Brits Andrew Searles and his wife Dawn, 56, died in brutal circumstances at their holiday home in southern France raising several questions about the how they died
Numerous mysteries continue to surround the deaths of a British couple found dead at their holiday home in France as police probe a the case as being a possible murder.
The bodies of Andrew Searle, 62, and his wife Dawn, 56, were found at their holiday home in Les Pesquiès, in southern France, last Thursday. Police are now investigating the circumstances around the deaths with multiple avenues being pursued, including a double murder.
Their deaths were believed initially believed to have been part of a burglary gone wrong but investigators now believe their deaths could be tied to something more nefarious. Post-mortems have since been carried out on Andrew and Dawn.
A statement shared on Monday said police “found the body of Mrs Searle, partially undressed, in front of her home” before they found Mr Searle’s “body hanging from a radiator inside the property.” The statement added “no objects or weapons capable of inflicting the injuries were found.”
Officers are investigating if the couple died as part of a murder-suicide or if a third party was involved. Officers investigating have refused to say whether they have identified any suspects. The couple were well-liked by locals with one neighbour telling French media: “We knew them, we walked our dogs together. They were very much appreciated locally.”
When did couple die?
A major mystery surrounding the couple’s death is when they died. The couple was found by neighbours at about 12.30pm after Andrew failed to arrive for one of his regular dog walks. The last time Andrew was seen was when he was picked up by CCTV on the Wednesday before he died.
In the clip, taken at a local store, Andrew was seen buying two lottery tickets as well as a chocolate bar shortly before 6pm. The shopkeeper, Isabelle Palazy, shared details about her interaction with the Brit. She added: “I just couldn’t believe it when I heard the news. He and Dawn were regular customers.”
Motive for killing
French prosecutors are investigating several leads into the couple’s deaths. Police are pursuing whether they were killed for “financial motives” as well as whether they were targeted by hitmen paid by criminal gangs.
They are also investigating whether the tragedy resulted “from a marital crime followed by a suicide or from the intervention of a third party.”
Where is murder weapon?
Police have revealed how the couple died and that Dawn was found to have sustained a “severe head wound” with “no visible defensive wounds.” Despite the injuries, no murder weapon has been found.
No bullet or knife wounds were found following an initial examination of the bodies, a source with knowledge of the investigation told French outlets.
Unusual activity
Two neighbours said they saw Mr Searle having a heated phone call before his death. Antoine Da Silva, a retired council worker and neighbour of Mr Searle and Mrs Searle, said how he saw the dad-of-two walking quickly through the village making an “agitated” call in the days before he died.
Antoine said Andrew appeared “very worried” while talking to someone. Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, added: “I saw them the day before they were found – they were walking the dogs and Andrew was on the phone. Andrew was very agitated, and he was arguing violently in English, he just waved at me and then carried on.”
Money woe claims
A theory has emerged that the couple had financial difficulties. Local sources said it took Andrew more than a year to settle a bill of several thousand Euros and was said to have been looking tearful in December amid issues with his UK pension.
But British couples who were friends with the pair dismissed suggestions they had financial difficulties. They added: “They weren’t flashy by any means, but they were definitely comfortable and had it good out here.
“They were always travelling – they recently went to a family wedding in Goa, they went to South America for their honeymoon. Dawn’s son Callum… had a baby and Dawn went over there for that and [she] had just come back from Scotland because her dad’s funeral was at the end of January.”
Job hunting criminals
Mr Searle previously worked in anti-financial crime matters in the UK and Europe, in particular stopping money going to states such as Russia. He previously worked as a Group Financial Crime Manager following 14 years working to investigate fraud cases.
This has led investigators to consider whether Mr Searle’s previous line of work could lead him to be targeted by hitmen.
