Officials investigating the deaths of Hollyoaks actor Callum Kerr’s mother and stepfather in their idyllic home in the French countryside have confirmed the pair died in a murder-suicide.
Andrew Searle, 65, and his wife Dawn, 56, who only married two years ago, were found dead on February 6 at their home in Les Pequies, south west France by a horrified neighbour who was worried he had not seen them out with their dogs.
Mrs Searle was discovered in her pyjamas outside their house with a head injury and jewellery scattered around her body.
Her husband, a former financial investigator, was found dead inside the house, hanging from a radiator.
Now, a prosecutor in charge of the case has concluded that there is no evidence that another person was involved in their deaths, meaning that one of the spouses murdered the other before dying by suicide, the BBC said.
Back in February, investigators reportedly believed that a marital crime followed by a suicide was probable, after examinations in the house and garden failed to uncover evidence of a third party.
It was initially believed Mrs Searle had tried to run away from an attacker before she was caught and battered to death.
There was also evidence of a frantic search inside the property, with drawers and cupboards left open and furniture upended.
French officials investigating the deaths of Andrew Searle, 65, and his wife Dawn, 56 in south west France have said they died in a murder-suicide
Mrs Searle was discovered in her pyjamas outside their house with a head injury and jewellery scattered around her body. Her husband was found dead inside the house, hanging from a radiator
Pictured is the house where the Searles were discovered
But inquiry sources said that Mrs Searle ‘would have certainly been heard by near neighbours’ if she had been murdered in the garden.
Post-mortem examination results also showed there were no defensive wounds on Mr Searle, nor any forensic evidence suggesting persons unknown touched him or his wife.
The couple had started a new life at a villa in picturesque Les Pesquiès, north of Toulouse, after moving from Musselburgh in East Lothian, Scotland, ten years ago.
Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, the mayor of Les Pesquiès, said the couple ‘were extremely happy together’.
Mr Orcibal officiated at their wedding in the hamlet in 2023, when Mrs Searle was walked down the aisle by her actor and country singer son from a previous marriage, Callum Kerr.
Mr Kerr starred as PC George Kiss in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks and has appeared in the romantic drama Virgin River on Netflix.
Mr Kerr, who now lives in the southern US state of Tennessee, released a statement on behalf of the Searles’ grief-stricken children following their deaths, saying: ‘At this time, Callum Kerr and Amanda Kerr are grieving the loss of their mother, Dawn Searle, while Tom Searle and Ella Searle are mourning the loss of their father, Andrew Searle.’
Mrs Searle’s son is singer and actor Callum Kerr. Pictured: Kerr walks his mother down the aisle to her marriage to Andrew Searle in 2023
Andrew Searle is said to have moved his family to France a decade ago after working as a financial investigator in the ‘fight against organised crime and terrorism’
CCTV footage captured Mr Searle’s last known movements, entering a tobacconist in Villefranche-de-Rouergue
Mr Searle was originally from West Sussex, while his wife grew up in Eyemouth, Berwickshire.
It is understood that Mr Searle spent at least 20 years working with the police and Serious Fraud Office targeting organised crime groups involved in financial crimes such as money laundering.
CCTV footage appeared to show his last known movements, entering a tobacconist in Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
Less than 24 hours before he was found dead, he seemed happy and relaxed as he bought a chocolate bar and lotto tickets.
The Searles’ many friends and neighbours were at a loss as to why this tragedy happened to them.
