Scots couple found dead at home in France named locally as Andrew and Dawn Searle

A Scots couple found dead at their home in south-western France have been named locally.

The bodies of Andrew and Dawn Searle were discovered by a neighbour at their home in Les Pesquiés, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, around 12.35pm on Thursday.

The couple, in their 60s, are understood to have moved to the village, with a population of around 100, ten years ago and were “well integrated” into the community.

Mr Searle, originally from West Sussex, spent over two decades working in financial crime, which involved sanction screening, anti-bribery and corruption.

He retired to “rural France” in 2015 after working at Standard Life in Edinburgh and Barclay’s in Glasgow.

The couple are believed to have married in 2023.

Andrew and Dawn Searle were found dead at their home in France STV News

The mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, told French television that the deaths were “clearly a homicide”.

Mr Orcibal said that the deaths were “not a burglary gone wrong” and that no weapon had been found.

Their bodies were discovered by a neighbour around 12.20pm after they failed to arrive for a planned dog walk.

Locals said the couple had integrated into the village and knew a lot of people.

One neighbour 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.”

The couple was discovered inside their detached property, which includes a two-bedroom flat regularly occupied by paying visitors.

The Searles advertised it extensively online, saying it was an ‘Andrew and Dawn at home’ (Chez Andrew and Dawn) gite – the French word for a furnished holiday home.

Local prosecutors have launched a criminal enquiry, with judicial police and gendarmes supporting them.

Public prosecutor Nicolas Rigot-Muller said in a statement: “Given the current state of investigations, I do not wish to comment on the case.

“I am waiting to know the date and the result of the autopsies, as well as what comes back from the initial investigations, so that I can share tangible information.”

The house and its grounds remained cordoned off on Friday, with forensics officers examining the entire property.

Drones could also be seen circling overhead, while house-to-house enquiries being carried out by gendarmes.

Nobody has yet been arrested in connection with the deaths.

A couple in their 60s were found dead in France. EBU

Villefranche-de-Rouergue is in the Aveyron department – the French version of a county.

Another local source 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.”

A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in France and are liaising with the local authorities.”