Woman, 69, arrested over murder of British mother-of-four who was knifed to death outside her home in France

Daily Mail​

01-05-2025

A woman has been arrested over the murder of a British mother-of-four who was stabbed to death outside of her home in France.
Karen Carter, a 65-year-old mother of four, was found outside her property in the village of Trémolat, east of Bordeaux, after returning from a night out on Tuesday.
Sylvie Martins-Guedes, the prosecutor for Bergerac said: 'A woman aged 69 years old, who comes from Trémolat and is part of the couple's circle, has been detained.'
An investigating source said she was found 'covered in stab wounds', suffering multiple wounds to her chest, groin, arm, and leg.
'The wounds revealed a singular violence and their placement showed the desire to kill,' Martins-Guedes added.
Alan Carter, her husband, told French media he had heard of his wife's murder on Wednesday during a phone call with his cousin who also had a holiday home in the French village.
The couple had owned the property for about 15 years, the 65-year-old said, and they divided their time between South Africa and Trémolat.
Carter's body was discovered by a friend, who had been out with her earlier that evening, who arrived on the scene ten minutes later and found her collapsed and unconscious.
The Bergerac prosecutor, said she had been in a relationship with the friend who found her for several weeks.
On the evening of her death, Carter had been out at a local café-bar with a male friend, whom prosecutors said she had been seeing.
'They had spent the evening together in Tremolat with friends and then returned to the victim's home, whom, he said, had arrived only about ten minutes before him,' Martins-Guedes said.
She suffered the 'frenzied attack' after returning home, and was found by her friend, who tried to administer first aid at the scene, French media reported.
Medics responded to a call at 10.17pm and arrived to find Ms Carter 'in cardio-respiratory arrest'.
Despite attempts to revive her, she died at the scene.
The prosecutor, confirmed that a criminal enquiry had been opened, and that local gendarmes were investigating.
Husband Alan said that he was 'disturbed' by a statement from Martins-Guedes that his wife had 'started a relationship' with a man some weeks before who had been interviewed by police.
French media said that the friend was questioned by police but released without charge.
'What I understand is that Karen went to a wine-tasting event on Tuesday night and was supposed to phone him to let him know that she had got back safely,' Mr Carter told The Times.
He said he was speculating, but was juggling thoughts that the perpetrator could be someone he or his wife knew.
Police are still trying to understand the motive, and have launched a manhunt for the unidentified killer. A murder weapon has also not been found.
The prosecutor said that, pending investigation, 'no hypothesis is being favoured'.
Neighbours left in 'total shock' from the tragedy paid tribute to 'a delightful, energetic person who got on with everybody'.
'Nobody can understand how this could have happened in a peaceful place like this,' one resident said.
'We are all keeping our doors locked. It is deeply worrying.'
'We saw emergency vehicles in the village, and then lots of police cars, and then the area around her house was cordoned off,' one resident said, who asked to remain anonymous 'for security reasons'.
Living in the rural commune of Trémolat, Carter owned and managed two guest houses, frequently used by guests from the UK.
Mr Carter told The Times that the property was a passion of his wife's and that she loved the French culture.
Due to this interest, he and his children are planning to go to France to hold a small funeral before scattering her ashes in South Africa.
A message written by Carter on her guest house website read: 'We would love to welcome you to visit our beautiful cottage in the Dordogne Valley, France.
'Take time out of your crazy schedule and relax into the wonderful slow lifestyle of the French community.'
The property is called Les Chouettes [The Owls] and it is described as 'a lovely old renovated farmhouse and barn', sleeping 14 in total.
Carter also ran a lifestyle blog for women over 50 called La Vie est Belle (Life is Beautiful) and was a member of Les Reines du Foot (The Queens of Football), a football team for women aged over 50 which in early April completed a tour of South Africa.
As news emerged of her tragic death, her football team paid tribute in a post on Facebook.
'We are immensely saddened by the sudden passing of Karen, our friend and Queen of Football, who leaves a great void in our hearts.
'All our thoughts go out to her loved ones.'
The victim was one of 18 football players who left for South Africa to participate in the Grandma's World Cup, after training between Calès and Trémolat.
'Everyone is in shock, it's horrible,' her distraught teammates told Francebleu.
Known to play in a number 12 jersey, the British national was a substitute left midfielder during the competition in South Africa.
A sign was placed on the front of the local café to inform residents that the Wednesday concert evening and Thursday quiz were cancelled 'due to death'.
The Dordogne is an area of France that is hugely popular with British tourists, second home owners and expat pensioners.
In February, British couple Andrew and Dawn Searle, who previously lived in East Lothian in Scotland, were found dead at their home in the south west village of Les Peques, north of Toulouse.
Ms Searle's body was found in the garden with severe wounds to her head, while her husband's body was found hanging inside.
The prosecutor in charge of the case has since said there was no evidence that another person was involved in their deaths, and that murder-suicide was the likely cause.