French authorities are investigating the deaths of British couple Andrew and Dawn Searle, who were found dead at their home near Toulouse last week. Autopsies have revealed that Mrs. Searle died from multiple skull fractures, while Mr. Searle was found hanging. Police are working to determine whether the couple died in a murder-suicide or if a third party was involved.
French authorities have provided a significant update on the deaths of British couple Andrew and Dawn Searle. The pair were discovered dead at their home in the charming hamlet of Les Pesquies, near Toulouse , last week, in an incident that has left both countries reeling. Autopsies have now been carried out on the couple, as confirmed by public prosecutors.
In a formal statement released this afternoon, prosecutor Nicolas Rigot-Muller disclosed that emergency services were called to the couple's secluded residence after a neighbour raised the alarm, according to The Express. Upon reaching the scene, they 'found the body of Mrs Searle, partially undressed, in front of her home' before locating Mr Searle's body hanging from a radiator within the property. The statement further revealed that Mrs Searle 'had a significant wound on her skull' and a jewellery box was found nearby, however, 'no objects or weapons capable of inflicting the injuries were found.' The statement added: 'Mr Searle was found hanging by a rope tied to a radiator showed no visible defence injuries. the house appeared to have been roughly searched; cash was found in the couple's bedroom.' The investigation continues as officers are still working to establish whether the couple died in a murder-suicide or if another individual was involved. Police overseeing the case have so far refrained from commenting on whether any suspects have been identified. The autopsy conducted yesterday has uncovered that Mrs Searle suffered multiple skull fractures from both blunt and sharp objects, but there was no sign of sexual assault. The statement further mentioned: 'Further examinations (anatomical-pathological, toxicological) are ongoing to determine the precise circumstances of the deaths. Investigations are continuing, notably to determine whether the tragedy resulted from a marital crime followed by a suicide or from the intervention of a third party.' This new development adds a chilling layer to the case as family members have arrived in France to provide their knowledge to the authorities after the couple's distressing discovery. Concerns were raised when Andrew failed to appear for his regular dog walk, leading to the finding of the Searles. Prosecutor Rigot-Muller had previously described the couple's demise as 'violent'. Over the past week, speculation has been rife about the fate of the couple - who were thought to be happily married - with initial theories ranging from a bungled burglary to a revenge attack linked to Andrew's anti-financial crime work, and even the possibility of a murder-suicide being investigated. Two British expat couples, who are close friends of the Searles, have strongly refuted claims suggesting a murder-suicide involving their acquaintances. The couples, in their late 60s and residents of a nearby village, told The Mirror: 'Us Brits, who knew Dawn and Andy very well, are certain this is not a murder-suicide. 'We saw them last at Christmas, they were absolutely normal.' They added: 'Life was good, why would they want to kill themselves? Further speculation about the couple's financial situation surfaced following Andrew's delay in settling a bill of several thousand euros and his apparent distress over UK pension issues in December. 'Nonetheless, the British friends, guests at the couple's nuptials, dismissed any notion of fiscal difficulty, arguing: 'They weren't flashy by any means, but they were definitely comfortable and had it good out here.' The friends went on to recount the active lives led by the Searles: 'They were always travelling - they recently went to a family wedding in Goa, they went to South America for their honeymoon. ' They also mentioned how involved the couple were with their family, saying: 'Dawn's son Callum... had a baby and Dawn went over there for that and had just come back from Scotland because her dad's funeral was at the end of January. They were still working - Dawn was a project manager and Andy still did some freelance work. 'The investigation is ongoing as officers are still determining whether the couple died in a murder-suicide or if a third party was involved. Police handling the case have so far declined to comment on whether any suspects have been identified. Yesterday's autopsy reports have revealed that Mrs Searle was the victim of multiple skull fractures caused by both blunt and sharp forces, though evidence of sexual assault was absent. The statement added: ' they have a gite connected to the main house which they rented out and it was occupied most of the time which gave them a good income on the side. 'In 2023, the pair exchanged vows, with Dawn's son Callum, who had previously appeared on Hollyoaks, having the honour of walking her down the aisle. It is believed that Andrew had moved his family to France a decade prio
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