British couple named after deaths at French home

A British couple has been found dead at their home in southwestern France. The couple are Andrew Searle and Dawn Searle, who moved to France from Scotland about ten years ago. Their tragic passing has left the community in shock and mourning.

Their bodies were discovered by their neighbors on Thursday. Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, the mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, said in an interview with French television that the deaths were "clearly a homicide." The couple resided in a small hamlet, Les Pesquiès, in a rural area north of Toulouse. The circumstances surrounding their deaths are currently under investigation by the authorities.

Mr. Searle was from England, while Mrs. Searle grew up in Eyemouth, on the Scottish border. Before moving to Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, the couple, in their sixties, lived in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh. Mrs. Searle was the mother of actor and country musician Calum Kerr. According to his LinkedIn page, Mr. Searle worked in financial crime prevention for companies such as Standard Life and Barclays during his career.

At approximately 12:20 p.m. on Thursday, neighbors, noticing that the couple had not walked their dog together as planned, went to check on them at their detached house and subsequently discovered their bodies. Mayor Orcibal told BBC News that the cause of death was not yet known. He had earlier dismissed speculation that the deaths were the result of a "burglary gone wrong," stating that "no knives were found." The area around the house has been cordoned off, and local police have sought expert assistance from the city of Toulouse.

Currently, no formal investigation has been opened, and police have stated that there is no clear inference as to the cause of the couple's death. Rodez prosecutor Nicolas Rigot-Muller, who is in charge of the investigation, told the BBC that he would not reveal the identities of the deceased until an autopsy is carried out on Monday. "The investigation is currently ongoing," he said. A helicopter, a drone, criminal investigation technicians, and a forensic doctor have appeared at the couple's home.

Mayor Orcibal also stated that the couple had "integrated well" into the village and often invited neighbors for drinks. The mayor added that the Searles married in the summer of 2023, with Mr. Searle wearing a kilt at the wedding. In 2023, Mr. Kerr walked his mother down the aisle to marry Mr. Searle at a ceremony in France. He said on social media: "Not many people can say they walked their mum down the aisle. What an honour. Love you mum."

A British Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are providing support to the family of a British couple who died in France and are in contact with the local authorities." Les Pesquiès has approximately 100 residents, and the area is popular with expatriates. The local community is deeply saddened by this tragic event.