A British woman found dead with her husband at their luxury cottage in rural France is the mum of a former Hollyoaks actor.
Dawn and Andrew Searle, who were both in their early 60s, were found at the detached property in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, on Thursday afternoon.
Grisly details have emerged about how the couple met their deaths, which Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, the mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, now says ‘were clearly a homicide’.
Mrs Searle is said to have been found lying naked outside by the front door, with a wound to the head and jewellery scattered around her. Her husband was reportedly discovered hanged in a room inside with a gag in his mouth.
It has now emerged that Mrs Searle’s son is Scottish actor Callum Kerr, who played PC George Kiss in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks from 2020 to 2021, according to the Daily Mail.
His Instagram account includes a photo of him with Mrs Searle, also known as Dawn Kerr, captioned: ‘Not many people can say they walked their own mother down the aisle. What a pleasure!! I love you mum. Congrats to Dawn and Andy on their wonderful wedding day and here’s to a tremendous life together for the happy couple’, he wrote in a social media post on his mother’s wedding day.’
Mrs Searle is the mother of actor and country musician Callum Kerr
Mr Kerr played PC George Kiss in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks from 2020 to 2021 (Picture: IMDB)
Mr Searle spent more than 20 years working with the police and Serious Fraud Office against organised crime groups.
This included work in ‘sanctions screening’, which is the process of checking individuals and groups who might be barred from dealing in the UK because of their links with rogue nations, terrorist groups and drugs traffickers.
This would have brought Mr Searle to the notice of networks working across the globe.
An investigating source said: ‘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.
‘This is currently the prioritised line of enquiry, because Mr Searle was once involved in the fight against organised crime and terrorism.’
The source added: ‘It may well be that gangsters with a score to settle are behind these killings.’
Police and prosecutors have not officially released the Searle’s names, but at least three neighbours confirmed they were the victims.
One neighbour said: ‘The couple 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.’
The Searles are believed to have been murdered, although no weapons have been recovered and no arrests made
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 is not thought to have found bullet or knife wounds. Autopsies are being carried out on both bodies.
The Searle’s house included a two-bedroom flat that was regularly occupied by paying visitors.
There is a swimming pool outside, and then thick woods which put the house in an isolated position, away from the centre of the hamlet, where around 100 people live.
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 were being carried out by gendarmes.
Nobody has yet been arrested in connection with the deaths.
Villefranche-de-Rouergue is in the Aveyron department – the French version of a county.
It is full of British expat, and holiday homeowners from the UK.
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.’
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