Actor Callum Kerr Mourns Parents Found Dead in France

VILLEFRANCHE-DE-ROUERGUE, France — The family of Dawn Searle, a Scottish woman, and her husband, Andrew Searle, is in mourning following a shocking discovery at their home in the hamlet of Les Pesquiès. The couple, both in their 60s, were found dead by a neighbor on Thursday after failing to appear for a planned dog walk.

Callum Kerr, an actor known for his roles in Netflix’s “Virgin River” and the soap opera “Hollyoaks,” released a statement on behalf of the couple’s four children, expressing their grief. “At this time, Callum Kerr and Amanda Kerr are grieving the loss of their mother, Dawn Searle (née Smith, Kerr), while Tom Searle and Ella Searle are mourning the loss of their father, Andrew Searle,” the statement read.

The local mayor, Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, confirmed the police investigation is treating the deaths as a homicide and stated there is no current explanation for the circumstances leading to their demise. “Both died violent deaths, but I cannot establish that either was a homicide. All hypotheses remain open,” said Nicolas Rigot-Muller, a public prosecutor for the area.

Authorities were alerted after a neighbor noticed the couple had not come out for their walk. Upon arriving at the scene around 12:20 PM, emergency responders found Dawn Searle’s body outside the property, and Andrew Searle was later discovered dead inside. No weapons were found on the premises, and further investigations are ongoing, including forensic analyses.

The Searles were well-known in their community after relocating from Scotland about a decade ago. Mayor Orcibal noted the couple had been very integrated into local life, regularly inviting neighbors over for social gatherings. “These were people who were kind and courteous. They really wanted to integrate into local life,” he added.

Before their relocation to France, Andrew Searle worked in financial crime prevention and was previously associated with major firms such as Standard Life and Barclays Bank. Dawn Searle was noted for her project management career.

A spokesperson from the UK’s Foreign Office stated they are supporting the family affected by this tragedy and are working with local authorities during the ongoing investigation. The couple’s children have asked for privacy during this difficult time.

In his social media tribute, Callum Kerr expressed the joy of walking his mother down the aisle at her wedding to Andrew Searle last year, noting, “Not many people can say they walked their own mother down the aisle. What a pleasure. I love you, Mum.”

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Searles’ deaths continues, with autopsies scheduled to determine more details about the nature of their deaths. As the community grapples with the loss, friends and neighbors continue to pay tribute to the couple.