football training session and attended a wine tasting event at a local café. Guerrier reportedly drove to her home after she did not call him as expected, finding her body upon arrival.
Carter and her husband had owned the property, a holiday rental known as Les Chouettes, for 15 years. Their lawyer had previously stated that the family had a strong feeling about who was responsible for the murder, based on their review of the case file. The judicial inquiry is ongoing.