Karen Carter, pictured with her husband Alan
The husband of a British-South African woman found dead In her home in France, a friend of Karen Carter, 65, expressed disbelief at the "terror and fear she must have experienced" before her tragic death.
Mrs. Carter was discovered by a friend with multiple stab wounds near her vehicle in the village of Trémolat, Dordogne, on Tuesday evening, according to the state prosecutor.
Her husband, Alan, who resides in South Africa, described her as "a wonderful, kind person" and shared the family's devastation over the incident.
Authorities have arrested a 69-year-old local woman as part of the ongoing investigation into the death of the mother of four.
A friend who found Mrs. Carter's body was interrogated by police but was later released without any charges, stated state prosecutor Sylvie Martins-Guedes.
"Currently, no particular theory is being prioritized," she noted.
Having lived in Trémolat for over ten years, Ms. Carter managed two holiday rental properties.
"Especially since the pandemic, my wife has dedicated more time to managing the gîtes (holiday homes). Business has been thriving," Mr. Carter remarked.
"She excelled at her work, effectively marketing and securing bookings year-round."
Mr. Carter recounted how he learned of his wife's death through a call from his cousin, who saw a post about it on a local community Facebook page.
"She called me to express her condolences and inform me that Karen had passed away. That was my first notification," he explained.
"Nobody had reached out to inform me of the situation. I found out through my cousin who happened to see it online."
He confirmed that he learned of Mrs. Carter's death after his assistant contacted local authorities.
"She managed to connect with the right person. I’m not sure how, but she did."
"He confirmed the news but didn’t provide any details about the circumstances," he added, noting that he has been relying on media reports for updates.
Mr. Carter mentioned that the village is in disbelief over her passing, stating, "It's shocking. Such a small community where incidents like this are unheard of."
He characterized Mrs. Carter as a sociable, warm individual who "wouldn't harm a soul," emphasizing that her death has been "devastating" for their family.
"I'm more reserved, while she was the complete opposite. An extrovert who thrived on social interactions. People adored her; she had a generous spirit," he reflected.
"She was the type to rescue a stray dog or cat. That was her nature. Everyone cherished her. That's why I fell in love with her. She was simply wonderful."