French cops reveal cause of death of Brit couple Andrew & Dawn Searle but CANNOT rule out if murderer is on the loose
FRENCH cops have revealed the cause of death for the British couple found dead in their French holiday home – but can’t rule out murder.
The bodies of retired financial crime investigator Andrew, 62, and Dawn Searle, 56, were discovered after failing to turn up for a dog walk on Thursday.
Andrew was found hanged at their home in Les Pesquiès, near Villefranche-de-Rouergue, after his wife was seemingly beaten to death just outside in her pyjamas.
Now French cops have revealed the causes of death of the couple.
According to autopsies carried out on Monday, Dawn had received several blows to the head using a blunt and sharp object, with no trace of sexual assault found.
And Andrew’s death has been determined to have been caused by hanging.
Additional examinations are underway in order to determine the precise circumstances of the deaths.
Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the tragedy is the result of a crime – suggesting there could still potentially be a killer on the loose.
Officials are also investigating whether marital violence followed by suicide resulted in the deaths of Dawn and Andrew, according to the statement from French cops.
The couple moved to the French hamlet almost a decade ago and got married in 2023.
Before the autopsies took place, Nicolas Rigot-Muller, the Rodez prosecutor in charge of the investigation, said on Monday: “We’re not favouring any direction at the moment. I cannot say if we’re looking for someone.”
Confirming no arrests have been made, he said: “Both died violent deaths, but I cannot yet firmly establish homicide.”
One investigation into the deaths is said to be centring on the husband’s money problems.
Officials refused to comment on suggestions that Andrew borrowed money from unsavoury characters to cover a bill for several thousand euros owed to a local business.
But a source confirmed they were going over finances with a fine-tooth comb.
They said: “Money difficulties can often be the cause of much wider problems and that’s why finances are a key part of the inquiry.”
Andrew, a retired financial crime investigator, reportedly used a pension lump sum to buy their home in Les Pesquiès, south west France.
It came as detectives were uncovering “vital clues” about the couple’s final hours from trawling through their mobile phones.
Andrew’s mobile device is proving “particularly helpful”, according to one detective, after he was spotted making animated calls in previous days.
An investigating source said: “There is a mine of information and recent calls made by Mr Searle which are providing vital clues.”
One line of inquiry is whether it was a possible murder-suicide.
Others include a botched burglary or a hitman linked to Andrew’s anti-fraud work with British banks Standard Life and Barclays.
CCTV footage from a local news agency caught Andrew’s last sighting, the day before the couple were found dead.
He was seen buying two lottery tickets and a bar of chocolate on Wednesday, shortly before 6pm.
The shopkeeper who served Andrew, Isabelle Palazy, 58, shared details about her interaction with the Brit.
She said: “I just couldn’t believe it when I heard the news. He and Dawn were regular customers. He would come in every day and buy Fortuna Blue cigarettes.
“That day he came in just before I was closing and he seemed perfectly happy, he was relaxed and he chatted and bought some chocolate and two lottery tickets.
FAMILY’S PAIN
Andrew’s heartbroken father, Fred Searle, 88, said he has been left with “thousands of questions” following the shock news.
Fred flew to Toulouse on Saturday, near his son’s home, as he wanted to bring the whole family together.
The former British Army major from Littlehampton, West Sussex, said: “We’ve got thousands of questions and very few answers.”
Dawn’s son, Hollyoaks star Callum Kerr, also shared his anguish in a heartbreaking online statement.
Andrew and Dawn were labelled by local friends as being a “popular” and “happy couple”.
Family friend, Odile Marian said: “They never talked about threats. They were not hiding. They were not feeling threatened.
“I don’t know anyone who didn’t like the couple – it would be impossible not to appreciate them.”