Scots couple found dead in France. Homicide confirmed. Family seeks answers amidst conflicting reports.
Dawn and Andrew Searle seemed happy in France. They married in September 2023, and Dawn’s son, Callum Kerr, walked her down the aisle. The couple lived in Les Pesquies, a quiet village near Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
Dawn, 56, and Andrew, 62, were liked by neighbors, who called them “lovely.” On February 7, 2024, their lives ended abruptly when a neighbor found their bodies at their home. French authorities confirmed the deaths were homicides.
The details of the deaths are currently unclear, and family and friends are seeking answers. Andrew’s father, Fred Searle, is 88 and has many questions but few answers. Prosecutor Nicolas Rigot-Miller also acknowledges limited information, stating the case remains “very open”.
Reports indicate Dawn Searle was badly beaten, suffering a severe head wound. Her body was found near the front door, surrounded by scattered jewelry. Andrew was found hanged in another room with a gag in his mouth.
The discovery was made around 12:20 pm after the couple missed a dog walk with neighbors. Rigot-Muller stated that both suffered “violent deaths”. Authorities are considering all possibilities, including a murder-suicide scenario.
Two British friends reject the murder-suicide theory, explaining they knew Dawn and Andy very well. They had Christmas together, and the friends believed they were doing well. Mayor Jean-Sébastien Orcibal agreed, suggesting it was a homicide.
Some reports mentioned financial problems, noting that Andrew took a year to pay a bill and had been seen crying about his UK pension. However, the British friends strongly deny these claims, emphasizing they attended Dawn and Andrew’s wedding.
The expats said they were comfortable, traveling to Goa for a wedding and to South America for their honeymoon. Dawn visited Callum’s new baby and went to Scotland for her dad’s funeral. Dawn and Andy still worked, renting a holiday home for income.
Andrew bought a chocolate bar and lottery tickets the day before his death. Neighbors saw Andrew in a heated phone call, and Antoine Da Silva saw Andrew looking worried when talking to his father, Fred Searle.
The position of the bodies may suggest escape attempts, indicating they might have tried to flee attackers. A source told La Dépêche that Dawn’s body was naked near the front door with jewelry scattered around her. Andrew was found hanged, gagged in his mouth.
Mayor Orcibal ruled out a burglary, noting that no weapons were found at the scene. There were no bullet or knife wounds initially evident.
Andrew Searle may have been targeted due to his work as a financial investigator. He worked against crime and terrorism, collaborating with the police and the Serious Fraud Office.
He identified individuals linked to crime, encompassing terror groups and drug networks, which may have created enemies. A source suggested the couple was possibly murdered, potentially involving UK criminals. The focus is currently on Andrew’s work fighting crime, considering the possibility of gangster involvement in the deaths.