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

[Charlot123]

Technically it could have been someone local with a grudge who hired an outsider. But the grudge would have to be pretty big (obvious motive to investigators) if they were willing to pay.

It seems that Karen was organized and a planner. Great reputation in the village. When she got a lover, she kept it under wraps until she was sure that it was serious. And, from the papers, it appears that JFG was much respected in that expat community.

Same with her barn. It started like a summer vacation place and ended a profitable business.

She was not an open book. I assume that there are many people, acquaintances and business connections that we don’t know about.

It may take quite a time. Wishing the police good luck.

 

[Charlot123]

It was irony
(in answer to theories of his alleged guilt as an alleged Criminal Mastermind ordering a hit on his wife living on another continent).

The husband has not been announced publicly as Person of Interest/Suspect by Police.

No evidence (that we heard of) has been found of his involvement in this murder.
And, knowing Police procedures,
he must have been checked thoroughly as the first.

So, IMO,
as a member of victim's family
he is a victim too, as the children.
And deserves Respect & Sympathy,
not public allegations.

Well,
this is My Opinion on this matter.

PS
If every person who wishes divorce was murdered by a spouse,
world's population would decrease significantly.
But we see the opposite.

And this isn't bickering/being argumentative on my part
but firmly held opinion,
which I expressed earlier on this thread.

Respecting your opinion, dear @Dotta.

AC may be nothing more but a grieving widower. And we have to consider that if so, it is a huge burden to carry. It is a huge burden for the kids, too. They lost their mom.

The police has the right to check anyone. Also, to recheck the alibis of the locals. Their job. Dr. Carter’s behavior so far has been normal and predictable. I am just not concentrating on this version out of respect for the whole family, including the kids. There are tons of other potential suspects.

 

[Sjöberg]

A recent article, more of a refresher.

An autopsy reportedly revealed that Carter died from severe blood loss after being stabbed multiple times, collapsing and dying next to her car. Eight serious wounds were reportedly noted in total, including to the “chest, abdomen and forearm”, as well as “superficial ones on the thigh, shoulder and thumbs”.

Most recent reports suggest police are looking at whether “an outsider” committed the murder after considering both a “robbery gone wrong” scenario as well as a “personal grudge” from someone within Carter’s social circles.
It is understood a number of villagers, including maintenance workers, were asked to give forensic samples to eliminate them from inquiries and no links were made.

Dordogne murder mystery: British woman’s death confounds detectives

Brutal stabbing of Karen Carter, 65, in France has been followed by talk of affairs and speculation over the culprit

www.theguardian.com

 

[Little Jack]

What a welcoming and charming looking home

 

[nhmemorymaker]

A recent article, more of a refresher.

An autopsy reportedly revealed that Carter died from severe blood loss after being stabbed multiple times, collapsing and dying next to her car. Eight serious wounds were reportedly noted in total, including to the “chest, abdomen and forearm”, as well as “superficial ones on the thigh, shoulder and thumbs”.

Most recent reports suggest police are looking at whether “an outsider” committed the murder after considering both a “robbery gone wrong” scenario as well as a “personal grudge” from someone within Carter’s social circles.
It is understood a number of villagers, including maintenance workers, were asked to give forensic samples to eliminate them from inquiries and no links were made.

Dordogne murder mystery: British woman’s death confounds detectives

Brutal stabbing of Karen Carter, 65, in France has been followed by talk of affairs and speculation over the culprit

www.theguardian.com

yes... good refresher. Thanks for posting.

 

[crespo29]

Dordogne murder mystery: British woman’s death confounds detectives

Brutal stabbing of Karen Carter, 65, in France has been followed by talk of affairs and speculation over the culprit

www.theguardian.com

 

[indicolite22]

Another recap. This is the first time I've seen M-L's actual alibi mentioned:

She said she had been working part-time at a care home on the night of the murder, and others could vouch for her.

A few other highlights:

Criminologist Adam Lynes said: “If the investigators are saying it was an outsider, then they are probably quite confident of that.
...
The Sun can reveal that no murder weapon has been found, meaning the killer could have got in and out of Trémolat very quickly, perhaps on a motorbike.
...
“The Café Village was a hotbed of affairs,” said a regular.
“People were focused on pleasure there, and – as in any small village – they become very close.”

Inside murdered Brit's horror film village gripped by affairs & intrigue

A SLEEPY town in southwest France has twice been the setting of bloody murder. In two separate sagas, Trémolat has seen horrific violence entwine with forbidden love and fervent suspicion. The diff…

www.thesun.co.uk

 

[FromGermany1]

Next question would be: Are there many outsiders (of Tremolat), who are enjoying the Cafe in the village and maybe searching for an affair (or not, only drinking wine and dancing)?

 

[ZaZara]

Next question would be: Are there many outsiders (of Tremolat), who are enjoying the Cafe in the village and maybe searching for an affair (or not, only drinking wine and dancing)?

In my experience, outsider should be considered as anyone not belonging to KC's immediate circle. KC may not even have been aware of this person's existence. But to whomever it was, she was important for a reason. And caused his rage for a reason she possibly never knew.

I live in a rural area. Years ago, my dogs escaped and ran off late one evening. I noticed they were gone almost immediately. Went searching for them until deep in the night. Slept a few hours. Early morning, searching again. I had no idea of the direction they might have taken. Went to farms, knocked on doors, asking everywhere if someone had seen my dogs.
In the village next to the village on the other side of the woods, a man opens the door and says: 'Oh you are the woman who lives in the white cottage.' I had never seen that man, yet he knew exactly who I was.

