A murder probe has been launched after a British couple in their early sixties were found dead at their home in southwest France.
Detectives fear gangsters with “a score to settle” may have murdered Andrew Searle, a former organised crime investigator, and his wife, Dawn.
Their bodies are thought to have been discovered by a neighbour at around 12.20pm on Thursday in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
Mr Searle was found in their house and Mrs Searle was outside, near the front door, with jewellery scattered around her.
Town mayor Jean-Sébastien Orcibal said the deaths were “clearly a homicide” and dismissed speculation that it was a “burglary gone wrong”. He said it was not a “family tragedy”, meaning they did not take their own lives or kill each other.
The couple moved to France from Scotland a decade ago after Mr Searle spent his career fighting organised crime and terrorism. This included tackling money-laundering synicates in countries where sanctions have been imposed, such as Russia.
Mr Searle reportedly also worked in financial crime prevention at Standard Life and Barclays bank.
The area around their house has been turned into an extensive crime scene, where forensic teams have been hunting for evidence. A helicopter and drones flew overhead in the search for clues.
The home and its grounds remained cordoned off on Friday, and gendarmes – French police – were carrying out house-to-house enquiries.
An investigating source said: “A criminal enquiry has been launched and the fear is that the couple were murdered.
“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.”
The source added: “It may well be that gangsters with a score to settle are behind these killings.”
The couple were described as being “well integrated” in the village.
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.”
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.”
The couple’s detached property includes a two-bedroom flat that was regularly occupied by paying visitors.
The Searles advertised their “gite” (holiday home) extensively online.
There is a swimming pool, and beyond it thick woods that put the house in an isolated position, away from the centre of the hamlet.
Villefranche-de-Rouergue, which is in the Aveyron department, is popular with British expats, and UK holiday-home owners.
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.”
