Police Believe Ann Widdecombe Was Attacked a Day Before Her Body Was Found

Police investigating the death of former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe believe she was attacked nearly 24 hours before she was found dead at her home in Haytor, Devon.

The 78-year-old was discovered with serious injuries at around 11:40 BST on Thursday. Detectives believe the attack occurred at approximately 12:30 BST on Wednesday and say investigations are progressing rapidly as they search for the person responsible.

Devon and Cornwall Police said a 26-year-old white British man arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday has since been released from custody and is no longer part of the investigation.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said officers are focused on identifying those responsible and examining all available evidence.

“Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined,” he said. “We are deploying all of the necessary resources to establish exactly what happened. I would urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward.”

Later on Saturday, police said they would not release additional details, including descriptions of any potential suspects or CCTV footage, at this stage, warning that doing so could compromise ongoing enquiries and affect future investigative opportunities.

A significant police and forensic presence remained at Widdecombe’s property on Saturday as officers continued their investigation. Members of the public, along with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, were seen laying flowers near her home.

During a press conference on Friday, Assistant Chief Constable Longman said investigators had ruled out terrorism and had found no evidence to suggest Widdecombe’s death was politically motivated. He added that it was too early to determine whether the attacker was known to her.

Widdecombe’s management agency announced her death on Friday morning without mentioning any suspicious circumstances. Later that day, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed they had launched a murder investigation and appealed for information as detectives continue their inquiries.