Latest news with #FlowersInTheAttic:TheOrigin
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What we know as British couple Andrew and Dawn Searle found dead in France
Police are still trying to piece together what happened to a British couple who were found dead at their home in the south west of France. The bodies of Andrew and Dawn Searle, who were both in their 60s, were discovered last Thursday at their property in the village of Les Pesquies, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Authorities in France are working to establish what caused the deaths of the couple, who moved to the region north of Toulouse about a decade ago. Andrew and Dawn Searle were reportedly found dead at their home by a neighbour at about 12.20pm on Thursday 6 February. Local media have reported that Mrs Searle was found by a neighbour outside the property with a serious head injury and that jewellery was strewn around her. After the neighbour called police, they searched the house before finding Mr Searle's body inside, it was reported. A helicopter, drone, criminal investigation technicians and a forensic doctor were all dispatched to the home. Mr Searle, a former fraud investigator, was originally from Sussex in England, while Mrs Searle, a project manager, grew up in Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders. They lived together in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, before they moved to the south west of France. The couple have four shared children, and Mrs Searle's son, actor and country musician Callum Kerr, issued a statement on their behalf. It read: 'At this time, Callum Kerr and Amanda Kerr are grieving the loss of their mother, Dawn Searle (nee Smith, Kerr), while Tom Searle and Ella Searle are mourning the loss of their father, Andrew Searle." Callum Kerr is known for his role as Pc George Kiss in Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, and has also appeared in Netflix's Virgin River and drama Flowers In The Attic: The Origin. He has also released a number of country songs. In 2023, Kerr wore a tartan kilt to walk his mother down the aisle for her wedding to Mr Searle. He posted on Instagram: 'Not many people can say they walked their own mother down the aisle. What a pleasure! I love you mum." A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in France and are liaising with the local authorities.' The cause of their deaths has not yet been established, with post-mortem examinations expected to be carried out on Monday. The mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Jean-Sebastien Orcibal, reportedly told French television that their deaths were 'clearly a homicide'. But he also told the BBC the cause of their deaths was unclear, saying "no knife was found" and dismissing speculation they were due to a burglary "gone wrong". Public prosecutor Nicolas Rigot-Muller said: 'Both died violent deaths, but I cannot establish that either was a homicide. All hypotheses remain open." CCTV pictures from a tobacconist shop in the town of Villefranche-de-Rouergue show that Mr Searle went there just before 6pm on Wednesday 5 February, the evening before he was found dead. Mail Online reported that he bought a bar of chocolate and two lottery tickets before returning to the car outside where his wife was waiting. The shopkeeper said the couple were regular customers and that he "seemed perfectly happy" on that day. In the CCTV footage, Mr Searle was pictured wearing a tracking device around his neck for their two hunting dogs, which have been taken away for DNA testing by police. Their neighbours described them as a "friendly couple" who were often seen walking their dogs and who hosted a barbecue at the end of every summer to which they invited other residents. Mr Searle had worked in financial crime prevention at companies such as Standard Life and Barclays Bank, with investigators reportedly examining if he may have been targeted by criminals. French media reported that one neighbour said Mr Searle was having an argument on the phone while walking his digs on the day before he died. He was also reportedly concerned about recently finding his garage door open. Mr Searle's father, Fred Searle, 88, from Littlehampton, West Sussex, told the Sunday Times: "We've got thousands of questions and very few answers." Man found dead in France alongside Scots wife named as organised crime investigator (Daily Record) Briton seen buying chocolate and lottery tickets hours before he and wife found dead (The Independent) Ex-Hollyoaks actor 'grieving' after death of mother and her husband in France (PA Media)
The Independent
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Ex-Hollyoaks actor ‘grieving' after death of mother and her husband in France
Former Hollyoaks actor Callum Kerr is 'grieving the tragic loss' of his mother and her partner after the British couple were found dead in their home in south-west France. The bodies of Dawn and Andrew Searle were reportedly discovered on Thursday by a neighbour at their home in the village of Les Pesquies, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue. The cause of death of the couple in their 60s is currently unknown but a helicopter, drone, criminal investigation technicians and a forensic doctor have been dispatched to the home, according to French outlets. The mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Jean-Sebastien Orcibal, reportedly told French television that the deaths were 'clearly a homicide'. A representative of Scottish-born actor Kerr told the PA news agency: 'At this time, Callum Kerr and Amanda Kerr are grieving the loss of their mother, Dawn Searle (nee Smith, Kerr), while Tom Searle and Ella Searle are mourning the loss of their father, Andrew Searle. 'We kindly request that their privacy be respected during this difficult period. 'We will provide updates as appropriate.' Kerr is known for his role as Pc George Kiss in Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, as well as appearing in Netflix's Virgin River and drama Flowers In The Attic: The Origin. He has also released a number of country songs, including a new single this week titled Cold Beer Cold. In 2023, Kerr donned a tartan kilt as he walked his mother down the aisle for her wedding to Mr Searle. Alongside a photo of them walking arm-in-arm posted to Instagram, 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.' A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in France and are liaising with the local authorities.'
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ex-Hollyoaks actor ‘grieving' after death of mother and her husband in France
Former Hollyoaks actor Callum Kerr is 'grieving the tragic loss' of his mother and her partner after the British couple were found dead in their home in south-west France. The bodies of Dawn and Andrew Searle were reportedly discovered on Thursday by a neighbour at their home in the village of Les Pesquies, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue. The cause of death of the couple in their 60s is currently unknown but a helicopter, drone, criminal investigation technicians and a forensic doctor have been dispatched to the home, according to French outlets. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Callum Kerr (@callum_kerr_1) The mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Jean-Sebastien Orcibal, reportedly told French television that the deaths were 'clearly a homicide'. A representative of Scottish-born actor Kerr told the PA news agency: 'At this time, Callum Kerr and Amanda Kerr are grieving the loss of their mother, Dawn Searle (nee Smith, Kerr), while Tom Searle and Ella Searle are mourning the loss of their father, Andrew Searle. 'We kindly request that their privacy be respected during this difficult period. 'We will provide updates as appropriate.' Kerr is known for his role as Pc George Kiss in Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, as well as appearing in Netflix's Virgin River and drama Flowers In The Attic: The Origin. He has also released a number of country songs, including a new single this week titled Cold Beer Cold. In 2023, Kerr donned a tartan kilt as he walked his mother down the aisle for her wedding to Mr Searle. Alongside a photo of them walking arm-in-arm posted to Instagram, 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.' A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in France and are liaising with the local authorities.'
