CCTV captured Andrew Searle buying lottery tickets before he and his wife, Dawn, were found dead at their France home.
CCTV footage shows Andrew alive shortly beforehand. He bought a chocolate bar and lottery tickets from a shopkeeper. She saw him Wednesday evening and was shocked by the sudden news of their deaths.
She said they were regular, happy customers. Andrew often bought cigarettes there, spoke good French, and liked chocolate. She recalled that he mentioned fixing up his house.
A neighbor saw Andrew looking upset the day before they died. He walked his dogs and argued on the phone. Another neighbor said Andrew was worried because his garage door was open, and he searched to find out why.
Andrew’s father is devastated and confused, with many questions and no clear answers. Police suggested several initial ideas as to what happened.
One theory was a burglary gone wrong. Another thought was that hitmen might have targeted them since Andrew used to investigate organized crime. There were also reports of torture before death.
Dawn had a head injury by the front door. Jewelry was scattered near her body. Investigators are examining all leads. A prosecutor called it a “violent death,” and murder-suicide is also a possibility.
No weapons were found at the scene, and initial exams showed no knife or bullet wounds. Autopsies will occur soon while they search for clues. Mr. Searle moved his family to France ten years ago, and officials are giving support to their family as they cooperate with French authorities.