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Absolutely. Too many holes in it.And hide a murder weapon so well that even Police couldn't find it
British couple, Andrew and Dawn Searle, found deceased in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue 6th February 2025
From French MSM:
"No lead has been favored,
even if two theories stand out in this macabre discovery
of the bodies of Dawn and Andrew Searle in Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
Femicide followed by suicide
or
double murder?
It is impossible to decide at this stage
for the Rodez prosecutor's office,
which indicated on Tuesday February 11
that it was not favoring any lead.
'Investigations are continuing,
in particular to determine whether the tragedy was the result of a domestic crime followed by suicide or whether it was the result of the intervention of a third party',
the public prosecutor's office said in a press release,
having opened an investigation
'in flagrante delicto on the charge of voluntary homicide'
following this macabre discovery in the commune of Villefranche-de-Rouergue."
www.huffingtonpost.fr
"No lead has been favored,
even if two theories stand out in this macabre discovery
of the bodies of Dawn and Andrew Searle in Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
Femicide followed by suicide
or
double murder?
It is impossible to decide at this stage
for the Rodez prosecutor's office,
which indicated on Tuesday February 11
that it was not favoring any lead.
'Investigations are continuing,
in particular to determine whether the tragedy was the result of a domestic crime followed by suicide or whether it was the result of the intervention of a third party',
the public prosecutor's office said in a press release,
having opened an investigation
'in flagrante delicto on the charge of voluntary homicide'
following this macabre discovery in the commune of Villefranche-de-Rouergue."
Double meurtre ou féminicide ? Mystère autour de la mort de ces Britanniques en France
Aucune piste n’est privilégiée, même si deux théories s’imposent dans cette découverte macabre des corps de Dawn et Andrew Searle à Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
www.huffingtonpost.fr
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I don't think we need to be rolling our eyes at each others suggestions. None of us really know what happened and we're just discussing the options the police are considering.And hide a murder weapon so well that even Police couldn't find it
The local hamlet loan-shark sending a message to the other few dozen residents? Hardly a mafia hit is it?
Why would there be 2 methods of death if it was a hit? And as someone alluded to why not take a weapon to do the job properly. I'm sure these bad criminals could have got hold of a gun for instance. Why bludgeon one to death with a crude/made shift weapon and go to the trouble of hanging the other?
From all accounts it seems the husband had been stressed and displayed signs of anger/frustration in the day(s) before the event.
If they've had an argument in the evening and he's snapped, she's likely to have been in evening wear, which could be why reports of being "partially naked" are out there.
There's been a few reasonably logically estimates to explain the jewelry box.
- She had it on her as the attack began and she ran off.
- He has committed the attack, planned to stage it and then decided he couldn't live with himself and killed himself anyway.
We've not heard details of the box itself. It could have just been a very small thing she has in a pocket for instance and it's simply fallen out during the melee.
With regards to no weapon found. It's very vague. A sharp/blunt object could probably be many things around a home. An ornament with a square base and sharp edges for instance.
If the scenario was that he either lost it and went on a murderous rage, or an argument ensued and he killed her maybe he was cleaning up the murder weapon and put it back in it's place before decided his best move next was suicide?
It's a strange case clearly, and to me the factors that we know points more to no third party involvement but just a domestic one in all likelihood.
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Only if it's incorrect. It is a legitimate working theory of LE as far as we know, so it is fair to discuss it. IMO.
I wouldn't say "local hamlet loan shark".
These organized groups perform across the country and internationally.
It also might be drug related.
JMO
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I also speak French and read the French reports in the French media but they did not say anything that made much sense, For example, 'According to the magistrate, the house seemed to have been superficially searched, suggesting a burglary gone wrong, or deadly (maybe targeted) attack, though this disarray might also suggest staging' I would like to know how it is decided that a house has been superficially searched. Also the statement seems to cover all bases making it of little use.Speak and read French here also. Chatvert's translation looks good to me
Very little if anything new here. Next paras read (summarized roughly and on the fly). JMO, the references to multiple blows from an object blunt and sharp have the sense of an object capable of producing both of those types of wounds, rather than 2 separate objects -- but that's just a guess.
