Brit couple's horrifying last moments as 'torture' ordeal at dream home unravels

The bodies of Andrew and and Dawn Searle, who were some successful their 60s, were recovered astatine their location successful Les Pesquiès, southbound of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, connected Thursday afternoon

A British mates recovered dormant successful agrarian France mightiness person been tortured successful their location earlier being killed, it has been suggested.

The bodies of Andrew and and Dawn Searle, who were some successful their 60s, were found astatine their location successful Les Pesquiès, southbound of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, connected Thursday afternoon. Police are carrying retired investigations to found what happened to the pair, with unsettling theories emerging.

One of them, based connected however their bodies were discovered, is that they whitethorn person been tortured earlier their death. Investigators moving the lawsuit person besides questioned whether the mates were targets of a "burglary gone wrong" aft being pursued by Brit criminals.

On Friday, investigators revealed the disturbing circumstances successful which Mr Searle's assemblage was recovered - hanged wrong the location with a gag successful his mouth. There was nary weapon oregon weapon nearby, suggesting helium whitethorn person suffered a horrifying decease by torture, French constabulary said.

His woman Dawn was recovered nearby, bare and with a coiled to the head. Her assemblage was lying by the beforehand door, conscionable successful beforehand of the house, with jewellery scattered astir her. It is believed that the mode their bodies were discovered suggest the victims whitethorn person been trying to flight erstwhile killed by an unidentified intruder oregon intruders.

A root adjacent to the probe revealed the macabre details to French work La Dépêche, saying: "The wife's assemblage was archetypal discovered, wholly naked, successful beforehand of the doorway of the house. Around the unfortunate woman, jewellery was recovered scattered, testifying to a large disorder. In the house, the husband's assemblage was discovered hanging with a gag stuck successful his mouth."

It has present emerged that Mrs Searle was the mum of erstwhile Hollyoaks prima Callum Kerr, who starred successful the Channel 4 soap betwixt 2020 and 2021. The actor, who besides starred connected Netflix's Virgin River, has not spoken publically astir the deaths. The 30-year-old is besides a state vocalist who is based successful Nashville, Tennessee, and walked his mum down the aisle erstwhile she joined Mr Searle successful September 2023.

Meanwhile, neighbours of the British mates said they looked "normal" and "happy" arsenic they visited a workplace to bargain beef and made a chimney expanse booking. One local, who owns a workplace 200 yards from the couple's home, told however the brace visited astatine astir midday connected Wednesday and purchased immoderate meat.

She said: "They some came and conscionable looked normal. We talked astir mean things. We're farmers and they came to bid meat. We've already told the constabulary everything."

About 4 hours later, Dawn visited a section concern that maintains fireplaces to marque appointments connected behalf of residents successful her community. Its owner, Sylvie, who besides lives successful the hamlet, said: "We saw Dawn connected Wednesday. She popped into my store successful the day erstwhile my girl was there. We bash attraction for woody stoves and chimneys. She came to publication galore appointments for English friends of hers."

A section says helium saw Mr Searle rowing connected the telephone a time earlier the tragedy. The man, who did not privation to beryllium named, told however Mr Searle and his woman Dawn were walking connected a lane successful the hamlet of Les Pesquies erstwhile helium overheard the heated call. He told us: "He [Andrew] kept saying mon pere mon pere."

Officials initially believed the brace were killed successful a burglary gone incorrect but they person since said their "deaths were intelligibly a homicide." One enactment of enquiry is the mates could person been murdered by criminals from the UK due to the fact that Mr Searle was a fiscal researcher specialising successful transgression and terrorism.