Just as locals in a quiet corner of southwestern France were beginning to process one violent loss, they’ve now been hit by another tragedy.
A second woman has been found dead—shockingly close to where a British mother was brutally stabbed just months earlier.
The peaceful surroundings of the Dordogne region, known for its scenic beauty and sleepy charm, have now become the backdrop for an unfolding mystery.
Missing Woman Found by Police Dog After Week-Long Search
Thirty-one-year-old Floriane Roux had been missing for seven days when a police dog discovered her lifeless body on Monday.
The discovery was made in dense foliage near the Dordogne River in the village of Paunat, roughly five miles from the site where 65-year-old Karen Carter was murdered earlier this year.
Floriane’s remains were hidden under tall grass near her Vauxhall Corsa, not far from where she had planned to meet friends.
She never showed up that night, and her friend later told investigators they hadn’t seen her at all.
Her body was ultimately found around 4 p.m. during a coordinated search effort by gendarmes from Bergerac using seven trained dogs.
Investigators Explore Every Possibility, Including Suicide
At the moment, there’s no clear answer as to what led to Floriane’s death.
Police haven’t ruled out any possibilities—including the chance that she may have taken her own life.
A doctor declared her dead at the scene, but authorities have yet to confirm the cause or circumstances.
Floriane had been living with her boyfriend in Montanceix, near Saint-Astier, and he has been among those interviewed as part of the investigation.
The local prosecutor’s office had already launched an inquiry into her disappearance before her body was found.
A Grim Reminder of a Previous Killing Just Miles Away
What makes this even more chilling is how closely Floriane’s death mirrors that of Karen Carter.
Back in April, Karen—who held both British and South African nationality—was found fatally stabbed outside her home in Trémolat after a night out.
The retired mother of four had left a wine-tasting party around 10 p.m. and was supposed to call her partner, 75-year-old Jean-François Guerrier, when she arrived home.
But that call never came.
Worried, Mr. Guerrier went to check on her and found her collapsed beside her car.
Despite his efforts, she had lost too much blood and died from multiple stab wounds to the chest, groin, arms, and legs.
Love, Jealousy, and a Community in Shock
The wine-tasting party that Karen attended was hosted by Guerrier, her partner at the time, at his countryside property.
Locals have hinted at tensions surrounding the couple, especially involving another resident, Marie-Laure Autefort, who was said to be romantically interested in Guerrier.
Both Guerrier and Autefort were initially arrested in connection with Karen’s death but were later released without charges.
Prosecutors now believe Karen’s killing was carefully orchestrated, potentially by someone who knew her personally.
One theory even suggests that a hitman could have been involved—someone who avoided leaving behind any trace of evidence while using what investigators called “unspeakable violence.”
A Husband in Mourning, and a Village on Edge
Karen’s husband, Alan Carter, had been in East London, South Africa, when the attack happened.
He flew to France shortly after receiving the devastating news.
He visited the crime scene in Trémolat and later organized her funeral, held in early July in Bergerac.
Mr. Guerrier has kept mostly silent since then, only saying briefly: “Karen was a lovely lady, but I can’t answer any more questions at the moment.”
He confirmed that he had hosted the gathering the night she died, but declined to speak further.
What Lies Ahead for Investigators?
With two women now dead in eerily similar situations—and within just a few miles of each other—authorities are under pressure to get to the bottom of what’s happening in this once-tranquil region.
Are these two deaths connected, or is it an unfortunate coincidence?
For now, police and prosecutors are continuing to piece together both cases, hoping to find the truth hidden beneath the shadows of the Dordogne’s quiet countryside.