A British man found dead with his wife in a remote part of their house in the countryside of France, was seen on the phone 'only a few hours before his death.
Retired financial researcher Andrew Searle, 65, and Dawn, 56, who only got married two years ago, were found last Thursday by a shocked friend who was worried that he had not seen them with their dogs.
The son of Mrs. Searle is the Scottish actor Callum Kerr, known for his role as PC George Kiss in the Soap Hollyoaks between 2020 and 2021.
A neighbor who closes the house in Les Pesquies, two hours north of Toulouse, described how she saw the couple the day before they died and said: “The whole village was shocked by what happened. Nobody can believe it.
'They were such a friendly couple and had a barbecue every year at the end of the summer and everyone was invited.
'I saw them the day before they were found, they walked out of the dogs and Andrew was on the phone.
“He was very agitated and he argued violently in English, he just waved at me and then continued. I don't know, maybe it's relevant, but I can't see burglary as a motive. '
It comes when a shocking new theory is considered, whereby the police say they are also investigating whether the death of the couple was a suicide.
Public Prosecutor Nicolas Rigot-Muller said that both a “violent death” had died and added: “All leads remain serious consideration,” and when he was asked if murder was a possibility, he said: “It is being considered. '
Andrew and Dawn Searle, who were in the 60, were found dead 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 Scottish actor known for his role as PC George Kiss (photo) in Channel 4 Soap Hollyoaks between 2020 and 2021
In another worrying development, good friend Odile Marian, who lives just five minutes from the scene, said Mr. Searle would also have been hours before he died after he “found the door of his garage open.”
Mme Marian said that the idea of ​​a 'family drama' was excluded because they had been 'events and dog walks planning' in the coming weeks.
She added: 'I know that someone had opened the door of his garage, was opened, he tried to find out who it was, maybe he was – I don't know, maybe it is connected?
'I just know that he was very angry and furious that it was open, but he may have been who left it open, we just don't know.
'I spoke with Andrew's son Tom who lives in India and he is supposed to be with his sister Ella who lives in Portugal.
“The son of Dawn lives in the United States and that is also her daughter who lives in Scotland.”
Mme Marian also gave new details about how Dawn was found 'in her pajamas' outside the house by a neighbor and she had a 'main injury'.
She added: “Her jewelry was scattered around her and the man who found them, the police and they arrived and found Andrew inside.”
French media reported Mr. Searle, a former counter -match specialist was found inside hanging on a handrail with a gag in his mouth, but local officials have refused to confirm this.
But a local whose friend was a firefighter said, “He went inside and said it was a horrible scene, it really upset him.”
The house where the couple were discovered on Thursday afternoon in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue
There has been speculation that the couple could have been killed by 'British criminals' because he was a counter fraud specialist, but there is no confirmation from French researchers about this.
Ten years ago, the couple had moved two hours north of Toulouse to the hamlet of Les Pesquies.
Dawn's son Callum – who lives in Nashville, Tennessee – placed a tribute on his Instagram, while he also asked for the privacy of the family to be respected during this 'difficult time'.
The 30-year-old, who is best known for his role as PC George Kiss in Hollyoaks from Channel 4, shared a statement stating that he 'mourned' for the tragic loss of his mother and her partner.
He wrote: 'Callum Kerr and Amanda Kerr are currently the loss of their mother, Dawn Searle (no Smith, Kerr), while Tom Searle and Ella Searle mourn for the loss of their father, Andrew Searle.
'We ask to respect their privacy during this difficult period. We will provide updates where necessary. Thank you for your understanding. '
Family members are expected to travel to the village in the coming days, while the police and prosecutors continue their investigation into the shocking double deaths – with officers of Justice and the police 'keep' open '.
A specialized pathologist flew in by helicopter for the first examination and reportedly concluded to find shot and knife wounds.
Displayed is the house where Dawn and Andrew Searle were found dead on Thursday
The police have changed the ownership of the couple an extensive crime scene
Villefranche-de-Rouergue is located on the Aveyron department-the French version of a province. It's full of British expat, and holiday homeowners from the UK
On the scene on Saturday a cordon was removed in the early afternoon and a yellow and red place crime was placed above the gates at the entrance of the house, but there seemed to be no other police activity.
Later a man who identified as a police officer arrived and used a key to open the mailbox in the house and went through the letters and only said: “If you want information, speak to the head office.”
Mr. Searle, a former counter-fraud specialist, with his wife in France with his wife in the Financial Crime Assurance Arm of Barclays Bank in Edinburgh and family of friends flew in from Scotland where they originally lived for the wedding.
They had rented a property with two bedrooms that was separated from their main building for a number of years, but the financial data shows that the company had stopped acting at the end of 2024.
CCTV images have shown how Mr. Searle entered a tobacco conist in the nearby city of Villefranche de Rouergue at Wednesday evening at 6 pm when the store closed.
He seems happy and relaxed, he buys a chocolate bar and two 3 euros lottery tickets before he thanked the shopkeeper and walked away to his car outside where the woman Dawn waited.
Around his neck is a tracking device that is used to keep an eye on the two hunting dogs of the couple and that were found on the spot and taken away for DNA tests by the police according to what has been described as their 'violent dead'.
Isabelle Palazy, 58, who served Mr. Searle, said: 'I just couldn't believe it when I heard the news. He and Dawn were regular customers. He would come in every day and buy Fortuna Blue cigarettes.
Andrew Searle can be seen by entering a tobacco conist
He has seen that he buys a chocolate bar and two lottery tickets of 3 euros before he thanks and walks away the shopkeeper
To his neck is a follow -up device that is used to keep an eye on the two hunting dogs of the couple
Mr. Searle seems happy and relaxed when he visits the store, where he regularly went
“That day he came in just before I closed and he seemed completely happy, he was relaxed and he talked and bought some chocolate and two lots.
'Thinking that they would die less than 24 hours later makes me cold, I just can't believe it. They were a nice couple, always happy and chatting and they spoke reasonably French.
“He worked on his house and he would come and buy chocolate bars here, kitkat and children were his favorite.”
On the CCTV you can see Mr Searle who arrives at 5.51 pm, just as a woman with a baby was about to leave.
He is patiently waiting behind another man before taking the chocolate that places him on the counter and asks for two lottery tickets.
He pays with a card before he leaves two minutes later at 5.53 pm, and he and his wife were found the next day at 12.30 pm.
