A Scottish woman’s son, whose mother was found deceased alongside her husband in France, has expressed that his family is grieving the couple’s passing.
Callum Kerr, an actor known for his roles in Hollyoaks and on Netflix, released a statement on social media on behalf of the couple’s four children. The bodies of Dawn and Andrew Searle, both in their sixties, were discovered by a neighbor on Thursday at their residence in southwestern France, where they had relocated from Scotland a decade earlier.
Local mayor Jean-Sébastien Orcibal informed French television that the circumstances surrounding the deaths were “clearly a homicide.”
The announcement shared on the actor’s Instagram stated: “Currently, Callum Kerr and Amanda Kerr are mourning the passing of their mother, Dawn Searle (née Smith, Kerr), while Tom Searle and Ella Searle are grieving the loss of their father, Andrew Searle.”
He urged that the family’s privacy be honored during this “challenging time,” mentioning that they would share updates as necessary. Mr. Kerr is known for his role in Netflix’s Virgin River and for portraying PC Kiss in the soap opera Hollyoaks. Additionally, he has released several country music tracks.
At 30 years old, he had the honor of walking his mother down the aisle during her wedding to Mr. Searle in a ceremony held in France in 2023. He expressed on social media at that moment: “Not many people can say they walked their own mother down the aisle. What a pleasure. I love you mum.”
Bodies discovered by a neighbor
The couple’s bodies were located around 12:20 PM on Thursday at their residence in the hamlet of Les Pesquiès, situated in a rural area north of Toulouse. A neighbor made the discovery while checking on them after they did not appear for a scheduled dog walk.
The vicinity surrounding their detached home has been cordoned off as investigations are underway, with local police seeking expert assistance from Toulouse.
Forensic teams spent Thursday examining the crime scene, utilizing a helicopter, a drone, criminal investigation specialists, and a forensic doctor at the location. No criminal investigation has been initiated at this time, and authorities have stated that there is no leading theory regarding the circumstances of the couple’s deaths.
Mr. Orcibal, the representative for the Villefranche-de-Rouergue region, informed BBC News that the circumstances surrounding the couple’s death remain uncertain. He had previously rejected the theory that the incident was a burglary that went awry, stating that “no knife was found.”
Additionally, Mr. Orcibal noted that the couple had become “very well integrated” into the community, often inviting neighbors, many of whom were fellow expatriates, for social gatherings.
As indicated on his LinkedIn profile, Mr. Searle had a background in financial crime prevention, having worked for firms such as Standard Life and Barclays Bank throughout his career.
Mrs. Searle hailed from Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders, while Mr. Searle was originally from England. The couple resided in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, before relocating to Les Pesquiès, situated south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue. A representative from the UK’s Foreign Office stated, “We are providing support to the family of a British couple who passed away in France and are in communication with local authorities.”
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