French officials who explored the death of the British couple in their home in southwestern France said that this was a murder, followed by suicide.
The bodies of Andrew and Dawn Searle, who had previously lived in East Lothian, were found on February 6 at their home in Les Pequies, about an hour north of Toulouse.
Mrs. Searle’s body was found in the garden with strong wounds in her head, while her husband’s body was found hanging inside.
The prosecutor in charge of the case said the BBC that there was no evidence that the other person was involved in their death.
Mrs. Searle grew up in Eyemouth on the Scottish borders, and Mr. Searle was originally from England.
They had previously lived in Musselburg and got married in France in 2023.
Prosecutors said they lived in the Aveyron region for five years.
According to his LinkedIn page, Mr Searle has previously worked in preventing financial crime in companies, including the Life and Barclays Bank Standard.
Son Dawn Searle, actor Hollyoaks Callum Kerr, issued a statement of social media at the time of death
He said, “At the moment, Callum Kerr and Amanda Kerr are mourning their mother’s loss, Dawn Searle (Née Smith, Kerr), while Tom Searle and Ella Searle mourn their father’s loss, Andrew Searle.”
He asked for family privacy to be respected during this “difficult period”.
Mr. Kerr, 30, walked his mother down the passage when she married Mr Searle at a ceremony in France in 2023.