Police are investigating the deaths of a British couple at their home in rural France after post-mortem examinations revealed multiple head injuries to the wife and hanging of the husband.
Dawn Searle, 56, was found with several injuries to her head at the property in Les Pesquies, while her husband Andrew Searle, 62, was discovered hanged with no visible defensive injuries.
Detectives are working to determine whether the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide or if a third party was involved.
The bodies were discovered on Thursday by a German friend who lived nearby, after Searle failed to appear for one of their regular dog walks.
Searle and his wife Dawn were discovered dead at their property in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, on Thursday afternoonFacebookThe couple had made their home in the hamlet of Les Pesquies, located in southern France.
The Searles had moved to the French countryside approximately ten years ago.
The couple married in 2023 in the nearby town of Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
Both Dawn and Andrew Searle had two children each from previous relationships.
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Investigators in Villefranche-de-Rouergue
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Dawn Searle’s son, country musician and former Hollyoaks actor Callum Kerr, issued a statement on Saturday saying the family was in mourning.
Family members have travelled to France and spoken with investigators.
Jean-Sebastien Orcibal, mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue and a neighbour of the Searles, said villagers and the British expat community would receive psychological help.
The deaths have left local residents in shock, according to the mayor.
This photograph taken in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, southwestern France
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Police are continuing their investigation to establish whether the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide or if another party was involved.
The post-mortem findings revealed Dawn Searle suffered multiple head injuries, while Andrew Searle was found hanged without any defensive wounds.
Local authorities are working with family members who have travelled to France as the investigation continues.
It had been previously suggested that UK gangsters could have been involved in the tragedy.