French authorities have formally placed a woman under investigation in connection with the death of Karen Carter, a British-South African mother-of-four, last year. Ms Carter, aged 65, was discovered with stab wounds near her vehicle by a friend in April 2025 in Trémolat, a village in the Dordogne region of France. She had lived in the area for over a decade, managing two holiday rental properties.
Prosecutors confirmed that a 70-year-old woman was initially detained in 2025 as part of preliminary enquiries into the case. Following her initial release, investigations continued, leading to her being formally charged. Jacques-Edouard Andrault, the investigating judge handling the case, issued a statement on Wednesday, 21 July 2026, confirming that "the investigations conducted as part of the judicial inquiry opened on 7 May, 2025, have led the investigating judge to formally charge her."
At the time of the incident, Ms Carter's husband, Alan, recounted the distressing way he learned of his wife's death. He stated that a cousin informed him after seeing details on a local community Facebook page. Confirmation of her death came later, after his assistant contacted local police in France.
Mr Carter described his wife as an exceptionally outgoing and friendly individual, asserting that she "wouldn't hurt a fly." He expressed the profound and traumatic impact her death has had on their family. He highlighted her sociable nature, stating, "I'm an introvert, and she's the exact opposite. She's an extrovert, she loves people, she loves to have fun. People love her, she has a good heart."
Reflecting further on her character, Mr Carter added, "She's the one who would bring home the lost dog, or cat, or whatever. She's that sort of person. Everyone liked her. That's why I married her. She's just lovely." The formal investigation marks a significant development in the ongoing case, which has deeply affected Ms Carter's family and the local community in the Dordogne.