France - Karen Carter, 65, stabbed to death, Dordogne, 29 April 2025

[slowpoke]

Wait…I just noticed there is a dog in the latest Daily Mail article about J-F G ‘breaking his silence’ as he went to get his mail.

It looks to be the same dog in a prior post that we thought was Karen’s dog (Dotta’s post, #115).

Either J-F G is taking care of Karen’s dog, or the photo of her holding a dog was not hers, but rather his dog.

OR, they have identical-looking dogs?

 

[Dotta]

Wait…I just noticed there is a dog in the latest Daily Mail article about J-F G ‘breaking his silence’ as he went to get his mail.

It looks to be the same dog in a prior post that we thought was Karen’s dog (Dotta’s post, #115).

Either J-F G is taking care of Karen’s dog, or the photo of her holding a dog was not hers, but rather his dog.

OR, they have identical-looking dogs?

View attachment 584401

Oh,
that answers my worry about the sweet pup!
Thanks for your eagle eye
The pooch is taken care of!

It is the same dog wearing black leash.
Sooooo cute!
Good little boy!

 

[Charlot123]

It just hit me. There was one woman, or even more, being interested in Mr. Garnier.

There could have been someone carrying a torch for Ms. Carter and being angry at her new love interest in Mr. Garnier.

But Mr. Carter, a successful, wholesome man, could be of potential interest for someone, too. For that person, living in the village, it could have felt, Mr. Carter is married, Mr. Garnier’s heart is occupied, while I have no one. So I see one more potential motive.

After all, no one truly knows the life plans of Ms, Carter.

 

[indicolite22]

It just hit me. There was one woman, or even more, being interested in Mr. Garnier.

There could have been someone carrying a torch for Ms. Carter and being angry at her new love interest in Mr. Garnier.

But Mr. Carter, a successful, wholesome man, could be of potential interest for someone, too. For that person, living in the village, it could have felt, Mr. Carter is married, Mr. Garnier’s heart is occupied, while I have no one. So I see one more potential motive.

After all, no one truly knows the life plans of Ms, Carter.

Mr Carter has a full time job in South Africa. Only his wife moved to France and reportedly she wanted a divorce. That would be positive for someone interested in him, but not if they live in France.

 

[Dotta]

Message from the past...

https://twitter.com/x/status/967756428218978304

 

[miss marble]

Hello everyone, some observations:-

Firstly, it's tragic that Karen appeared to have found a happy place in life in her later years only to have her life violently taken away from her by a cowardly, selfish individual.

Secondly, the husband immediate and constant updates to the British press raise red flags to me. His initial eulogy was fine, but his recent comments about his wife 'tarnishing her reputation' are unnecessary, callous and spiteful considering she has no right of reply.

They were clearly leading separate lives and reports suggest Karen was seeking a divorce but his media comments make him sound controlling and unwilling to allow her to move on with her life without him.

If they weren't currently living in different countries, he would be high on the list of suspects due to motive (jealousy/control)

The husband also said he spoke to her daily on the phone (he said he spoke to her on the Tuesday of the wine tasting), so would likely know her plans for the day/evening and when she would likely be at home.

He said that he also considered JF a friend, so maybe he had other 'friends' in the village who he communicated with and could have confided in them about how he was frustrated with his wife 'tarnishing her reputation' and he could have encouraged them to take action on his behalf ?

I do think the motive is connected to the new love interest as it's unlikely to be robbery (why not just break into the house while people are away?)
and unlikely to be connected to her rental business which has been going for 15 years without any prior issues.
No, the only recent change in Karen's life is the new 'relationship'with JF.

The 69 year old woman who was arrested has an alibi and the ferocity of the attack wouldn't generally indicate an older woman was responsible, bearing in mind Karen was reportedly quite strong and fit.
The only thing I found strange about that was the woman's brother telling the media that she was 'in love' with JF and 'everyone knew it'. Kind of a weird thing for a brother to say, maybe she was so distraught and upset about Karen/JF that he or one of her male friends committed the brutal attack out of revenge on her behalf (also cowardly attacking Karen instead of JF).

Another thing, the window of opportunity to commit the crime and flee the scene is very short, reportedly only 10 mins from Karen arriving home and JF arriving on the scene. Again, someone needed to have known her movements in advance.

