British couple, Andrew and Dawn Searle, found deceased in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue 6th February 2025

[19thcenturynovel]

Christopher Foster mentioned in the article above had mental health problems, harboured suicidal thoughts which he discussed with his GP. Meanwhile he retained a gun licence. On top of that, he had money worries that would cause him to lose face when status was clearly important to him.
Hard to say what happened with this couple but the family, wisely, are remaining quiet. I know there was one comment from his poor Dad.
The neighbours have been commenting. I think the neighbours at closer quarters saw signs of strain. Other neighbours who saw them at Christmas 'Us Brits' (cringe) dismissed the idea of it being family homicide. I'm not going to say any more about this and leave the police to do their work but so often in these situations women and children (thinking of Emma Pattison in particular) sadly end up as victims.

 

[Rita7]

As a number of members have commented, and as the news articles are hinting if you read closely, this is, very sadly, a probable domestic violence murder-suicide. I suspect the investigation will show escalating financial and mental health problems in the husband, possibly including a gambling habit and debts hidden from his wife. The odd findings at the scene may suggest an attempt at staging by him to imply a robbery rather than a DV murder. The weapon may have been concealed before he died. His work history is, in all likelihood, irrelevant and a distraction. We have seen too many of these. Extremely sad for Dawn and her family.

I'm with you on that.
Plus, AS had definitely experienced some anger and impulsivity issues (according to couples' neighbors' comments.) Eventually, those issues could lead to harmful way to cope with them, such as DV and, furthermore, homicide-suicide. IMHO

 

[FromGermany1]

The Press keeps reporting that they were in their sixties, then immediately gives Dawn's age as 56! We already knew that today's reporters have no spelling and grammar skills, now it appears that simple arithmetic is also beyond them.

In any case, they were relatively young to be retiring in 2015 (IF she did also the same year), IMO.

 

[FromGermany1]

"Mystery deepens
over deaths of the British couple in France
as colleague rules out gangland hit.

View attachment 563640

A former counter-fraud specialist found dead alongside his wife at their French home
would not have been killed in a gangland hit,
a former colleague said last night.

'There is no way he could have been the target of a gangland hit'.

'He was senior but not hierarchical.
The bad guys just see the organisations declining them
and try new routes
or try to learn how to circumnavigate'.

'Criminals just see the organisation,
not the individuals in the teams or running the teams.
They'd have a full-time job following through on vendettas'.

He said
'everyone who knew Andrew was in total shock at his death'.

'He was a really nice guy,
would chat to anyone',
the former colleague said.

'His plan was to buy a house in the south of France and do it up.
He was excited about it.

He was also bilingual, fluent in German and loved his dogs.
He was not shady in any way'."

Mystery death of Brit mum of Hollyoaks star Callum Kerr and husband

The bodies of Andrew and Dawn Searle were discovered by a neighbour in a village around 65 miles from Toulouse on Thursday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

If nobody is needing surveillance photos from a shop, there are exceptionally clear pics - what a surprise. I wonder ....

 

[Bigditch]

Sorry but I don’t believe this anonymous individual could possibly know all of this information for certain. Clearly his opinion only.

MoO

I had wondered about him entering that store just as it was about to close - 2 lottery tickets and 2 chocolates could surely have waited. Now I wonder if it was really to make that phone call, without Dawn hearing it. And maybe it was in English, and he knew the shopkeeper wouldn't understand it very well.

He also bought a pack of smokes.

 

[Bigditch]

the daily mail reports he made a phone call at a convenience store and did seem somewhat nervous...is this going to start another bankers suicide as in 2016...they never got to the real bottom of that...suicide my foot

I must have missed that detail. Can you source the info about the phone call. Thanks.

 

[Dotta]

I'm not sure he made a call in the shop.
I cannot remember seeing it reported.

The shop assistant said
he looked relaxed and bought some items (KitKat chocolates, lottery tickets and cigarettes).
Oh,
and that it was nearly a closing time.
Nothing about a "worried call".

