A 70-year-old woman has been formally charged with the murder of Karen Carter, a British-South African national found dead in the village of Trémolat, located in southwestern France, officials confirmed. The charge was announced on July 2 by authorities in Dordogne, following an investigation that began after Carter’s death on April 29, 2025.

Jacques-Édouard Andrault, the public prosecutor for the region, stated that the suspect, originally from Trémolat, was initially taken into custody on April 30, 2025, shortly after the discovery of Carter’s body. However, she was released without charges at that time. The ongoing judicial inquiry, which officially opened on May 7, 2025, led the investigating judge in Périgueux to formally indict her for murder.

Since her indictment, the woman has been placed under judicial supervision as the investigation continues. Details regarding the motive or circumstances surrounding Carter’s death have not been publicly disclosed.

Karen Carter, aged 65, was known locally for running two gîtes—small holiday rental properties—in Trémolat. She divided her time between her life in the Dordogne region and her home in South Africa, where she lived with her husband, Alan Carter. The case has drawn attention due to Carter’s international background and her active role in the rural tourism sector in the area.