Was the assailant on foot (maybe lived nearby) or in a car?
No mention is made of a car fleeing the scene by JF, this person is very lucky they weren't seen by JF.

Or, my final option...was it JF?
Did he turn up hoping to spend the night with Karen and she rejected him and he flew into a rage?
Maybe Karen did just view her relationship with him as just friends even though he wanted something more?
Only trouble with this is the murder weapon, why would he have it with him and how was it disposed of ?

Apologies for the ramble, just throwing out some thoughts and theories !!

 

[Dotta]

France suspects murder in stabbing of British woman

A French investigating magistrate on Wednesday launched a formal murder inquiry into the stabbing of a 65-year-old British woman outside her village home.

www.thelocal.fr

 

[indicolite22]

Hello everyone, some observations:-

Firstly, it's tragic that Karen appeared to have found a happy place in life in her later years only to have her life violently taken away from her by a cowardly, selfish individual.

Secondly, the husband immediate and constant updates to the British press raise red flags to me. His initial eulogy was fine, but his recent comments about his wife 'tarnishing her reputation' are unnecessary, callous and spiteful considering she has no right of reply.

They were clearly leading separate lives and reports suggest Karen was seeking a divorce but his media comments make him sound controlling and unwilling to allow her to move on with her life without him.

If they weren't currently living in different countries, he would be high on the list of suspects due to motive (jealousy/control)

The husband also said he spoke to her daily on the phone (he said he spoke to her on the Tuesday of the wine tasting), so would likely know her plans for the day/evening and when she would likely be at home.

He said that he also considered JF a friend, so maybe he had other 'friends' in the village who he communicated with and could have confided in them about how he was frustrated with his wife 'tarnishing her reputation' and he could have encouraged them to take action on his behalf ?

I do think the motive is connected to the new love interest as it's unlikely to be robbery (why not just break into the house while people are away?)
and unlikely to be connected to her rental business which has been going for 15 years without any prior issues.
No, the only recent change in Karen's life is the new 'relationship'with JF.

The 69 year old woman who was arrested has an alibi and the ferocity of the attack wouldn't generally indicate an older woman was responsible, bearing in mind Karen was reportedly quite strong and fit.
The only thing I found strange about that was the woman's brother telling the media that she was 'in love' with JF and 'everyone knew it'. Kind of a weird thing for a brother to say, maybe she was so distraught and upset about Karen/JF that he or one of her male friends committed the brutal attack out of revenge on her behalf (also cowardly attacking Karen instead of JF).

Another thing, the window of opportunity to commit the crime and flee the scene is very short, reportedly only 10 mins from Karen arriving home and JF arriving on the scene. Again, someone needed to have known her movements in advance.

Was the assailant on foot (maybe lived nearby) or in a car?
No mention is made of a car fleeing the scene by JF, this person is very lucky they weren't seen by JF.

Or, my final option...was it JF?
Did he turn up hoping to spend the night with Karen and she rejected him and he flew into a rage?
Maybe Karen did just view her relationship with him as just friends even though he wanted something more?
Only trouble with this is the murder weapon, why would he have it with him and how was it disposed of ?

Apologies for the ramble, just throwing out some thoughts and theories !!

About attacking Karen instead of J-F, by eliminating her J-F would be free for a new relationship. Nothing would be gained by killing him.

I don't think it was J-F. It appears that he doted on her, not held a grudge. Did Karen reject someone's advances recently?

There are probably people in the village who were friends with both Karen and the husband. I don't imagine someone killing her unless there was personal benefit.

 

[indicolite22]

By one of the football teammates:

She said Carter always joined local initiatives and last year was among players on the team to strip naked for a jokey calendar to raise funds for the trip to South Africa.

An online sample of the 2025 “Queens of Football” calendar, which went on sale in October, shows black and white pictures of the players in which their faces cannot be seen.

But, said Mayer, Carter did not speak much about her private life.

On that, “she was also secretive and guarded,” she said.
...
Her husband Alan, who lives in South Africa, told France Bleu radio that he learnt about the death through a cousin.

He said he and his wife and he were not divorcing but going through a tough period.

Football granny murdered in France — South African hubby speaks out

A French investigating magistrate on Wednesday launched a formal murder inquiry into the stabbing of a 65-year-old British woman outside her village home.

www.africaninsider.com

It was reported a few times, that the husband's cousin lives in Tremolat or nearby.

