Arrest as ex-marine’s wife is found dead
A murder investigation has been launched after the wife of a former Royal Marine commando was found dead at their home. Anne Searle, 62, died at the house in Stowmarket, Suffolk, she shared with Stephen Searle, 64, who is also a former Ukip councillor. Police said a post mortem examination would take place in the coming days. A 64-year-old man who was known to the victim was arrested on suspicion of murder. Police refused to say if the suspect was Mr Searle.
A MURDER investigation has begun after the wife of a former Royal Marine was found dead at their Suffolk home.
Anne Searle, 62, died at the fourbedroom property she shared with Stephen Searle, 64, who is a former Ukip councillor and stood in last year’s general election.
Mr Searle is a retired Royal Marines Commando who sold poppies for the Royal British Legion. He was elected to Suffolk county council in 2013, winning the Stowmarket South seat by a single vote.
Police were called to an address in Stowmarket shortly after 10pm on Saturday night and discovered the body of Mrs Searle, who had been married to Mr Searle for more than 40 years. Suffolk Police said a 64-year-old man, who was known to the victim, was arrested on suspicion of murder. The force refused to say if the suspect was Mr Searle. It was not known how Mrs Searle, a former pub landlady, died. Police said a post-mortem examination would take place in the coming days. Mr Searle, who is originally from Scotland, lost his council seat in May’s local elections, coming fourth behind the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and Labour. Before they retired, the couple had run a pub, the Stag Tavern in Stowmarket. They sold it in 1992. They have three sons and several grandchildren.
A heavy police presence could be seen outside the family home yesterday as forensic teams searched for clues. Two police officers also stood guard outside the front door of the property, which sits on a corner plot of the quiet cul-de-sac.
Christmas lights were hanging from the porch and a festive wreath could be seen pinned to the front door.
Neighbours described their shock after hearing the news. Richard Hallett, 40, said: “I saw the ambulance at about 11pm. There was one ambulance, two rapid response vehicles and three police cars. I think the gentleman from the house where the woman died worked with the Salvation Army and did the poppy collection.
“He seemed like a nice bloke. We tend to get the poppies from him.”
Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I saw a load of flashing lights outside and thought something must have happened.
“I never imagined it could be something like this. What an awful thing to happen at this time of year. I hope at the very least it was just a tragic accident and not murder, that would just be devastating.”
A spokesman for The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust said: “We received a call at 10.22pm on Dec 30 to The Brickfields, Stowmarket, to a report of a woman who was not breathing.
“An ambulance crew, ambulance officer and rapid response vehicle were dispatched. They treated a woman in cardiac arrest. Despite their best efforts, the patient died at the scene.” A spokesman for Suffolk Police said: “Police were called to an address in The Brickfields at 10.20pm.
“On arrival at the property, a woman, believed to be aged in her 60s, was discovered unresponsive. Paramedics attended the address but the woman was declared deceased at the scene.
“The death is being treated as suspicious and a man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
“A police cordon is in place at the property whilst officers carry out an investigation.”