Major update in tragic case of Brit couple found dead in horror scene at French home

A British couple found dead in rural south-west France died by murder-suicide, French officials have confirmed.

The bodies of Andrew and Dawn Searle were discovered on February 6 at their home in Les Pequies, about a hour north of Toulouse. Dawn's body was found in the garden with severe wounds to her head, while her husband's body was found hanging inside.

Sources close to the police investigation initially suggested it was a burglary gone wrong. They then considered the possibility of a revenge attack because of Andrew’s work combatting financial fraud.

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The prosecutor in charge of the case today told the there is no evidence to suggest another person was involved in their deaths. The announcement follows weeks of speculation about what happened to the couple, who friends described as "comfortable" and "happy."

The couple married in 2023, with Dawn's son Callum Kerr, a former star, walking her down the aisle. In a statement issued on social media at the time of the deaths he said: "At this time, Callum Kerr and Amanda Kerr are grieving the loss of their mother, Dawn Searle (née Smith, Kerr) while Tom Searle and Ella Searle are mourning the loss of their father, Andrew Searle."

Police were alerted to the incident in February by a neighbour of the couple who had gone to check on them when they failed to turn up for a planned dog walk. The area around the remote property was sealed off while investigations took place, and local police called in expert help from Toulouse.

Post-mortem examinations confirmed Mr Searle died from hanging and Mrs Searle suffered "multiple blows to the head with a blunt and sharp-edged object."

A local who works at a nearby fireplace shop last month told the Dawn visited to book chimney sweep appointments for herself and villagers around 18 hours before the couple met their “violent deaths.” She said Dawn, a project manager, was in good spirits despite feeling unwell with the flu, adding: “Her mood was very good, [and she was] smiley.”

The shopkeeper, who knew the couple well, said Dawn, 56, and Andrew, 62, were a “very generous and united couple” who gave up their Sundays to teach their French neighbours to speak English free of charge.

Another local businessman described the pair as the "perfect couple" who were always involved in social events held in the community. The mechanic said he regularly serviced Dawn's white Dacia Duster SUV and enjoyed bantering with Andrew about England playing rugby against France.

Dawn grew up in Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders and Andrew was originally from England. They previously lived in Musselburgh. Prosecutors said they had lived in the Aveyron region for five years.