 

[Dotta]

It was reported a few times, that the husband's cousin lives in Tremolat or nearby.

This person is not POI.

Nothing was reported about this person's arrest or questioning by Police.

Only,
that this person saw condolences on Cafe Village FB
and informed the victim's husband who was in South Africa.

I also guess,
this person's alibi was checked by Police,
as members of family are usual suspects at the beginning of every investigation.

I don't think
victim's family has anything to do with the attack.

I consider them victims too.

JMO

 

[ZaZara]

This person is not POI.

Nothing was reported about this person's arrest or questioning by Police.

Only,
that this person saw condolences on Cafe Village FB
and informed the victim's husband who was in South Africa.

I also guess,
this person's alibi was checked by Police,
as members of family are usual suspects at the beginning of every investigation.

I don't think
victim's family has anything to do with the attack.

I consider them victims too.

JMO

I agree, @Dotta .

WS is a victim-friendly forum. The family and especially the husband are not suspects, nor have they been named POI.

The husband has learned of the death of his partner in the most shocking way. No one informed him, he only heard that she had died when a family member saw a notice on Facebook. What were the authorities thinking?! How could they forget the family? And then later, French Police declares publicly that his murdered wife was having an affair ~ something she had denied to him recently ~ thereby adding insult to injury.

We should wish him and their children only the best, and much strength during these terrible times.

 

[Dotta]

I agree, @Dotta .

WS is a victim-friendly forum. The family and especially the husband are not suspects, nor have they been named POI.

The husband has learned of the death of his partner in the most shocking way. No one informed him, he only heard that she had died when a family member saw a notice on Facebook. What were the authorities thinking?! How could they forget the family? And then later, French Police declares publicly that his murdered wife was having an affair ~ something she had denied to him recently ~ thereby adding insult to injury.

We should wish him and their children only the best, and much strength during these terrible times.

These are exactly my thoughts.
I'm appalled.
The husband seems to be hunted by Press
And the victim cannot defend herself.
Cannot deny the insinuations.
She's dead.

JMO

 

[Skigh]

Brit expat murdered in France was 'buying a house and leaving husband'

Mother-of-four Karen Carter was stabbed to death last Tuesday outside a guesthouse she ran in the village with husband Alan, who had been at home in South Africa

www.dailymail.co.uk

British woman murdered outside her holiday home in France was buying a small property to live by herself after serving divorce papers on her husband, MailOnline can reveal.

Karen Carter, 65, had viewed and agreed a sale on a charming one-bedroom cottage she planned on retiring to in the tranquil village of Trémolat.

And she had just bought a cross-breed puppy with a wealthy businessman she had recently begun an affair with, her best friend has revealed.

 

[miss marble]

The timing of the divorce news is just too coincidental....

‘I’m filing for divorce,’ British mother said night before she was murdered in Dordogne

Karen Carter’s neighbour says she is at a loss over who would have attacked her friend

www.telegraph.co.uk

<modsnip - paywalled articled may not be reproduced, but the article may be posted for those who wish to read, and a brief synopsis may be posted>

 

[bmacmillan1]

The timing of the divorce news is just too coincidental....

‘I’m filing for divorce,’ British mother said night before she was murdered in Dordogne

Karen Carter’s neighbour says she is at a loss over who would have attacked her friend

www.telegraph.co.uk

<modsnip - paywalled articled may not be reproduced, but the article may be posted for those who wish to read, and a brief synopsis may be posted>

Husband is not telling the truth then if he said they were not getting divorced, and were only going through a bad patch

 

[slowpoke]

By one of the football teammates:

She said Carter always joined local initiatives and last year was among players on the team to strip naked for a jokey calendar to raise funds for the trip to South Africa.

An online sample of the 2025 “Queens of Football” calendar, which went on sale in October, shows black and white pictures of the players in which their faces cannot be seen.

But, said Mayer, Carter did not speak much about her private life.

On that, “she was also secretive and guarded,” she said.
...
Her husband Alan, who lives in South Africa, told France Bleu radio that he learnt about the death through a cousin.

He said he and his wife and he were not divorcing but going through a tough period.

