Gruesome new details have emerged in the case of a British couple found dead in their house in France, who may have been killed by 'criminals from the United Kingdom'.
The lifeless bodies of Andrew and Dawn Searle, who were in the 60s, were discovered on Thursday afternoon by a dog lit in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
French media reported that Dawn was found with head wounds for their dream house, while Andrew was found with his body signs of serious violence.
Andrew Searle is said to have moved his family to France ten years ago after having worked as a financial researcher in the 'fight against organized crime and terrorism'.
On Friday, the ownership of the couple and the surrounding country in the hamlet were converted into an extensive crime scene.
An investigation source said: 'A criminal investigation has started and the fear is that the couple was killed.
'They were very fit and very popular room, but there is a theory that they were chased by criminals from the United Kingdom.
'This is currently the prioritized line of research, because [the husband] was once involved in the fight against organized crime and terrorism. '
Andrew and Dawn Searle, who were in the 60s, were discovered on Thursday afternoon
Andrew Searle is said to have moved his family to France ten years ago after he worked as a financial investigator in the 'fight against organized crime and terrorism'
The police have changed the ownership of the couple an extensive crime scene
Their bodies were discovered on Thursday afternoon by a dog shelter
It is, however, understood that Mr Searle worked with the police and the serious fraud office against organized crime groups involved in financial crimes such as money laundering.
This included work in 'Sanctions screening', the process of checking individuals and groups that may be excluded from the trade in the UK because of their ties with rogue countries, terrorist groups and drug traders.
This would have brought Mr. Searle to the notification of networks that work all over the world, in countries such as Russia.
Mr. Searle withdrew to France in 2015 from his professional life in Scotland, after the Financial Crime Assurance Arm of Barclay's Bank in Edinburgh.
Previously, the graduate Liverpool John Moores University in Standard Life, which is also located in the Scottish capital.
He maintained a LinkedIn account, in which he wrote: 'Renteneland for the delivery of significant improvements in AFC [Anti-Financial Crime] Possibilities, developing effective operational models within a group structure. '
Police and prosecutors have not officially released the Searles names, but at least three neighbors confirmed that they were the victims.
A neighbor told MailOnline: '[They] Were beautiful – hearing about this is extremely painful.
“They were extremely friendly, and always on their way. What happened has caused a lot of fear. '
A British couple was found dead yesterday in their isolated house in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue (file photo of Villefranche-de-Rouergue)
Detectives now fear that the British couple could have been killed by 'criminals from the United Kingdom'
It is thought that the man and the woman were killed in their detached property, including a two -bedroom flat that was regularly occupied by paying visitors.
The Searles advertised their house extensively online. There is a swimming pool outside and then thick forests that place the house in an isolated position, away from the center of the hamlet.
While researchers originally feared 'a burglary error,' local officials suggested on Friday that there could be other motives.
Jean-Sebastien Orcibal, the mayor of Villefranche, said: “We didn't really burglaries in our city, and especially not a violent burglaries.”
Local prosecutors have started a criminal investigation, with judicial police and gendarmes support them.
The house and the site remained closed off on Friday, in which forensic officers investigate the entire building.
Drones could also be seen circling over your head, while house questions were performed by Gendarmes.
Nobody was arrested anyway in connection with the deaths.
Villefranche-de-Rouergue is located on the Aveyron department-the French version of a province. It is full of British expats and holiday owners from the UK.
Another local source said that the couple “had many friends and further away, including in Britain, and often organized dinner.”
He added: 'They both loved the countryside and were very happy. They were very proud of their house, which is far away from other buildings in the hamlet '.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told MailOnline yesterday: “We support the family of a British couple who died in France and maintains contact with the local authorities.”