Autopsies confirmed CoD: head wounds on the woman, and death by hanging for her husband.
According to the magistrate, the house seemed to have been superficially searched, suggesting a burglary gone wrong, or deadly (maybe targeted) attack, though this disarray might also suggest staging. Dawn Kerr was found partially naked in front of her house, with a jewellery box nearby. No weapon of the sort that might have caused her wounds has been found.
Investigations are continuing, with an eye to determining whether the tragedy is a domestic murder /suicide or an attack by some third party. Additional analyses (anatomopathological, tox) are ongoing and may shed light on the precise circumstances of this tragedy.
The French police and the French media are giving nothing away.
Okay I was being a bit sarcastic in my take, apologies.
But in order for a "message to be sent" to others, the person killed would need to be known to others in this circle of criminality. This method works in the mafia as they all know each other for instance...
So Terry in Toulouse, also lending money from such organisation would have to know Andrew had done the same and has paid the price for not repaying his debts on time.
You get my gist
Okay I was being a bit sarcastic in my take, apologies.
But in order for a "message to be sent" to others, the person killed would need to be known to others in this circle of criminality. This method works in the mafia as they all know each other for instance...
So Terry in Toulouse, also lending money from such organisation would have to know Andrew had done the same and has paid the price for not repaying his debts on time.
You get my gist
Sure.
I guess those participating in such circles have their own inner "lingua franca" known to them.
JMO
PS
No need to apologize.
This is simply a discussion
I don't take offence.
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As so often the case... we wander around a fb page and see endearing family photos.....On her fb, the wife posted pictures from South Africa in September 2024, but the husband insn't in them.
Log into Facebook
Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.www.facebook.com
can just be so much sadder...
That may be true, but we can roll our eyes at the imperfect and false reporting by the press. The French authorities are giving nothing away which seems to be causing the media to twist any given facts into scenarios which they want to publish.
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I think this is more likely to be domestic than an outsider seeking money.
An outsider seeking money wouldn't have left the money and jewellery behind. They would have taken it.
MOO
An outsider seeking money wouldn't have left the money and jewellery behind. They would have taken it.
MOO
Very true -- had a quick scan of articles this AM and nothing really new in the ones I found, with a high degree of convergence from details of the scene and autopsy results right down to the phrasing really.
I wonder if a bit more info might be released following the family updates/ interviews? Not sure how things work in the French system.
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I think with his knowledge of money laundering even though he prevented it in his past job he would be an expert on it so in desperation to make some money laundered some money off very dangerous people and it went wrong, he lost their money or took some of it himself, might explain the agitated state he was in on the phone those last couple of days and fact he was seen crying by a local
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Am finding it hard to visualise him hanging himself from a radiator. I presume it's a radiator attached to the wall. Would it have supported his weight?
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They seem a close knit community so more than likely would have done this without being asked. But I would be surprised if the police had not asked them to check .
His ad in LinkedIn presenting himself as an "anti fraud" specialist
might have caught attention of some shady ppl.
What an asset for criminals!
I bet they have methods to convince ppl joining them.
But there is no "way out" I guess.
And "dead men don't talk"
JMO
But, of course, my theory might be completely off the mark.
Oh well...
I need to stop reading these thrillers!
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I worked in financial services (insurers and banks) up to board level for 40 years. In all that time I never came across a case of organised crime targeting an investigator or manager of the companies I worked for or knew. Whilst it is not impossible the records suggest it is very unlikely. Organised crime is rational (only low level criminals are irrational) and gang bosses know that drawing attention to themselves and inviting retribution from those with more resources even than police is not a good idea. Just as an example, the last insurer where I was a board member would not have hesitated to put up £1m plus if needed in such a case. It would be an investment to send a message.