Football granny murdered in France — South African hubby speaks out

A French investigating magistrate on Wednesday launched a formal murder inquiry into the stabbing of a 65-year-old British woman outside her village home.

www.africaninsider.com

It was reported a few times, that the husband's cousin lives in Tremolat or nearby.

Love their confident positive message for their calendars:
…”to prove to you that beauty and vitality are present at every stage of life.”

Very bold and daring to be photographed fully unclothed, albeit anonymously (with faces obscured). Very artistically done.

Calendrier Les Reines du Foot

Calendrier des reines du foot

leslivresdelilot.fr

 

[ZaZara]

Been reading a bit about divorce if the partners do not live in the same country and were probably married in a third country (the UK?). There are many complications.

Mrs C. might obtain a divorce in France, if she has official residency there. The French procedure requires all official documents in translation. A joint divorce is possible, if both partners agree.
If they were both still living in SA as their main residence, the divorce would go through the SA courts, which would mean a long-distance enterprise for Mrs C.

If she served him the papers ~which he denies ~, a lot of preparation would have gone into that. IMO if so, the newly formed relationship with mr G. cannot have been the cause of those plans.

 

[Charlot123]

Mr Carter has a full time job in South Africa. Only his wife moved to France and reportedly she wanted a divorce. That would be positive for someone interested in him, but not if they live in France.

For starts, we don’t know how accurate the friends are. We have two different versions. One, from the friend, states that KC was unhappy and wanted a divorce but the husband was slow to provide one. According to the husband’s version, KC was telling him that J-P was only a friend and now he (the husband) feels betrayed.

How to combine the two versions? First, people might hear what they want to hear, and two, maybe, indeed, the relationship was in a nascent area and not linked to KC’s unhappiness at all.

Either way, AC and KC had 30 years together, mutual kids and KC surviving cancer. Too many years to break easily, IMO.

Plus, AC said that he bought the property in the village seeing how alive KC was there. They owned it for 15 years; I assume at that time, AC was working at London Stock exchange and was a more common fixture in the village. His cousin lived there, too.

I feel that it will end up being a murder of passion, only who was the ultimate goal?

J-P was released soon. IMO, he is, indeed, uninvolved.

That woman who proclaimed her love for J-P, MA, appears slightly naive to start with? She is probably scared and ashamed, but from the articles, she doesn’t look like the killer. JMO. She was loud, and the person is stealthy. MOO.

Could it be someone younger, some farmhand in whom KC unknowingly evoked strong feelings? Or a former guest in her Airbnb? Possible. I assume that the percentage of odd people is the same everywhere. A guest is the worst person to trace, but it is not impossible.

But, a woman who viewed AC as a decent goal and would be not unwilling to move to SA with him is not impossible, either. Someone who got tired of living in a village, who viewed AC as a decent, loyal, successful man. Who might have recently traveled to SA with the soccer group and saw that there was no one on his side there? Who thought that a grieving widower, crushed by the revelation of betrayal, could be an easy target? Who could have been close to his cousin to know the details of his life?

I see three potential options here, not two.

 

[Charlot123]

Love their confident positive message for their calendars:
…”to prove to you that beauty and vitality are present at every stage of life.”

Very bold and daring to be photographed fully unclothed, albeit anonymously (with faces obscured). Very artistically done.

Calendrier Les Reines du Foot

Calendrier des reines du foot

leslivresdelilot.fr

Amazing women! I went to their FB to watch women of 73 doing push-ups. Great, and so encouraging!

 

[Charlot123]

Husband is not telling the truth then if he said they were not getting divorced, and were only going through a bad patch

This is still “he said, she said” story. If there are formalized papers sent over, there are people who helped making them or even notarizing. So unless we know that indeed, there were notarized documents, it is another story.

I never lived in a village, but my aunt once lived in a “military settlement” in the old country, akin to a military base here. It was larger than Tremolat that has only 600 inhabitants, but boy, was it a gossipy place! Who went where, what neighbors were having for dinner, you name it. There is a gossipy person on our street, my husband brings me the freshest scoop. I’d say, the observations are sharp, but the conclusions that person makes are sometimes hilariously off-mark.

Same in Tremolat, I assume. It would be hard to tease out the reality from the stories. Plus, everyone is interested in the locals; some guests of this picturesque place might fly under the radar.