A 70-year-old woman was charged with murdering Karen Carter, a British-South African woman found stabbed to death in France in April 2025, after investigations led by judge Edouard Andrault concluded she was the suspect.
The 70-year-old suspect, originally from Trémolat, was first taken into custody in April 2025 but released without charge. Investigations into Carter’s murder, which occurred near her home in the Dordogne village, culminated in formal charges on July 2, 2025, according to the investigating judge. The case has drawn international attention, with reports highlighting a potential love triangle involving Carter, a local businessman, and her husband, Alan Carter, who was in South Africa at the time of the killing.
The Charge and the Suspect
The suspect, a 70-year-old woman from Trémolat, was initially arrested on April 29, 2025, during a preliminary investigation into Karen Carter’s murder but was later released without charge. On July 2, 2025, judge Jacques-Édouard Andrault formally charged her with murder, citing evidence gathered during a judicial inquiry opened on May 7, 2025. The woman is now under judicial supervision, a legal status that allows prosecutors to monitor her while the case proceeds. The Guardian reported that the suspect had been placed under judicial supervision
following the inquiry’s findings.
Details about the suspect’s relationship with Carter remain unclear, though media outlets have speculated about a potential love triangle. The case has also focused on Carter’s personal life, including her relationship with Jean-François Guerrier, a French businessman who discovered her body and was later identified as someone she had a connection with.
The Victim’s Life and the Aftermath
Karen Carter, 65, was a British-South African national who lived in Trémolat and managed two holiday rental homes, known as Les Chouettes. She was found dead in April 2025 after being stabbed multiple times, with an autopsy revealing eight serious wounds to her chest, abdomen, and forearm. BBC reported that her husband, Alan Carter, described her as someone with a ‘good heart’ who loved to have fun,
adding that she was the one who would bring home the lost dog, or cat, or whatever.
The case has also raised questions about the circumstances of the attack, with investigators focusing on gathering evidence related to the fatal stabbing.
The suspect’s case remains under judicial supervision as legal proceedings continue. While the formal murder charge marks a significant step, authorities have not disclosed the specific evidence that led to the indictment. The Guardian noted that investigators have not yet revealed what prompted the charge, leaving details about the motive and evidence undisclosed.
For now, the case remains a focal point for both French and South African media, with families and communities seeking closure. The suspect’s legal status and the ongoing investigation underscore the complexity of the case, as authorities work to determine the full circumstances of Carter’s death.
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