Former Tory minister Widdecombe is believed to have died at around 12.30pm on Wednesday, but wasn’t discovered at her Devon home until nearly the same time the following day
Ann Widdecombe was killed shortly before she was due to appear on television and her body was not found for 24 hours.
The former Tory minister was bludgeoned to death in her house 30 minutes before she was set to appear via video call from home, on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show. The 78-year-old had last messaged a producer at 12.19pm but failed to respond to a text at 12.48pm. Devon and Cornwall Police revealed she was killed at 12.30pm on Wednesday in the bungalow where she lived alone with her cat on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.
Her body remained undiscovered for almost 24 hours before being found in the kitchen of her isolated Devon home at 11.40am the next day. It means her killer had a 24-hour head start on police – raising fears they could have fled the country.
At 5.59pm police issued a statement saying they had decided not to make public any CCTV images or suspect descriptions. Hinting that his team might know who the killer is, ACC Matt Longman said: “Releasing such information prematurely could compromise ongoing enquiries and may prejudice future investigative opportunities.
“The decision not to disclose further details at this time is made on an operational basis. We will release information to the public when it is appropriate.”
Detectives are understood to be working on the theory that the former Strictly contestant was murdered after interrupting a burglar. Police had warned Devon residents on Tuesday to keep doors and windows closed as criminals exploited the heatwave to target homes.
A manhunt continues after a 26-year-old British man was released and cleared of any involvement after his arrest in Newton Abbot, 10 miles from the crime scene, on Friday.
Ms Widdecombe sustained severe blunt trauma wounds to her head. ACC Longman said officers were “making progress and are pursuing a number of lines of enquiry”. He previously referred to a single suspect, believed to be a white male. Ms Widdecombe was first elected a Conservative MP in Kent in 1987, then served as an MEP for the Brexit Party and spokeswoman for Reform UK.
She also starred in Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. Her killer is thought to have been caught on CCTV on her property. Mr Longman said: “I appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward.”
“I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media. This is not only potentially harmful to our investigation but deeply distressing for Ms Widdecombe’s family and friends.”
Police previously said the case was not being treated as terrorism and there was no information to suggest that it was a politically motivated crime. Stephen Codner, a member of the parish council covering Ms Widdecome’s Haytor village, said: “There will be a lot of elderly people worried who live alone there. Crime is not common in the parish.”
Local Christine Maloney said the area was very safe. She said of the former MP: “My husband saw her a week ago, driving around. It’s horrific.”
“Everyone knows that’s her house, perhaps that’s the problem. It’s got to be someone that’s local or knows her. They should put him out for the locals to deal with him.” Alison Gilbert, who lives nearby, said: “She was a really nice woman with a great sense of humour. Everyone saw her as quite opinionated, but to us she was just a person in the community.”
Ms Widdecombe’s driver Peter Horrell laid flowers at her home. He said the Reform member had never mentioned having any safety fears, adding: “She was absolutely a privilege to take in the car, and funny at times.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had spoken to his likely successor Andy Burnham, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Mr Farage to “urge everybody to come together at a moment like this”. Mrs Badenoch said: “It was a nasty, horrific attack and my heart is breaking for her family.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage visited Haytor to pay tribute to Ms Widdecombe yesterday. He said his party had checked emails but found no patterns of abuse towards her.