The call (described as "worried")
was reported by somebody else (a social worker?)
But I don't think it happened in this particular shop.

JMO

 

[Bigditch]

I'm not sure he made a call in the shop.
I cannot remember seeing it reported.

The shop assistant said
he looked relaxed and bought some items (KitKat chocolates, lottery tickets and cigarettes).
Oh,
and that it was nearly a closing time.

Me either. Okay thank you.

 

[ekc]

There is quite a long list of men who decide to kill themselves, and don't think their family could possibly manage without them.

does this qualify as an oxymoron?...when he returned home its reported again that he was making concerning phone calls again...makes more to think about

 

[tree1]

If indeed a case of murder suicide, doesn’t of course mean pre meditated and he may well have been a decent man as reports seem to suggest. So many prior instances of people just snapping when under extreme pressure for whatever reason. Financial worries seem to be high on the list. May sound trivial to some but I have been worrying about the poor dogs too. I hope family take them together and give them a good home. Tragic event all round.

 

[tree1]

Keeping an open mind, if both were murdered the post mortems may help ascertain that, for example was AS already dead when hung.

 

[Dotta]

Re "worried call" (not in the shop)

I found it!

"Retired council worker Antoine Da Silva
recalled seeing Andrew
hurrying through the quiet village,
appearing 'very worried'
while speaking on the phone with his father, Fred."

Unanswered questions surrounding Scots mum and husband's deaths in France

As investigations continue, we tale a look at what is known so far around the mysterious deaths of Dawn and Andrew Searle.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

 

[GemFitz]

With all due respect, I buy lucky dip for every lottery draw but that’s it. No way I have a gambling problem!

Agree - buying lottery tickets does not have to imply addiction. But it was interesting to observe in this specific case, given the acknowledged financial stresses.

 

[Dotta]

"Locals left 'traumatised' ​

following death of Scots couple at home in France.​

The sudden death of a Scottish couple at their home in the south of France
has left the town
'completely devastated and traumatised',
a local has said.

'We are devastated.
The whole of Villefranche is shocked.
There aren’t even words for it,
we are traumatised'.

'They were people whom we loved,
they were part of Villefranche,
they were part of us.
These people were exceptional'.

The woman explained that the couple used to prepare a meal for all their neighbours once a year,
when 'everyone went to eat at theirs',
adding that the town of Villefranche-de-Rouergue was usually 'very quiet'.

She said:
'Just talking about it, I am crying and shaking.
I want to throw up. It just hurts too much'."

Locals left 'traumatised' following death of Scots couple at home in France

A local described the couple as 'exceptional people' who were well-known and loved in the town of Villefranche-de-Rouergue.

news.stv.tv

 

[Dotta]

"Nicolas Rigot-Muller,
the Rodez Prosecutor in charge of the investigation,
confirmed
the autopsies were set to be held in Montpellier -

but details won’t be released
until a press conference at 5pm on Tuesday.

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

'It's far too early for me to say anything,
we have to keep our eyes peeled.

We're not favouring any direction at the moment.
I cannot say if we’re looking for someone'.

Confirming no arrests have been made, he said:
'Both died violent deaths,
but I cannot yet firmly establish homicide'.

It came as detectives were uncovering 'vital clues'
about the couple’s final hours
from trawling through their mobile phones.

Andrew’s mobile device is proving
'particularly helpful',
according to one detective,
after he was spotted making animated calls in previous days."

Post-mortem of 'murdered' Brit couple set for today as cops scour for clues

POST-MORTEMS into the “violent” deaths of a Brit couple in rural France were set to be carried out on Monday to confirm how they died. The bodies of retired financial crime investigator Andrew, 62,…

www-thesun-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[Cedars]

Agree - buying lottery tickets does not have to imply addiction. But it was interesting to observe in this specific case, given the acknowledged financial stresses.

I was curious about when the draw was: if it was for a few days ahead, buying a ticket would imply intention to await results.

