Former Hollyoaks actor Callum Kerr walked his mum down the aisle in a precious moment just 18 months before she was shockingly killed in France alongside her husband.
Dawn Searle, 56, and her husband, Andrew Searle, 62, who previously lived in Musselburgh, were tragically killed in their home in southwest France on February 7. French authorities are treating the deaths as a double homicide, with investigations ongoing.
The couple tied the not in September 2023 and had celebrated their wedding in what appeared to be a Scottish ceremony, as Callum donned a tartan kilt to walk his mother down the aisle. Sharing the joyous moment on Instagram at the time, Callum wrote: “Not many people can say they walked their own mother down the aisle. What a pleasure!!! I love you mum. Congrats to Dawn and Andy on their wonderful wedding day and here’s to a tremendous life together for the happy couple.”
The heartfelt post, once filled with messages of congratulations, has now become a space for condolences as news of the tragedy broke, reports the Mirror.
Dawn and Andrew Searle were found dead at their home in Les Pesquiès, southwest France, where they reportedly have lived for the last 10 years. Mrs Searle was discovered near the front door with a head injury, surrounded by scattered jewellery, while reports suggest Mr Searle may have been tortured before being killed.
No weapons or visible bullet or knife wounds were found at the scene, but regional prosecutor Nicolas Rigot-Muller confirmed: “Both died a violent death – all leads are being examined.”
French authorities have speculated that the couple may have been targeted by gangsters, as Andrew Searle was a former investigator of organised crime. He also had worked for Standard Life in Edinburgh. Autopsies are scheduled for Monday as investigators continue to search for clues.
Callum Kerr, who was born in Musselburgh near Edinburgh, rose to fame as PC George Kiss in Hollyoaks between 2020 and 2021. He later starred in Netflix’s Virgin River and had a recurring role in Fox’s Monarch . In addition to his acting career, Callum is a country singer based in Nashville, Tennessee, where he recently shared his latest song, Cold Beer Cold , just days before the tragic news emerged.
In 2024, Callum experienced several life milestones, including welcoming a baby girl with his fiancée Lauren Stacy and announcing their engagement. In September, he shared a romantic proposal story on Instagram, writing: “Took this girl on a horse ride through the Western Cape and asked if she would spend the rest of her life with me.” The couple’s baby girl was born earlier in the year, and Callum often shared glimpses of his new life as a dad, referring to his fiancée and daughter as “my two girls” in a heartfelt Valentine’s Day post.
Callum has not yet publicly commented on the loss of his mother and stepfather. His last Instagram post, shared on Thursday before the tragic news broke, showed him performing a song. Fans and friends have since flooded his account with messages of support during this unimaginable time.
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