Detectives are concerned that criminals may have subjected a British ex-organized crime investigator and his spouse to torture before killing them at their residence in the countryside of France.
The bodies of Andrew Searle, 62, and his wife Dawn, 56, were initially thought to have been victims of a botched robbery at their secluded vacation house in southwestern France.
But French detectives now suspect a more sinister motive linked to Mr Searle’s career busting money laundering crimelords.
The retired grandad also had a key role cracking down on sanctions busters linked to rogue states like Russia and probed terrorist money trails.
They were discovered deceased on Thursday at their picturesque holiday estate, complete with a swimming pool, in the small village of Les Pesquiès, close to Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
Shocking new details have emerged about the couple’s deaths in French media, with reports claiming that Mr Searle could have been tortured.
And his wife Dawn, who was found by the front door of the home, suffered a wound to the head with jewellery scattered around her, suggesting she could have tried to escape before being killed.
Dawn’s son is former Hollyoaks star Callum Kerr, 30, who played PC Kiss in the soap and has appeared in Netflix’s Virgin River.
He is also a country singer who has released a number of songs.
There were no weapons found near the scene where Dawn and Andrew died, according to an enquiry source who spoke to La Depeche.
Regional prosecutor Nicolas Rigot-Muller – in charge of the investigation – said last night: “Both died a violent death – all leads are being examined.”
A forensic doctor working for the judicial authorities in Montpellier arrived at the site by helicopter on Thursday.
He carried out an initial examination of the bodies, but did not find bullet or knife wounds, according to La Depeche du Midi.
Investigators continued to scour the victims’ home for clues on Friday, and autopsies on the couple are now expected to be performed on Monday.
Mr Searle was originally from West Sussex, while his wife Dawn came from Scotland.
The couple moved to France from Scotland a decade ago after Mr Searle spent his working career involved in “fight against organised crime and terrorism,” a French investigating source said.
They added: “A criminal enquiry has been launched and the fear is that the couple were murdered.
“They were very fit, and very popular locally, but there is a theory that they were being pursued by criminals from the United Kingdom.
“It may well be that gangsters with a score to settle are behind these killings.”
Financial crime expert Mr Searle worked as a consultant for banking giant Barclays for nine months before his retirement.
But the Liverpool John Moores University graduate had previously worked for more than 21 years for the Standard Life insurance company as UK & Europe Financial Crime Manager.
He worked with cops and Serious Fraud Office against organised crime groups involved in financial crimes like money laundering.
Based in Edinburgh, his LinkedIn professional profile said he was: “Responsible for all Anti-Financial Crime matters in the UK & Europe function – providing an investigation service for the Group.”
The profile also revealed the fluent English, French and German speaker was responsible for “sanctions screening” to stop money flowing to states like Russia.
His sensitive work also involved “Intelligence and anti-bribery & Corruption” plus responsibility for all Anti-Financial Crime matters in the UK & Europe.”
This would have brought Mr Searle to the notice of networks working across the globe.
Earlier in his career he worked as Group Financial Crime Manager following 14 years as an investigations manager “responsible for the Investigation of internal and external fraud.”
His high-powered roles involved close cooperation with police, HMRC costumes chiefs and Foreign Office specialists.
He retired in December, 2015 to start a new life in a stunning but remote corner of the French countryside.
His LinkedIn professional profile said: “Enjoying life in rural France – renovating!”
The couple spent years refurbishing their run-down property among only a handful of buildings in the forest hamlet.
And their simply but stylishly furnished “gite” flat within the detached property was eventually advertised on holiday property websites.
Advertised on the official Aveyron tourist website under the headline “At Andrew and Dawn’s”, the online ad read: “2 bedroom apartment (6-8 people) fully furnished and equipped with swimming pool offering plenty of privacy.
“A beautiful apartment in the beautiful countryside, offering privacy and tranquility.”
Andrew and Dawn’s bodies were reported to have been found inside the property at around 1pm on Thursday by a neighbour after they did not arrive to walk their dogs together as planned.
Mr Orcibal said he had officiated at the wedding of the couple in the summer of 2023, and both had been married before.
French police immediately threw a large crime scene cordon around the property and have yet to divulge the cause of death.
Police and prosecutors have not officially released the name of the Searles, but at least three neighbours have confirmed they were the victims.
One said: “Andy and Dawn were lovely – hearing about this is extremely distressing.
“They were extremely friendly, and always out and about. What has happened has caused a lot of fear.”
Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, the mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, said the “deaths were clearly a homicide,” and not a “burglary gone wrong,” as had been speculated earlier.
Local prosecutors have launched a criminal enquiry, with judicial police and gendarmes are supporting them.
Nicolas Rigot-Muller, the Rodez prosecutor, is in charge of the investigation, with judicial police and gendarmes supporting him.
The house and its grounds remained cordoned off on Friday, with forensics officers examining the entire property.
Drones could also be seen circling overhead, while house-to-house enquiries being carried out by gendarmes.
No arrests have been made in connection with the deaths.
Villefranche-de-Rouergue is in the Aveyron department – the French version of a county – which is home to many British expats and holiday home owners from the UK.
Another local source said the Searles “had numerous friends locally and further afield including in Britain, and often organised dinner parties.”
He added: “They both loved the countryside, and were very happily settled. They were very proud of their house, which is situated well away from other buildings in the hamlet.’
Another French source, newspaper The Villefranchois said yesterday: “The theory of a family drama that would involve an argument causing the death of one of the spouses followed by a suicide now seems unlikely.
“Similarly, the hypothesis of a burglary gone wrong no longer seems to be favored at present.
“What is certain is that the past of this British couple in their sixties who have been living for 10 years in this piece of countryside where they had opened a gîte is a lead now explored by investigators, especially since Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn could have found refuge in Pesquiès to get away from potential threats.
“According to our information, gathered from a friend of the couple, Andrew Searle could have worked in the United Kingdom on sensitive files consisting of leading a financial hunt in the field of the fight against organized crime and terrorism.
“A professional activity in which one does not necessarily make friends and which could have turned into a settling of scores.”
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in France and are liaising with the Local Authorities.’