"Mr Searle can be seen entering a tobacconist in the nearby town of Villefranche de Rouergue at just before 6pm on Wednesday evening as the shop was closing."

Police 'probing murder-suicide theory' after Brit couple's deaths

Andrew Searle, 65, and Dawn, 56, who only married two years ago were found dead last week by a horrified neighbour who was worried he hadn't seen them out with their dogs.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Assuming it was the national lotto: "France Lotto draws take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 8:30 pm local time in Paris." French Loto official - France Lottery.

Villefranche is in the same time zone as Paris, so he'd have known within 3 hrs that he hadn't won the lottery.

He only bought two tickets, so it's not as though it proves anything...I just look at it in terms of actions that may seem future-focussed beyond Wednesday.

(Note, the Daily Mail is now publishing completely different headlines about this story. Organized crime is out, murder-suicide is in).

JMO

 

[Dotta]

I was curious about when the draw was: if it was for a few days ahead, buying a ticket would imply intention to await results.

"Mr Searle can be seen entering a tobacconist in the nearby town of Villefranche de Rouergue at just before 6pm on Wednesday evening as the shop was closing."

Police 'probing murder-suicide theory' after Brit couple's deaths

Andrew Searle, 65, and Dawn, 56, who only married two years ago were found dead last week by a horrified neighbour who was worried he hadn't seen them out with their dogs.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Assuming it was the national lotto: "France Lotto draws take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 8:30 pm local time in Paris." French Loto official - France Lottery.

Villefranche is in the same time zone as Paris, so he'd have known within 3 hrs that he hadn't won the lottery.

He only bought two tickets, so it's not as though it proves anything...I just look at it in terms of actions that may seem future-focussed beyond Wednesday.

Note, the Daily Mail is now publishing completely different headlines about this story. Organized crime is out, murder-suicide is in).

JMO

Buying a "lotto ticket" is just a habit for many ppl.
It is cheap, and the idea is
"what if I try my luck today?"
But honestly,
I don't know anybody
(myself included)
who believes in winning a fortune haha
Maybe, a small amount from time to time.

Depending on "lotto" win is insane IMO

JMO

Lottery ticket is called Lotto in my country

 

[Cedars]

Buying a lotto ticket is just a habit for many ppl.
It is cheap, and the idea is
"what if I try my luck today?"
But honestly,
I don't know anybody
(myself included)
who believes in winning a fortune haha
Maybe, a small amount from time to time.

Depending on lotto win is insane IMO

JMO

When homicide detectives are trying to discern whether someone committed suicide or was murdered, they often look for actions that are evidence of a future focus - in which case, murder seems more likely.

Did the person just book a holiday? Did they make an appointment for the dentist next month? Did they buy tickets for a concert by a favorite performer? Did they buy lottery tickets, just like every Wednesday, for Saturday night's draw?

I was wondering whether the purchase late Wednesday was for a draw later in the week. But it wasn't. So it can't be used as evidence that he was not suicidal, and therefore doesn't increase the probability that he was murdered.

Once someone becomes suicidal, I don't think anything that people do as ordinary daily habits, apply anymore.

JMO

 

[Dotta]

I still scratch my head
thinking of this "open garage door"

What is significance of it?
Why was he so angry about it?

- Was he afraid someone entered his home?
- Was someone snooping in this private area?
- Or did he leave it open and later forget?
(like some form of dementia)
- Was it some kind of paranoid episode?

Hmmm....

JMO

 

[ShastaDaisy]

I still scratch my head thinking of this "open garage door"

What is significance of it?
Why was he so angry about it?

- Was he afraid someone entered his home?
- Was someone snooping in this private area?
- Or did he leave it open and later forget?
(like some form of dementia)
- Was it some kind of paranoid episode?

Hmmm....

JMO

Between the distressed phone calls and signs someone had accessed his home and left it open so he would know that someone had been there, these are worrying signs. I lean towards organized crime or some kind of personal vendetta against him.