Two Charged in Death of British Expat, 85, Found Dead in French Home

Two men have been charged in connection with the death of John Agner, an 85-year-old British retired wood carver found with severe head injuries at his isolated home in the hamlet of Verlus, in southwestern France. The discovery followed a high-speed police chase of Agner's stolen vehicle, which eventually crashed.

Prosecutors revealed on Saturday that one of the two men charged is also accused of a second attempted murder that occurred on October 6. The investigation identified several individuals involved to varying degrees in the events. Searches were conducted at multiple locations, and all six individuals initially held were accused of involvement in both incidents, with some admitting their roles.

The primary suspect, a 32-year-old man with 21 previous convictions, has been charged with robbery accompanied by violence resulting in death, related to Agner's murder. He is also accused of the attempted murder of a woman in her 70s who was attacked and smothered in her home in Mont-de-Marsan but survived. In both cases, the victim's car was stolen and later recovered by police, highlighting links between the incidents.

The second man charged in connection with Agner's death is 26 years old. Both men are local residents and are being held in custody awaiting trial. The other four individuals initially detained have been released on bail.

Agner, who had lived in Verlus for 20 years, was discovered by police on the morning of September 26. Officers had been pursuing his stolen Kia Ceed at speeds of up to 75 mph in a 50 mph zone in Mont-de-Marsan, approximately 25 miles away. The car eventually crashed through the gate of a private property.

Neighbors described Agner as a popular member of the community who assisted other expats with repairs. He was known to enjoy archery and was learning French. Some residents noted that Agner, while living modestly, would sometimes mention his financial situation, leading to speculation that this may have attracted attention. He also occasionally hosted paying guests, typically cyclists or hikers needing a night's accommodation.

Investigators are looking into how the perpetrators arrived at Agner's secluded property, situated approximately 200 meters from the nearest neighbor. Residents in the vicinity where the stolen car crashed were asked if they had seen or heard anything unusual, particularly concerning Agner's Kia and a BMW.

Agner, described as athletic and fit for his age, is believed to have put up a struggle against his attackers. The fatal injuries were described as severe blows to the head.

Prosecutors believe the attack occurred late on Friday, with the murder only coming to light after the stolen vehicle was spotted and pursued by police. The Kia was pursued for about 20 minutes before four individuals fled the vehicle on foot; one was arrested at the scene. The arrested man is known to police. His claims to officers that he was a hitchhiker who had gone out to buy ham were met with skepticism by the property owners where the car crashed.