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British couple named after deaths at French home | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Andrew and Dawn Searle had moved to France from Scotland several years ago | |
A British couple have been found dead in their home in south west France. | A British couple have been found dead in their home in south west France. |
Andrew and Dawn Searle, who moved to France from Scotland several years ago, were found dead by their neighbour. | |
The mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, told French television, external that the deaths were "clearly a homicide". | The mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, told French television, external that the deaths were "clearly a homicide". |
The couple are understood to have lived in the hamlet of Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, for several years. | |
Mr Orcibal told BBC News the cause of the death was still unclear but it was not a "family tragedy", meaning they didn't take their own lives or kill each other. | |
He had earlier dismissed speculation the deaths were due to a burglary "gone wrong", and said "no knife was found". | |
Forensics officers spent Thursday searching the scene of the crime | |
The couple's bodies were found by the neighbour at around 12.20, after they did not arrive to walk their dogs together as they had planned. | |
The BBC understands that when the neighbour went to check on them at their house she found the bodies. | |
Mr Orcibal said the couple - in their 60s - had become "very well integrated" in the village and that they used to regularly invite neighbours for a drink. | |
The mayor added he had the pleasure to marry them during summer 2023, and Mr Searle had worn a kilt for the wedding. | |
Mr Searle is understood to have worked in financial crime prevention at Standard Life and Barclays banks during his career. | |
The bodies were discovered early on Thursday afternoon | The bodies were discovered early on Thursday afternoon |
A helicopter, a drone, criminal investigation technicians and a forensic doctor were all seen at the home throughout Thursday. | A helicopter, a drone, criminal investigation technicians and a forensic doctor were all seen at the home throughout Thursday. |
The Rodez prosecutor, Nicolas Rigot-Muller, in charge of the investigation, has still not commented on the case. | |
Les Pesquiès has around 100 residents and the area is popular with expats. | Les Pesquiès has around 100 residents and the area is popular with expats. |
A spokesperson for the UK's Foreign Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in France and are liaising with the local authorities". | A spokesperson for the UK's Foreign Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in France and are liaising with the local authorities". |