British couple ‘murdered by criminals from the UK' at French home, detectives fear
A British couple found dead near their home in France could have been murdered by 'criminals from the United Kingdom', detectives have said.
The theory was suggested on Friday after the bodies of Andrew and Dawn Searle, both in their 60s, were discovered on Thursday afternoon in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
Mr 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'.
On Friday, the Searle's property and surrounding land in the hamlet had been turned into a crime scene.
'A criminal inquiry has been launched and the fear is that the couple were murdered,' an investigating source said.
'They were very fit, and very popular locally, but there is a theory that they were being pursued by criminals from the United Kingdom.
'This is currently the prioritised line of enquiry, because Mr Searle was once involved in the fight against organised crime and terrorism.'
Police and prosecutors have not officially released the name of the Searles, but at least three neighbours confirmed that they were the victims.
One said: 'Andy and Dawn were lovely – hearing about this is extremely distressing. They were extremely friendly, and always out and about. What has happened has caused a lot of fear.'
Mr Searle spent at least 20 years working with the police and Serious Fraud Office against organised crime groups involved in financial offences, such as money laundering, according to his LinkedIn profile.
This included work in 'sanctions screening', which is the process of checking individuals and groups who might be barred from dealing in the UK because of their links with rogue nations, terrorist groups and drugs traffickers.
It is thought that the Searles were killed inside their detached property, which includes a two-bedroom flat that was regularly occupied by paying visitors.
The Searles advertised the property extensively online, calling it 'Chez Andrew and Dawn'. There is a swimming pool outside, and then thick woods that separate the house from the centre of the hamlet.
While investigators originally feared 'a burglary gone wrong', officials on Friday suggested there could be other motives.
Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, the mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, said: 'We do not really have burglaries in our town, and especially not violent burglaries.'
Local prosecutors have opened a criminal inquiry, with judicial police and gendarmes supporting them.
The house and its grounds remained cordoned off on Friday, with forensics officers examining the property.
Drones could also be seen circling overhead, while house-to-house enquiries were being carried out by officers.
Nobody has been arrested in connection with the deaths.
Villefranche-de-Rouergue is in the Aveyron department – the French version of a county. It is home to many British expats and holiday-home owners from the UK.
A source in the area said the Searles 'had numerous friends locally and further afield including in Britain, and often organised dinner parties'.
He added: 'They both loved the countryside, and were very happily settled. They were very proud of their house, which is situated well away from other buildings in the hamlet.'
Mr Searle retired to France in 2015 from his professional life in Scotland, after working in the financial crime assurance arm of Barclay's Bank in Edinburgh.
Before this, the Liverpool John Moores University graduate was at Standard Life, which is also based in the Scottish capital.
He maintained a LinkedIn account, in which he wrote: 'Responsible for the delivery of significant improvements in AFC [Anti-Financial Crime] capability, developing effective operating models within a group structure.'
This included: 'Sanction screening and monitoring, AFC Intelligence and Anti-bribery & Corruption.'
Mr Searle was originally from West Sussex, while Mrs Searle came from Scotland.
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