Ann Widdecombe's killer is likely to have left key forensic clues that will bring them to justice, a retired detective has said. Former Met Detective Chief Inspector David McKelvey stated it was 'just a question of time' before the murderer is identified and tracked down.
Police Timeline and Suspect Description
Police believe former MP and MEP Ann Widdecombe was attacked in her home nearly 24 hours before her body was discovered. They are hunting for a white male suspect. The ex-Tory prisons minister was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor at around 11.40am on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries. Devon and Cornwall Police said on Saturday it is believed Miss Widdecombe was attacked on Wednesday at around 12.30pm.
Retired Detective's Analysis
Mr McKelvey said: 'This does have the smell of a burglary gone wrong. We always see an increase when it gets warm because people are leaving their windows open, it makes life so easy for the burglars.' He added that in today's world, 'the things that catch them are CCTV and phones. The police will be looking at doorbell cameras and car footage. They will look at ANPR cameras in the general area to check the movements of known offenders at the relevant time. I have no doubt it's just a question of time before they find the killer.'
Forensic Evidence Expected
Police have narrowed the timeline of the murder to a key 29-minute period on Wednesday afternoon when Ms Widdecombe failed to reply to messages. Mr McKelvey suspects the killer left evidence needed to jail them at the scene. He said: 'This wouldn't have been pre-planned to the level that they wouldn't have left clues. It's likely there will be DNA, fingerprints, footprints and other forensic evidence. There is probably blood spatter if she suffered blunt trauma to the head and potentially that has transferred to the clothes of the attacker.'
Investigation Progress
The ex-cop said detectives would have acted during the 'golden hour' after Ms Widdecombe was found to secure key evidence. 'This will involve collecting forensic evidence, going house to house, securing CCTV locally and analysing ANPR footage across the region and that will be quite a significant area in this case,' he said. 'They will be looking at the details of known offenders' vehicles coming in and out of the Devon area and examining organised burglary gangs, trying to get intelligence on them, and seeing which offenders have been released from prison.'
'Possible suspects can then be compared to the ANPR using their vehicles which can then be linked to their phones. The killer could have escaped abroad in the 23 hours before she was found but I think that is highly unlikely. If they went into the premises with a phone the evidence will be there in the cell site data and if they had a vehicle that will also be there in the cameras.'
Arrest and Police Statement
A 26-year-old white British man arrested on Friday on suspicion of murder was released from custody on Saturday. In a statement, Detective Superintendent Paul Longman said: 'I want to start with expressing my thanks to the local community and to the people who have come forward so far with their information. Officers are making progress and are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry.' He added that releasing descriptions or CCTV footage 'prematurely could compromise ongoing inquiries and may prejudice future investigative opportunities.'
