A British couple was found dead in their home in rural France, with the husband spotted on security footage purchasing a lottery ticket just hours before the grim discovery. Andrew Searle, 62, a retired financial investigator, and his wife, Dawn Searle, 56, were found dead in their residence in the French village of Les Pesquiès. Andrew was last seen buying two Euro Lottery tickets and a chocolate bar from a local tobacco shop around 6 p.m. on the day before their bodies were discovered.
The couple’s bodies were found under horrific circumstances, according to local reports. Andrew was reportedly found hanged inside the house with a gag in his mouth. Dawn’s body was discovered outside their home, naked, with signs of head trauma and her jewelry scattered around her.
The police have not recovered any weapons from the crime scene or the surrounding property. Isabelle Palazy, the owner of the tobacco shop where Andrew was last seen, described the couple as regular customers. She recalled Andrew’s last visit to her shop, stating that he seemed perfectly happy and relaxed, chatting and buying some chocolate and two lottery tickets.
A neighbor reported seeing Andrew appearing distressed while walking his dog the day before the bodies were found. The neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, said Andrew was on the phone, seemed very agitated, and was arguing in English.
A friend of the Searles, Odile Marian, revealed that Andrew had been concerned about finding his garage door open in the days leading up to their deaths. He was unsure who had opened it and was unable to find any evidence of intrusion. Police have speculated that the couple may have been victims of a break-in.
However, the mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, has ruled out a burglary gone wrong, stating that it was clearly a homicide. The authorities are awaiting the results of the autopsies before releasing an official cause of death. All leads, including the possibility of a murder-suicide, are being seriously considered.
The Searles, originally from the UK, had been living in the region for the last decade. They were well-liked in the community and known for their parties and travels across Europe. Andrew had a notable career as a financial investigator, playing a key role in dismantling organized crime factions, uncovering terrorist money trails, and cracking down on sanction busters linked to rogue states.
The couple’s children have requested privacy during this difficult time. Dawn’s son, Scottish-born actor Callum Kerr, posted a statement on Instagram saying he and his sister Amanda Kerr were grieving the loss of their mother, while Andrew’s children, Tom and Ella Searle, were mourning the loss of their father.