A 70-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of British expatriate Karen Carter, who was discovered stabbed at her home in France more than a year prior. Carter, 65, was attacked on April 29 of last year in the village of Trémolat in the Dordogne region.
The investigation into Carter's death, which had been marked by mystery, has now led to formal charges against the suspect. The public prosecutor of Périgueux, Jacques-Edouard Andrault, confirmed on July 2nd that an investigating judge had indicted the woman. The 70-year-old, a resident of Trémolat, was initially taken into custody on April 30, 2025, during a preliminary investigation, but was later released. Investigations continued as part of a judicial inquiry opened on May 7, 2025, culminating in the indictment.
Local media reported that the woman now charged had expressed "unrequited feelings" for Jean-François Guerrier, a retired business executive and Carter's lover. She was also known to frequent the same community café as Carter. It was previously reported that she was held for 48 hours following the incident before her release pending further checks on her whereabouts.
Carter, who divided her time between France and South Africa, was found outside the guesthouse she operated. Investigators at the time stated she had been stabbed eight times, with one wound proving fatal. Guerrier, who had hosted a wine tasting event earlier on the day of Carter's death, later drove to her home after she failed to call him as arranged. He discovered her body upon arrival.
Carter and her husband, Alan Carter, had owned the property in Trémolat for 15 years. The guesthouse, named Les Chouettes, could accommodate 16 guests and was a popular holiday rental. The couple also owned two other properties in the vicinity. On the day of her death, Carter had participated in a football training session with her team and later attended a wine tasting at a local bar that served as a community hub, where she sometimes volunteered.