THE Brit mum found dead alongside her husband in their French villa was murdered by her spouse before he faked a robbery and hung himself, cops now believe.

The bodies of Dawn, 56, and Andrew Searle, 65, were discovered earlier this month, sparking various theories including a robbery-gone-wrong and a professional hit job.

But police now believe that Dawn – mum to Hollyoaks star Callum Kerr – was murdered by her husband who staged a burglary before killing himself, detectives said.

Nicolas Rigot-Muller, the lead prosecutor, claimed Andrew may have hoped he could explain the crime to the police by faking the break-in, before changing his mind and taking his own life.

This explanation has previously been rejected by pals, who said the relationship had been harmonious.

The couple, who married just two years ago, had moved to start a new life at a villa in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue.

They were both seen by locals in the days preceding their deaths behaving as their usual, smiley selves.

But then a neighbour made the sickening discovery of Dawn’s body lying outside the house, just after midday on Thursday, February 6.

She was found partially undressed next to a box containing jewellery, and had been killed by a significant head wound, according to police.

An autopsy later revealed Dawn had suffered “multiple blows to the skull” – but no weapon was recovered.

It was believed she had tried to escape her attacker before being bludgeoned to death.

Andrew’s body was then found hanging from a rope attached to a radiator inside, and he “showed no visible defence wounds”, according to the post mortem.

One early theory suggested Andrew’s past career as a financial investigator hunting down UK crimelords made him the target of a professional hit ordered by gangsters.

Reports that Andrew may have been tortured before his death seemed to support this story.

Another theory said the expat pair were victims of a bungled burglary – but investigators now believe this was a ruse orchestrated by Andrew to throw them off the scent.

There were signs of a frantic search inside the property, with drawers and cupboards left open and furniture upended – a scene which detective think Andrew curated.

One investigator told The Sunday Post: “The Searle house is extremely close to other houses, and the noise of screams would have carried. In fact, nobody heard anything.

“What is very likely is that the victim was killed inside the house, with doors and windows shut on a winter’s night, and then her body dumped in the garden.”

And Rigot-Muller, the Rodez prosecutor heading up the investigation, confirmed that “a marital crime followed by suicide” is the most likely scenario.

Forensic investigations did not turn up any evidence of a third party having entered the home or had contact with the couple.

No arrests have been made in connection to the deaths.

Les Pesquiès and the wider area are well covered by CCTV in the form of police, traffic and private cameras – but detectives have found no cause to launch an appeal in search of anyone.

Despite the latest updates, Rigot-Muller has not completely ruled out “the intervention of a third party” in the deaths, and the investigation “remains open”.

The home is still cordoned-off as a crime scene, with the swimming pool covered.

In the wake of the deaths, friends of the couple spoke out to reject the idea Andrew could have murdered Dawn.

One couple who live in a nearby village, said: “Us Brits, who knew Dawn and Andy very well, are certain this is not a murder-suicide.

“They weren’t flashy by any means, but they were definitely comfortable and had it good out here.

“They were always travelling. They recently went to a family wedding in Goa, they went to South America for their honeymoon.

“They were also still working – Dawn was a project manager and Andy still did some freelance work.

“Life was good, why would they want to kill themselves?”

Similarly, Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, the mayor of Les Pesquiès, said the couple “were extremely happy together”.

He had officiated at their wedding in 2023, when Dawne was walked down the aisle by her actor and country singer son from another marriage, Callum Kerr.

Callum is best known for playing PC George Kiss in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks between 2020 and 2021.

He also starred in the hit Netflix series Virgin River – playing young Everett, Mel’s father, in the most recent series.

Andrew was originally from West Sussex, while Dawn grew up in Eyemouth, Berwickshire.

Andrew is understood to have worked for least 20 years with the police and Serious Fraud Office targeting organised groups of crooks pedalling financial crimes such as money laundering.