Police believe Ann Widdecombe was attacked in her home approximately 24 hours before she was found dead by emergency services having suffered serious injuries. The body of Miss Widdecombe, 78, was discovered at her Dartmoor home at around 11:40am on Thursday, July 9.
Devon and Cornwall Police were called to the address of the former MP and MEP at Haytor by the ambulance service. Investigators now believe Miss Widdecombe was attacked at around 12:30pm on Wednesday, nearly 24 hours before she was found.
Police Statement and Investigation
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said Miss Widdecombe's death is being treated as suspicious but "we do not believe there is a wider risk to the public," as reported by Devon Live. He added: "We believe the attack took place on Wednesday July 8 at around 12:30pm. Our inquiries are moving at pace for a suspect who is believed to be a white male."
A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder at Newton Abbot but has since been released from custody. He is "no longer part of the investigation," police said.
ACC Longman stated: "Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined. Detectives continue to carry out numerous enquiries as part of the ongoing investigation and we remain committed to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident."
Details of the Incident
Officers were called to Miss Widdecombe's home at Haytor by the ambulance service at around 11:40am on Thursday 9 July. Sadly, 78-year-old Miss Widdecombe was located deceased within the property. She had sustained serious injuries. Her next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
Detectives from the Force Major Crime Investigation Team have launched a murder investigation and are conducting extensive enquiries into the circumstances surrounding Miss Widdecombe's death. A cordon remains in place at the property while specialist officers continue forensic examinations. There are road closures in place around the scene.
ACC Longman said: "The public will see a significant police presence in the area while detectives and officers conduct house-to-house and CCTV enquiries. This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Miss Widdecombe at this difficult time."
Appeal for Information
"Our murder enquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace. We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened. I would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us," ACC Longman said.
He added: "We will release further information when we are able to do so. In the meantime, 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 also deeply distressing for family and friends of Miss Widdecombe. The family have also asked for their privacy to be respected as they come to terms with what has happened."
Police have set up a Major Incident Public Portal for information, images or footage to be submitted. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers.
Community Reaction
Christine Maloney, who lives near Miss Widdecombe's home in Haytor, described the area as "very safe" and said it was not unusual for people to leave their cars and front doors unlocked. She said of the former MP: "My husband saw her a week ago driving around. I'm very shocked at (her death), it shouldn't have happened, it's horrific. Everyone knows that's her house, perhaps that's the problem?"
Alison and Simon Gilbert, who have lived in Haytor Vale for more than a decade, said Miss Widdecombe was a well-known figure locally. Mrs Gilbert said: "She was a nice woman, really nice woman, and she had a great sense of humour. It's a lovely area – you talk to strangers. Everyone saw her as quite an opinionated politician, but to us she was just a person in the community." She added: "First of all, we got back and saw police and thought maybe it was a burglary, a lot of us suspected she had a heart attack or something. She didn't deserve to die like that."
