Hollyoaks star begs pals of Scots mum 'murdered' in France to avoid stepdad's funeral
The family of a Scots woman who was found dead in a home in rural France in a suspected murder-suicide have issued a blistering statement to urge people not to attend the funeral of their stepdad.
Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn Kerr died at their property in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, earlier this year.
The bodies of Andrew, 62, and Dawn, 56, were discovered on February 6 after neighbours became concerned.
Dawn, who was originally from Musselburgh, was found lying outside the front door with jewellery scattered around her, while furniture was flipped inside the property.
Mr Seale was found hanged with a gag in his mouth and it was initially believed the couple had been attacked in a staged robbery. Detectives later suspected, however, that the husband killed his wife before taking his own life.
Now Callum - who has appeared in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks and in Virgin River on Netflix - has issued a statement alongside his sister Amanda, where they urged people not to attend the funeral.
In a lengthy statement shared online, the pair said: "In the absence of any evidence suggesting third-party involvement in the tragic death of our mother, Dawn Kerr, the prevailing hypothesis remains that of a murder-suicide.
"Our mother was killed by multiple blows to the head, and Andrew was found deceased by hanging. His injuries are consistent with self-hanging, and no defensive wounds were found on his body. There is also no evidence whatsoever of any third party's involvement at this stage.
"While the official investigation is still ongoing, we cannot ignore the circumstances as they stand. For this reason, we must respectfully but firmly request that our mother not be included in any way in the funeral arrangements being made for Andrew. Please do not share photographs of them together."
They added: "Please do not attend Andrew's service if you were a friend of our mother. It would be inappropriate for her memory to be associated with a service honouring the man who, based on all available evidence, may have been responsible for her death. We ask for understanding, privacy and respect as we continue to grieve and seek justice for our mum."
Dawn and Andrew Searle married in September 2023 and were originally from Musselburgh, in East Lothian.
Callum was beside his mother as she tied the knot with Andrew just two years ago. Sharing photos from the big day online at the time, he wrote: "Not many people can say they walked their own mother down the aisle. What a pleasure!! I love you mum. Congrats to Dawn and Andy on their wonderful wedding day and here's to a tremendous life together for the happy couple."
Dawn and Andrew had moved from Scotland to Les Pesquies, near Toulouse, southern France, 10 years ago to start a new life.
The pair were retired but Dawn worked from time to time as a project manager and Andrew did freelance financial work. The area where they lived has always been popular with British expats and those who own property abroad and the Searles regularly held dinner parties and gathering for their friends nearby.
*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
15 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Prince Andrew warned to 'brace himself' as bombshell Epstein files to be made public
The disgraced Duke of York, already scarred by years of scandal, could find his name splashed across official US records. Prince Andrew has been told to 'brace himself' as bombshell American government files on Jeffrey Epstein are set to be made public within days. Disgraced Andrew - already scarred by years of scandal - could find his name splashed across official US records as Congress prepares to release secret documents linked to his paedophile billionaire pal. Congress will start receiving the first batch of papers from the Department of Justice on Friday. As reported by the Mirror, they have vowed to publish the files once victims' identities and other sensitive material have been blacked out. A House Oversight Committee spokesperson confirmed to our sister title: 'The Committee intends to make the records public after thorough review to ensure all victims' identification and child sexual abuse material are redacted. The Committee will also consult with the DOJ to ensure any documents released do not negatively impact ongoing criminal cases and investigations.' The move piles pressure on the Duke of York, whose ties to Epstein - including accusations he repeatedly slept with the financier's 'teen sex slave' Virginia Giuffre - have left his royal reputation in tatters. Andrew has always vehemently denied all wrongdoing. A victim of Epstein today said the public release of the files would leave numerous high-profile men nervous, none more so than the Duke of York. 'Andrew should brace himself,' she said. 