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French police investigating deaths of retired British couple in Aveyron home French police investigating deaths of retired British couple in Aveyron home
(31 minutes later)
Andrew Searle, retired fraud investigator, and wife Dawn found dead in their renovated rural home in south-west France Andrew Searle, retired fraud investigator, and wife, Dawn, found dead in their rural home in south-west France
French police are investigating the deaths of a retired British couple whose bodies were found in their renovated rural home in Aveyron in south-west France.French police are investigating the deaths of a retired British couple whose bodies were found in their renovated rural home in Aveyron in south-west France.
Andrew Searle, a retired fraud investigator, and his wife Dawn were discovered dead on Thursday at their home in the village of Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Andrew Searle, a retired fraud investigator, and his wife, Dawn, were discovered dead on Thursday at their home in the village of Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
According to local media reports, Dawn Searle was found naked outside the property with a serious head wound and jewellery strewn around her. According to local media reports, Dawn Searle was found naked outside the property with a serious head wound and jewellery strewn around her. She was reportedly found by a neighbour, who thought she had fainted and called the emergency services.
She was reportedly found by a neighbour who thought she had fainted and called the emergency services. When police arrived they searched the property and discovered Andrew Searle dead inside. He was reportedly found hanging with a gag in his mouth. Police say no theories are being excluded for the motives of the apparent killings. Theories include a burglary gone wrong or a possible domestic dispute.
When police arrived they searched the property and discovered Andrew Searle dead inside.
He was reportedly found hanging with a gag in his mouth. Police say no theories for the motives of the apparent killings are being excluded. Theories include a burglary gone wrong or a possible domestic dispute.
The couple had lived in the village for a decade, and were discovered at about 12.30pm on Thursday.The couple had lived in the village for a decade, and were discovered at about 12.30pm on Thursday.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Andrew Searle retired in 2015 after a career in financial crime prevention.According to his LinkedIn profile, Andrew Searle retired in 2015 after a career in financial crime prevention.
After quitting as a consultant in financial crime assurance at Barclays in Glasgow, Searle posted that he was “enjoying life in rural France – renovating!”. After quitting as a consultant in financial crime assurance at Barclays in Glasgow, Searle posted that he was “enjoying life in rural France – renovating!”. He previously worked for 21 years at Standard Life in Edinburgh, where he was responsible for the bank’s anti-crime initiatives across Europe.
He previously worked for 21 years at Standard Life in Edinburgh, where he was responsible for the bank’s anti-crime initiatives across Europe.
A claim made by MailOnline that police are investigating the possibility that the couple were murdered by UK-based criminals has not been confirmed by the French authorities.A claim made by MailOnline that police are investigating the possibility that the couple were murdered by UK-based criminals has not been confirmed by the French authorities.
Searle went to a grammar school in Steyning, West Sussex and graduated from Liverpool John Moores University.Searle went to a grammar school in Steyning, West Sussex and graduated from Liverpool John Moores University.
A spokesperson for the Foreign and Commonwealth 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 Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in France and are liaising with the local authorities.”