A NETFLIX star has urged anyone who loved his ‘murdered’ mum not to attend her husband’s funeral – after cops suspect he killed her before taking his own life.
Dawn Kerr and Andrew Searle, who were in their 60s, were found dead at their idyllic French hamlet of Les Pesquies, near Villefranche-de-Rouergue in February this year.
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Police initially believed the deaths could have been linked to Andrew’s former job as an organised crime fraud investigator – but all the evidence now points to a murder-suicide.
Dawn’s son Callum Kerr, who played PC George Kiss in soap opera Hollyoaks and appeared in Netflix’s Virgin River, today issued a plea for any friends of his mum not to attend her ‘killer’s funeral.
The Scots actor had proudly walked his mother down the aisle during her marriage to Andrew in September 2023.
But writing on Instagram, he said: ‘In the absence of any evidence suggesting third-party involvement in the tragic death of our mother, Dawn Kerr, the prevailing hypothesis remains that of a murder-suicide.
‘Our mother was killed by multiple blows to the head, and Andrew was found deceased by hanging.
‘His injuries are consistent with self-hanging, and no defensive wounds were found on his body.
‘There is also no evidence whatsoever of any third party’s involvement at this stage.
‘While the official investigation is still ongoing, we cannot ignore the circumstances as they stand.
‘For this reason, we must respectfully but firmly request that our mother not be included in any way in the funeral arrangements being made for Andrew.
‘Please do not share photographs of them together. Please do not attend Andrew’s service if you were a friend of our mother.
‘It would be inappropriate for her memory to be associated with a service honouring the man who, based on all available evidence, may have been responsible for her death.
‘We ask for understanding, privacy and respect as we continue to grieve and seek justice for our mum.’
Dawn was found lying in front of her house, partly undressed, while Andrew was found hanged from a radiator.
French prosecutors revealed in February: “A box containing jewellery was found near to her, but no item or weapon which could have caused the injuries were located.”
They also said: “Mr Searle, who was found hanged… did not show any visible defensive injuries.”
Cash was found in the couple’s bedroom and their home appeared to have been “roughly searched”.
Police also considered the possibility of a hitman linked to Andrew’s anti-fraud work in the financial crime sector – or a botched burglary.
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His 21-year career at British banks Standard Life and Barclays included spotting accounting irregularities linked to organised crime groups.
Investigators found his mobile device proved “particularly helpful”, after he was spotted making animated calls in previous days.
An investigating source said in February: “There is a mine of information and recent calls made by Mr Searle which are providing vital clues.”
Andrew and Dawn were labelled by local friends as being a “popular” and “happy couple”.
The British expats had been living in Aveyron for five years, according to French prosecutors.
