‘Hitman’ fears after Brit husband murdered alongside wife in French holiday home worked to track down money launderers

A BRITISH couple murdered in a remote French holiday home may have been victims of a hitman linked to a rogue state, terrorism or organised crime, police fear. Andrew and Dawn Searle, both in their 60s, were at first believed to have been killed during a burglary gone wrong at their remote holiday home in south west France. But French detectives now believe a more sinister motive may be linked to Mr Searle’s crime-busting career tracking down money laundering crimelords.

The retired grandad also had a key role cracking down on sanctions busters linked to rogue states like Russia and probed terrorist money trails. He was found dead with partner Dawn on Thursday in their idyllic, swimming pooled holiday property in the hamlet of Les Pesquiès, near Villefranche-de-Rouergue. A French investigating source said: “A criminal enquiry has been launched and the fear is that the couple were murdered.

“They were very fit, and very popular locally, but there is a theory that they were being pursued by criminals from the United Kingdom. “This is currently the prioritised line of enquiry, because Mr Searle was once involved in the fight against organised crime and terrorism.”. Financial crime expert Mr Searle worked as a consultant for banking giant Barclays for nine months before his retirement.

But he had previously worked for more than 21 years for the Standard Life insurance company as UK & Europe Financial Crime Manager. Based in Edinburgh, his LinkedIn professional profile said he was: “Responsible for all Anti-Financial Crime matters in the UK & Europe function - providing an investigation service for the Group.”. The profile also revealed the fluent English, French and German speaker was responsible for “sanction screening” to stop money flowing to states like Russia.

His sensitive work also involved “Intelligence and anti-bribery & Corruption” plus responsibility for all Anti-Financial Crime matters in the UK & Europe.”. Earlier in his career he worked as Group Financial Crime Manager following 14 years as an investigations manager “responsible for the Investigation of internal and external fraud.”. His high-powered roles involved close cooperation with police, HMRC costumes chiefs and Foreign Office specialists.

He retired in December, 2015 to start a new life in a stunning but remote corner of the French countryside. His LinkedIn professional profile said: “Enjoying life in rural France - renovating!”. The couple spent years refurbishing their run-down property among only a handful of buildings in the forest hamlet. And their simply but stylishly furnished “gite” flat within the detached property was eventually advertised on holiday property websites.

Advertised on the official Aveyron tourist website under the headline “At Andrew and Dawn’s”, the online ad read: “2 bedroom apartment (6-8 people) fully furnished and equipped with swimming pool offering plenty of privacy. “A beautiful apartment in the beautiful countryside, offering privacy and tranquility.”. Andrew and Dawn’s bodies were reported to have been found inside the property at around 1pm on Thursday.

French police immediately threw a large crime scene cordon around the property and have yet to divulge the cause of death. Police and prosecutors have not officially released the name of the Searles, but at least three neighbours have confirmed they were the victims. One said: “Andy and Dawn were lovely – hearing about this is extremely distressing. “They were extremely friendly, and always out and about. What has happened has caused a lot of fear.”.

Jean-Sebastien Orcibal, the Mayor of Villefranche, said said the bungled burglary theory was extremely unlikely yesterday. He said: “We do not really have burglaries in our town, and especially not violent burglaries.”. Local prosecutors have launched a criminal enquiry, with judicial police and gendarmes are supporting them. The house and its grounds remained cordoned off on Friday, with forensics officers examining the entire property.

Drones could also be seen circling overhead, while house-to-house enquiries being carried out by gendarmes. No arrests have been made in connection with the deaths. Villefranche-de-Rouergue is in the Aveyron department – the French version of a county - which is home to many British expats and holiday home owners from the UK. Another local source said the Searles “had numerous friends locally and further afield including in Britain, and often organised dinner parties.”.

He added: “They both loved the countryside, and were very happily settled. They were very proud of their house, which is situated well away from other buildings in the hamlet.’. Another French source, newspaper The Villefranchois said yesterday: “The theory of a family drama that would involve an argument causing the death of one of the spouses followed by a suicide now seems unlikely. “Similarly, the hypothesis of a burglary gone wrong no longer seems to be favored at present.