'When these files are finally made public, countless men, some of whom may have never been named before, will have to answer for their friendship with Jeffrey. Survivors like me have had to live with the shame and trauma while men in power carried on as if nothing happened." The woman, who is now 38 and accepted compensation from the Epstein victim fund, added: 'If your Prince's name is there, then he must answer for it. No amount of royal privilege, no titles, no lawyers should protect him from the truth. He should be ready, because the world will see exactly who was mixed up with Jeffrey and what they chose to ignore.' The files' public publication comes after famed US attorney Gloria Allred recently said Andrew, 65, should appear before US lawmakers to give evidence about his knowledge of Epstein. The lawyer, who represents several of the paedophiles' victims, said: 'All I can say is, now more than ever, he should come forward, and he could volunteer to testify publicly.' Congress is said to be moving fast, with insiders warning the first revelations could come 'in days rather than weeks.' Committee chairman James Comer said the documents would finally shed light on a saga the Trump administration has been accused of covering up. It comes after the Justice Department declared in July that 'no further disclosures' about Epstein were needed - a decision that outraged victims, campaigners, as well as the President's MAGA base. The US leader had campaigned for the White House on the promise he would make all the government's Epstein documents public. For years, America has been obsessed with so-called 'Epstein files' amid lurid speculation that the financier kept a secret list of powerful friends who enjoyed the company of underage girls. The FBI and DOJ insist no such list exists. However, earlier this year, former Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to release the files when she claimed, 'It's on my desk.' Donald Trump, who was a close friend of Epstein for over three decades, was often seen at parties in Palm Beach and Manhattan together and is now facing awkward questions of his own. His critics are circling, pointing to tech billionaire Elon Musk's claim that he is named in the files. Days after the Tesla owner made the claims, Trump's administration performed a U-turn, stating there were no files in existence. The move sparked civil war among Trump's MAGA base, with some splitting from him. Epstein, once a jet-set banker with links to presidents, princes and billionaires, died in his New York jail cell in August 2019. Officially ruled a suicide, his sudden death has fuelled years of conspiracy theories - with many believing he was murdered to stop him talking. Such rumours refuse to die, especially with the US government now forced to hand over files that could drag a string of rich and famous names back into the mud. The threat could not be clearer for Andrew. His car-crash BBC Newsnight interview, in which he insisted he didn't sweat and denied ever meeting accuser Giuffre, remains one of the most humiliating episodes in royal history. Though he later settled Giuffre's New York civil lawsuit with a reported £12 million payment, he has always denied wrongdoing.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Prince Andrew told to 'brace himself' as explosive Epstein files to be made public
Disgraced Prince Andrew could find his name splashed across official US records as Congress prepares to release secret documents linked to the billionaire sex offender Prince Andrew has been told to 'brace himself' as explosive American government files on his paedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein are set to be made public within days. The disgraced Duke of York, already scarred by years of scandal, could find his name splashed across official US records as Congress prepares to release secret documents linked to the billionaire sex offender. On Friday, Congress will start receiving the first batch of papers from the Department of Justice. They have vowed to publish the files once victims' identities and other sensitive material have been blacked out. A House Oversight Committee spokesperson confirmed to the Mirror: 'The Committee intends to make the records public after thorough review to ensure all victims' identification and child sexual abuse material are redacted. The Committee will also consult with the DOJ to ensure any documents released do not negatively impact ongoing criminal cases and investigations.' The move piles pressure on Andrew, whose ties to Epstein - including accusations he repeatedly slept with the financier's 'teen sex slave' Virginia Giuffre - have left his royal reputation in tatters. Andrew has always vehemently denied all wrongdoing. A victim of Epstein today said the public release of the files would leave numerous high-profile men nervous, none more so than the Duke of York. 'Andrew should brace himself,' she said. 'When these files are finally made public, countless men, some of whom may have never been named before, will have to answer for their friendship with Jeffrey. Survivors like me have had to live with the shame and trauma while men in power carried on as if nothing happened." The woman, who is now 38 and accepted compensation from the Epstein victim fund, added: 'If your Prince's name is there, then he must answer for it. No amount of royal privilege, no titles, no lawyers should protect him from the truth. He should be ready, because the world will see exactly who was mixed up with Jeffrey and what they chose to ignore.' The files' public publication comes after famed US attorney Gloria Allred recently told The Mirror that Andrew, 65, should appear before US lawmakers to give evidence about his knowledge of Epstein. The lawyer, who represents several of the paedophiles' victims, said: 'All I can say is, now more than ever, he should come forward, and he could volunteer to testify publicly.' Congress is said to be moving fast, with insiders warning the first revelations could come 'in days rather than weeks.' Committee chairman James Comer said the documents would finally shed light on a saga the Trump administration has been accused of covering up. It comes after the Justice Department declared in July that 'no further disclosures' about Epstein were needed - a decision that outraged victims, campaigners, as well as the President's MAGA base. The US leader had campaigned for the White House on the promise he would make all the government's Epstein documents public. For years, America has been obsessed with so-called 'Epstein files' amid lurid speculation that the financier kept a secret list of powerful friends who enjoyed the company of underage girls. The FBI and DOJ insist no such list exists. However, earlier this year, former Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to release the files when she claimed, 'It's on my desk.' Donald Trump, who was a close friend of Epstein for over three decades, was often seen at parties in Palm Beach and Manhattan together and is now facing awkward questions of his own. His critics are circling, pointing to tech billionaire Elon Musk's claim that he is named in the files. Days after the Tesla owner made the claims, Trump's administration performed a U-turn, stating there were no files in existence. The move sparked civil war among Trump's MAGA base, with some splitting from him. Epstein, once a jet-set banker with links to presidents, princes and billionaires, died in his New York jail cell in August 2019. Officially ruled a suicide, his sudden death has fuelled years of conspiracy theories - with many believing he was murdered to stop him talking. Such rumours refuse to die, especially with the US government now forced to hand over files that could drag a string of rich and famous names back into the mud. For Prince Andrew, the threat could not be clearer. His car-crash BBC Newsnight interview, in which he insisted he didn't sweat and denied ever meeting accuser Giuffre, remains one of the most humiliating episodes in royal history. Though he later settled Giuffre's New York civil lawsuit with a reported £12 million payment, he has always denied wrongdoing.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Popular Scots cop dies ‘just weeks after retiring' from force sparking emotional tributes
The ex-officer joined Fife Constabulary when he was 17 years old 'TAKEN FAR TOO SOON' 'TAKEN FAR TOO SOON' Popular Scots cop dies 'just weeks after retiring' from force sparking emotional tributes Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER cop has tragically died just weeks after retiring from the force. Anthony Capon, 53, passed away on August 7 after becoming unwell at home and suffering a fall. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Former Police Scotland officer Anthony Capon has passed away The ex-officer, known as Tony, joined Fife Constabulary when he was 17 years old. Divisional Commander of the Fife Division of Police Scotland, Chief Superintendent Derek McEwan, hailed his ex-colleague's "good humour and warmth". In a touching tribute, he said: "As you will all be aware, on Thursday 7th August a dear friend and colleague, Anthony (Tony) Capon, tragically passed away having taken ill at home and suffering a fall. "Tony was only 53 years old and had only retired from Police Scotland a matter of weeks ago. "Having spent time with Tony on the day of his retiral, it was clear that Tony had so many plans for the future and much to look forward to, not least becoming a Grandfather in November for the first time. "Tony joined Fife Constabulary as a 17-year-old, working within the garage at the then HQ in Dysart before moving up to Glenrothes. "Since then, literally every police officer and staff member within Fife would, at some point, have had the opportunity to meet Tony and to have enjoyed his good humour and warmth while also benefitting from his obliging nature and dedication to his role. "His contribution to our service cannot be underestimated. "He would do all he could to help officers and staff to make their lives as easy as possible and to make sure we were able to provide the best service we could to the public. "Tony was universally popular and was one of those individuals whom I have genuinely never heard a bad word said about. Scots hood Ross 'Miami' McGill ran designer side hustle with drug-dealing Mr Scotland bodybuilder "I first met Tony in the early 1990s and when we bid our farewells on his last day in policing, he hadn't changed that much. Just as funny, caring and interested in others and even still offering to help if he could. "He was a gentleman who could make you laugh and feel positive. "When the command team met with Tony, it was so clear how proud he was of his two children. "I hope that they realise how special their dad was to thousands of police officers and staff who were fortunate enough to have spent some time in his company. "Since Tony's tragic passing, we have maintained contact with Tony's family and are in discussions as to how the service can best pay our respect for him on the day of his funeral." Tony is survived by his daughter Rebecca and son Daniel. His funeral will take place at 11.45am on August 27 at Kirkcaldy Crematorium. All friends and former colleagues are welcome to attend. CS McEwan added: "Very few people carry the level of respect which Tony did. For that his children, and all who loved and cared for him, should be so proud. "Rest in Peace Tony, and thanks for everything you did for us all." Hundreds of members of the public have also paid their respects to Mr Capon. One commented: "I honestly can't speak highly enough of Tony. He was such a great person and would do anything to help anybody. Sending love to his family." Another said: "Met him a couple of times, a gentleman. RIP Tony, thoughts with all family & friends." A third wrote: "RIP Tony. A gentleman taken far too soon."
