French authorities have formally charged a 70-year-old woman with the murder of British expatriate Karen Carter, whose death in April 2025 shocked the rural community of Tremolat in the Dordogne region. Marie-Laure Autefort was arrested and charged with premeditated murder on July 2, 15 months after Carter, 65, was found stabbed multiple times outside her guesthouse.

Karen Carter was reportedly stabbed eight times, with one wound penetrating her aorta, according to investigative sources. Her body was discovered in front of the guesthouse she had opened in the village. At the time, several individuals were questioned, but no immediate charges were filed.

Autefort, who has lived in the area for many years, had initially been held for 48 hours following the killing but was released after her alibi was deemed credible. She claimed to have been caring for others in Tremolat at the time of the murder. Sources noted that Autefort, a former care worker with no criminal record, was well respected in the community and was not considered physically capable of carrying out such a violent attack, factors that contributed to her initial release.

However, investigators later identified significant inconsistencies in her alibi, prompting further examination. “Suspected inconsistencies needed to be checked out by police, and this took a long time,” a source involved in the inquiry said. The renewed scrutiny ultimately led to her being formally charged with premeditated murder.

The case has drawn attention to the complex personal relationships surrounding the victim. Karen Carter was reportedly in the process of divorcing her husband, Alan Carter, who is now 66. There were also rumors that she was involved in a relationship with Jean-Francois Guerrier, a 75-year-old retired executive living nearby. Autefort is believed to have harbored strong feelings for Guerrier, which has emerged as a potential motive for the crime.

Alan Carter, speaking from South Africa, addressed earlier suspicions about his own involvement in his wife’s death, emphasizing that such rumors only compounded the family’s grief. He expressed relief over the progression of the investigation. “We are relieved that, after more than a year, the investigation has progressed to the formal investigation of an individual believed to be responsible for the death of our beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend, Karen,” he said. “We remain united in our hope the full truth will come to light, and that justice will ultimately be served for Karen.”

Authorities have not disclosed further details about the ongoing investigation, and Autefort’s legal representatives have not made any public comments. The case remains under judicial inquiry as prosecutors prepare for the next steps in the prosecution.