A British expat couple, Andrew and Dawn Searle, were found dead at their home in the village of Les Pesquies in France. The bodies were discovered last Thursday, with Mr. Searle found hanging inside the country home and Mrs. Searle lying in the garden with a head wound.

According to neighbours, the couple had been heard arguing on the phone days before their tragic deaths. Friends and neighbours recalled seeing Mr. Searle looking agitated during a phone call in the days leading up to the incident. They described him as being very different from his usual calm and quiet self.

Questions have also been raised about Mr. Searle’s finances in the months prior to his death. Reports suggest that he had struggled to pay a bill of several thousand euros due to problems with his UK pension. He was seen crying in a nearby town after finally settling the bill in December.

A post-mortem examination of the couple was scheduled to take place in Montpellier, with the family expected to meet with gendarmes in Toulouse. The regional prosecutor leading the investigation, Nicolas Rigot-Muller, mentioned that a press conference would be held to disclose the initial findings of the post-mortem and the main leads of inquiry.

The mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, where the couple lived, mentioned that the Searles were well integrated into the local community and hosted parties for the village annually. Police have been investigating the home for any potential evidence.

There has been speculation about whether the couple’s deaths are related to Mr. Searle’s career as a counter-fraud specialist. Family friends have denied any suggestions of murder-suicide. The prosecutor stated that all lines of inquiry are open, and it’s too early to draw any conclusions.

The investigation into the deaths of Andrew and Dawn Searle is ongoing, with authorities working to uncover the truth behind this tragic incident.