At the time, I was too worried about the dogs to pay much attention to what he said, but I never have forgotten.
These 'incidents' happened a few other times, for instance, out of the blue, a man starts telling me that he planted that cherry tree on my land. Never met the man before, never saw him again that I was aware of, but he too knew who I was, where I lived, and yes, there was a cherry tree. And it was huge.

What I've learned from living here for decades, is that memory is in the land, in the buildings and in family relations and conflicts that may go back generations. As an outsider, even after all those years, you do not know how the hares run ~ as we say.

 

[acutename]

have people said what kind of dog she had? And did she normally take it to parties with her? Seems odd to me that the dog did not get involved during the crime and the secret lover arriving just a bit later- the timing for him and the killer...a bit later and he would have been a witness or another victim? And the killer knew there were no guests at the house? ...or just lucky in that too?

 

[ZaZara]

have people said what kind of dog she had? And did she normally take it to parties with her? Seems odd to me that the dog did not get involved during the crime and the secret lover arriving just a bit later- the timing for him and the killer...a bit later and he would have been a witness or another victim? And the killer knew there were no guests at the house? ...or just lucky in that too?

Karen's dog was a Griffon puppy that she had recently acquired.

 

[Charlot123]

Next question would be: Are there many outsiders (of Tremolat), who are enjoying the Cafe in the village and maybe searching for an affair (or not, only drinking wine and dancing)?

The problem is, Karen was renting her gite, it was probably in between an Airbnb and a small village hotel.

So lots of people went through it. She also had a decent expanded family. She once came from SA with a nephew and isolated herself from COVID and in ten days, the local gendarmes came to check on them. So one has to imagine, the relatives, the relatives’ relatives and their friends. Plus tourists renting it from her. One cannot imagine how many “outsiders” could be well-known to her.

I assume now by the DNA they could have ruled in/out that black man seen by the witness. They probably know what way to go. (And in general, DNA will show where the relatives lived.) French DNA laws are odd but one could get through British, Dutch, Belgian, German and French Canadian databases and get matches as well.

 

[kiwi50]

Another recap. This is the first time I've seen M-L's actual alibi mentioned:

She said she had been working part-time at a care home on the night of the murder, and others could vouch for her.

A few other highlights:

Criminologist Adam Lynes said: “If the investigators are saying it was an outsider, then they are probably quite confident of that.
...
The Sun can reveal that no murder weapon has been found, meaning the killer could have got in and out of Trémolat very quickly, perhaps on a motorbike.
...
“The Café Village was a hotbed of affairs,” said a regular.
“People were focused on pleasure there, and – as in any small village – they become very close.”

Inside murdered Brit's horror film village gripped by affairs & intrigue

A SLEEPY town in southwest France has twice been the setting of bloody murder. In two separate sagas, Trémolat has seen horrific violence entwine with forbidden love and fervent suspicion. The diff…

www.thesun.co.uk

I hope M L ‘s alibi is tight, was the care home far from Karen, was she the only staff member on duty.
I recall it took a while to prove her alibi.

 

[Mayb]

I hope M L ‘s alibi is tight, was the care home far from Karen, was she the only staff member on duty.
I recall it took a while to prove her alibi.

If M L was the only person on duty in the care home that terrible night that fact of being alone could, I suppose, add another dimension to this mystery. LE would surely have covered any possibility of her leaving her post.
Who vouched for her? Presuming all alibis were thoroughly checked out, including M L's alibi at the care home then she's cleared.

 

[kiwi50]

If M L was the only person on duty in the care home that terrible night that fact of being alone could, I suppose, add another dimension to this mystery. LE would surely have covered any possibility of her leaving her post.
Who vouched for her? Presuming all alibis were thoroughly checked out, including M L's alibi at the care home then she's cleared.

I just wondered what sort of a care home it was, we live in a retirement village which has a care centre/ hospital attached.
They seem to put them to bed very early, and unless one rang their bell, that would be it until the morning.
There would only be one staff member on here at nights, I think it would be quite easy to sneak out if you had something important to do.

 

[Dotta]

There was no DNA of the pensioner at the crime scene.
ML was cleared by Police.

 

[indicolite22]

Did LE take M-L's DNA sample before she left the village?

 

[Dotta]

Did LE take M-L's DNA sample before she left the village?

ML isn't in hiding.
I'm sure she fully cooperates with LE.

Besides,
when she was first questioned,
I guess all procedures (including taking DNA) were performed.

Not to forget, as DM reported, the victim's arm was nearly severed
I don't think a frail 70 year old female pensioner has THAT kind of strength.

Police stated firmly.
This woman is NOT a suspect.
Her DNA was NOT at the crime scene.
Period.

All this info was reported by MSM and I provided the links earlier here.

JMO

 

[Mayb]

The apparent passion behind all this is the sticky bit for me. I would think it's sticky for LE too !!

Was perpetrator high on something ? It appears this horrific event is going to take a long time to be solved.

 

[Charlot123]

The apparent passion behind all this is the sticky bit for me. I would think it's sticky for LE too !!

Was perpetrator high on something ? It appears this horrific event is going to take a long time to be solved.

I don't know if he was high but I won't be surprised with some "class anger", if you will. "How did she dare to choose this old, frail man over me? Just because he is rich?"

Or maybe the man was instigated by a certain woman interested in JFG for herself.