Mr Searle, a retired financial crime expert, had spent over two decades investigating organised crime, money laundering and terrorist financing, leading investigators to probe possible links to his former work.
Mr Searle's professional background included 21 years at Standard Life as UK & Europe Financial Crime Manager and consultancy work for Barclays.
Initial reports suggesting a burglary gone wrong have been dismissed as investigators focus on possible connections to Mr Searle's career fighting financial crime and terrorism.
A British couple found dead at their French holiday home have been identified as the mother and stepfather of former Hollyoaks actor Callum Kerr.
The couple had married just five months ago, with Kerr, 30, who played PC George Kiss in Hollyoaks, walking his mother down the aisle.
