Scots Woman in France Death Had Appointments as Mystery Deepens

Dawn Searle, a Scottish woman, died in France. Her husband, Andrew, also died. They lived near Toulouse in Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Before she died, Dawn scheduled chimney cleaning.

She felt sick but seemed happy. Her age was 56. Andrew was 62. Their bodies were found last week.

People saw them teach English to neighbors. They joked about rugby between Scotland and England. The couple liked eating fish and chips monthly. People left flowers and candles at their home. A note offered therapy to residents.

Dawn’s head wound may have caused death. Blunt and sharp objects might have inflicted the wound. Andrew showed no defensive wounds. Police consider murder-suicide as a possibility.

A marital dispute is one potential cause. Prosecutors are investigating all angles. Andrew investigated fraud for financial firms. They moved to France about ten years ago.

His rental business had financial problems. It closed in December 2023 without filing reports. He bought lottery tickets the day before they died. Neighbors saw Andrew have an intense phone call.

He looked worried, a neighbor said. Friends say they lived a happy life. These friends dispute the suicide idea. Police check for financial motives, or issues from their past.