A young woman who was orphaned as a child & raised possibly in New England is brought back to her family estate she inherited somewhere in Louisiana or similar with Spanish moss on the trees, plantation shutters on the exterior doors, etc.  I believe she had received letters from her “aunt” who has lived in the mansion but who I think turns out to be just one of the caretakers pretending to be her family.

While there, the caretakers try to keep her captive without being obvious by making her think she’s going insane so they can keep the estate for themselves.

There is a sheriff from town who comes out periodically & another man, perhaps a reporter, who has become romantically attracted to her.

Someone is killed & thrown in the swamp & later found by the girl and the possible reporter as they’re trying to escape on foot.

Any suggestions as to what this movie might be are greatly appreciated!

My memory of this movie is sketchy having seen it in the mid 70’s on late night TV.  It was black and white, late 50’s to early 60’s, and brings to mind French New Wave though I’m fairly confident it was English language.  As I recall, it’s a day in the life of a beautiful but sexually disturbed young woman.  She was blonde, wore a black leather jacket, and roamed around town having sexual encounters with random men.  Being on TV, the sex was merely suggested.  In one scene, she meets a little boy at a carnival or a park and kisses him demonstrating her complete lack of boundaries.  This scene with the boy would likely be key to distinguishing it from other 1960’s nymphomaniac films.  Any ideas??