|| 9 August 2026

Karen Carter Murder Case

When I first read about the Karen Carter murder in the Times UK last year, I was struck by how the case resembled the plot of a classic whodunit mystery story: Returning home from a wine tasting party, British expat is stabbed in the driveway of her home in a peaceful village in Dordogne. Two suspects: a man with whom she had a relationship and a woman rival were questioned by the police and released. Who murdered the attractive 65 year old woman?

What followed was more than a year of the police investigating a variety of possibilities: Karen Carter’s husband living in South Africa had (or someone acting on his behalf) committed the murder. Or perhaps a handyman who had previously worked for Karen Carter at her guest house there in the French village. Or could it have been someone passing through the area bent on robbery and now hundreds of miles away? Then, at the end of July came the announcement that the police had made a charge.

France does not give the names of those they arrest apparently, so the media only reported that a 70 year old woman who had previously been a suspect had been taken into custody. Though the woman’s identity was obvious.

If you are coming new to the case, possibly the best article to read is the one in The Daily Mail. Detailed information and many photos. Though best viewed in a web browser with a “reader” view that strips out the profuse advertising on the articles webpage.

Another comprehensive article is the one in The Sun. Here again you need a “reader” view in your browser to read the article almost hidden by the advertising on the webpage.

These articles are from late July. I have not been able to find any information on the case that is more recent. And since the police have not specified exactly the new information that lead to the arrest, there are still unanswered questions. Among them: Could a woman aged 70 less than 5 ft 5 in tall, who friends say has high blood pressure and severe osteoarthritis in her hands, have stabbed her victim eight times so viciously that Karen Carter’s arm was almost severed and vital organs pierced?

Article in The Sun

Article in The Daily Mail

be chic, be slim, be cautious even if you live in a "safe" place — Anne Barone