British Couple Found Dead in South-West France, Investigation Underway

2025-03-01

A British couple, Andrew and Dawn Searle, were found dead in their home in south-west France on Thursday. The couple, who had moved to France from Scotland around 10 years ago, were discovered by a neighbour in the hamlet of Les Pesquiès, a rural area north of Toulouse. The mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, described the deaths as “clearly a homicide,” though the exact cause remains unclear. No knife was found at the scene, and local police have called in expert assistance from Toulouse to investigate.

Dawn Searle, originally from Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders, was the mother of actor and country musician Callum Kerr, known for his roles in Netflix’s Virgin River and Hollyoaks. In 2023, Kerr walked his mother down the aisle at her wedding to Andrew Searle, who had previously worked in financial crime prevention at companies including Standard Life and Barclays Bank. The couple, both in their 60s, had become well-integrated in the village and were known for regularly inviting neighbours for drinks.

The investigation is ongoing, with an autopsy scheduled for Monday. The UK Foreign Office has confirmed it is supporting the family and liaising with local authorities.

Meanwhile, Callum Kerr continues to make waves in the entertainment industry. He has been cast as Everett Reed, the father of Alexandra Breckenridge’s character Mel Monroe, in the upcoming sixth season of Virgin River. The season will explore the origins of Mel’s parents, Sarah and Everett, in 1970s flashbacks, with Kerr portraying a young musician who meets Sarah, played by Jessica Rothe. The prequel storyline is being considered as a potential spinoff series by Netflix.

Kerr’s dual roles as an actor and musician have kept him in the spotlight, with his recent work on Virgin River and his country music releases earning him widespread recognition.