French police have formally investigated a woman in the Karen Carter killing after the British-South African mother-of-four was found with stab wounds in the Dordogne village where she had lived for more than a decade. Carter, 65, was discovered near her car in Trémolat in April 2025, according to prosecutors.
The village case has drawn attention because Carter was a longtime resident who ran two holiday rental homes in Trémolat. Prosecutors said the 70-year-old woman had first been taken into custody in 2025 during early inquiries and was later released before the latest step in the case. On Wednesday, investigating judge Jacques-Edouard Andrault said the inquiry opened on 7 May 2025 had led to the woman being formally charged.
Carter’s husband, Alan, said at the time that he learned of her death indirectly, after a cousin saw a local community Facebook post about it. He said he then got confirmation when his assistant called local police. The circumstances left the family shaken, he said, describing the loss as traumatic.
He also remembered his wife as lively and warm, saying she was outgoing, loved people and had a good heart. He said she was the kind of person who would take in a lost dog or cat and that many people liked her. He added that he married her because she was “just lovely.”
