Couple Kills Each Other While Trying to Stage a Robbery

A British couple’s dream life in rural France ended in tragedy earlier this month, leaving investigators puzzled over a chilling theory: did Andrew Searle, 65, murder his wife Dawn, 56, and stage a burglary before taking his own life? The couple, married just two years ago, were found dead at their villa in Les Pesquiès, near Toulouse, by a neighbor concerned about their absence while walking their dogs.
Dawn Searle, mother to Hollyoaks actor Callum Kerr, was discovered in her pajamas outside the house on February 6, her head injured and jewelry strewn around her. Inside, Andrew, a former financial investigator, was found hanging from a radiator. What first appeared to be a violent break-in—complete with overturned furniture and open drawers—has taken a darker turn as police suspect it was a setup.
The couple had relocated from Musselburgh, East Lothian, a decade ago, settling into a seemingly happy life. Friends, including the local mayor who officiated their 2023 wedding, described them as content. Yet, investigators now believe Dawn was killed inside the house on a quiet winter night, her body later dumped in the garden to mimic a robbery gone wrong. “If she’d been attacked outside, neighbors would’ve heard something,” one source said.
Prosecutor Nicolas Rigot-Muller, overseeing the case in Rodez, leans toward a “marital crime followed by suicide.” No defensive wounds were found on Andrew, and forensic tests show no signs of a third party. CCTV footage from Villefranche-de-Rouergue captured Andrew buying chocolate and lottery tickets the day before, appearing relaxed—adding to the mystery of what drove him to such an act.
Despite the murder-suicide theory, police haven’t ruled out outside involvement, and the investigation remains active. The Searles’ home, now a cordoned-off crime scene, sits silent, its swimming pool covered, as neighbors struggle to make sense of the loss. “They were lovely, always chatting,” said a local shopkeeper. “He bought Kinder bars here. I can’t believe they’re gone.”