Scots couple Dawn and Andrew Searle found dead in France. Homicide probe ongoing near Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
The couple had moved there after marrying in September 2023 and lived in a quiet hamlet near Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Dawn planned a trip to Scotland before she died, seeking a house for her son’s wedding and posting on Facebook for a house sitter. Dawn’s son, Callum Kerr, is a former Hollyoaks actor now working as a country singer. A shop worker saw Dawn smiling 18 hours before she died, while Andrew was buying beef and booking a chimney sweep 24 hours before the deaths.
An autopsy revealed Andrew died from hanging and Dawn suffered blows to the head, found partially undressed. There was no evidence of sexual assault, and Andrew had no visible defense wounds. Toxicology tests are underway as Toulouse Police lead the investigation.
Prosecutors stated the circumstances of the deaths remain unclear. The couple moved from Scotland about 10 years ago, and police are trying to determine what happened. They are investigating a potential murder-suicide but are also considering if someone else was involved.
One theory suggests criminals from the UK targeted them. Andrew worked as a financial investigator, collaborating with the police to fight crime, which may have made him a target. Despite this, there was no sign of burglary.
Friends reject the murder-suicide idea, recalling the couple’s happiness at Christmas. The mayor also believes it was a homicide, dismissing the possibility of suicide or murder by each other. Former colleagues doubt a gangland hit, citing the anonymity of Andrew’s job and describing him as a “really nice guy”.