A 70-year-old woman described as a 'close neighbour' of British expat Karen Carter has been charged with her murder. Carter, 65, was found stabbed to death at her home in the village of Trémolat in the Dordogne region of southwest France in April 2025.
Jacques-Édouard Andrault, the state prosecutor in Périgueux, said the suspect was in custody and being held on suspicion of premeditated murder, which carries a potential life sentence. The suspect has not been formally named.
Background to the Killing
Carter, who lived alone, was reportedly the victim of a feud related to her love life. She was divorcing her South Africa-based husband, Alan Carter, now 66, while in a relationship with Jean-François Guerrier, a 75-year-old retired executive who lived nearby. Those upset by the relationship included Marie-Laure Autefort, now 70, and another near-neighbour.
Guerrier and Autefort were arrested after the killing but released without charge. Philippe Monribot, Autefort's brother, confirmed she was in love with Guerrier and deeply upset by his affair with Carter, but dismissed the idea of her committing murder as preposterous. 'It's a catastrophe,' he said. 'The police messed up at the start of the investigation and when you get it wrong at the beginning, it's difficult to get it right afterwards.'
Details of the Investigation
On the day of the killing, Guerrier hosted a wine tasting party and later followed Carter to her home in his car. He found her lying in a pool of blood, and she was declared dead at the scene by emergency workers. Guerrier initially said he was concerned because Carter had not called him after arriving home, which was just 10 minutes away. He later told police he 'had come to spend the night at Karen's,' according to leaked interview notes.
Guerrier directed detectives to Autefort, describing her as a woman who had fallen madly in love with him the previous year, divorcing her husband after decades of marriage, and becoming frustrated when the passion was not reciprocated. Autefort provided an alibi and denies any wrongdoing.
Forensic Evidence and Charges
DNA samples were taken from Autefort, Guerrier, and about 15 guests at Guerrier's wine tasting party. None matched forensic evidence at the crime scene, where the only apparent witness was Carter's puppy, Haku, who remained in her car.
The prosecutor confirmed the charged woman was first taken into custody on April 30, the same day Autefort was arrested. The suspect was 'a near-neighbour' who knew Carter well. She was formally charged with premeditated murder on July 2 and is under 'judicial supervision' due to her age, meaning constant surveillance by judicial police without being held in a cell. She is a resident of Trémolat but is not permitted to stay in the village.
Family's Hunch
Carter's widower and four adult children have a strong feeling about who is responsible. Their lawyer, Reda Hammouche, said on April 29, the one-year anniversary of the crime, that they had 'a hunch, an opinion on the matter' after examining the case file. He declined to elaborate, citing the confidentiality of the investigation, but noted that numerous leads are being explored and actions are being carried out daily.
