‘Problem from their past’: Mayor who wed ‘happy’ Brit couple found dead in France poses chilling theory behind tragedy

A MAYOR who wed the "happy" British mates recovered dormant astatine their French home has revealed a chilling mentation down their tragic deaths.

The bodies of retired fiscal transgression investigator Andrew, 62, and Dawn Searle, 56, were discovered aft failing to crook up for a canine locomotion connected Thursday.

He was recovered hanged astatine their home successful Les Pesquiès, near Villefranche-de-Rouergue, aft his woman was seemingly beaten to decease conscionable extracurricular successful her pyjamas.

The mates moved to the French hamlet astir a decennary agone and got joined successful 2023.

Local politician Jean-Sebastien Orcibal who officiated their wedding said helium believes the deaths could beryllium linked to "problems from the past".

Mr Orcibal, who besides happens to beryllium the couple's neighbour, told Sky News: "It doesn't look similar the occupation comes from here. They were precise happy, precise affable and didn't look to person immoderate problems.

"The occupation seems to travel from the past oregon determination acold away."

Speaking from the country successful which helium joined Andrew and Dawn successful September 2023, Mr Orcibal added: “I knew them arsenic good due to the fact that we were neighbours arsenic I unrecorded successful Pesquies arsenic well.

“We got to socialise. They were precise good integrated successful the area.”

Post mortems into the tragic deaths were acceptable to beryllium carried retired connected Monday to corroborate however they died.

Nicolas Rigot-Muller, the Rodez authoritative successful complaint of the investigation, confirmed the autopsies were acceptable to beryllium held successful Montpellier - but details won’t beryllium released until a property league astatine 5pm connected Tuesday.

He said connected Monday: “Today, the autopsies are taking place. It's precise open.

“It's acold excessively aboriginal for maine to accidental anything, we person to support our eyes peeled.

“We're not favouring immoderate absorption astatine the moment. I cannot accidental if we’re looking for someone.”

Confirming nary arrests person been made, helium said: “Both died convulsive deaths, but I cannot yet firmly found homicide.”

One probe into the deaths is said to beryllium centring connected the husband's wealth problems.

Officials refused to remark connected suggestions that Andrew borrowed wealth from unsavoury characters to screen a measure for respective 1000 euros owed to a section business.

But a root confirmed they were going implicit finances with a fine-tooth comb.

They said: "Money difficulties tin often beryllium the origin of overmuch wider problems and that's wherefore finances are a cardinal portion of the inquiry."

Andrew, a retired fiscal transgression investigator, reportedly utilized a pension lump sum to bargain their location successful Les Pesquiès, southbound westbound France.

It came arsenic detectives were uncovering “vital clues” astir the couple’s last hours from trawling done their mobile phones.

Andrew’s mobile instrumentality is proving “particularly helpful”, according to 1 detective, aft helium was spotted making animated calls successful erstwhile days.

An investigating root said: “There is simply a excavation of accusation and caller calls made by Mr Searle which are providing captious clues.”

One enactment of enquiry is whether it was a imaginable murder-suicide.

Others see a botched burglary or a hitman linked to Andrew’s anti-fraud enactment with British banks Standard Life and Barclays.

CCTV footage from a section quality bureau caught Andrew's past sighting, the time earlier the mates were recovered dead.

He was seen buying 2 lottery tickets and a barroom of cocoa connected Wednesday, soon earlier 6pm.

The shopkeeper who served Andrew, Isabelle Palazy, 58, shared details astir her enactment with the Brit.

She said: "I conscionable couldn't judge it erstwhile I heard the news. He and Dawn were regular customers. He would travel successful each time and bargain Fortuna Blue cigarettes.

"That time helium came successful conscionable earlier I was closing and helium seemed perfectly happy, helium was relaxed and helium chatted and bought immoderate cocoa and 2 lottery tickets.

FAMILY'S PAIN

Andrew's heartbroken father, Fred Searle, 88, said helium has been near with "thousands of questions" pursuing the daze news.

Fred flew to Toulouse connected Saturday, adjacent his son's home, arsenic helium wanted to bring the full household together.

The erstwhile British Army large from Littlehampton, West Sussex, said: "We’ve got thousands of questions and precise fewer answers."

Dawn's son, Hollyoaks prima Callum Kerr, besides shared his anguish successful a heartbreaking online statement.

Andrew and Dawn were labelled by section friends arsenic being a "popular" and "happy couple".

Family friend, Odile Marian said: "They ne'er talked astir threats. They were not hiding. They were not feeling threatened.

"I don’t cognize anyone who didn’t similar the mates - it would beryllium intolerable not to admit them."