Ann Widdecombe sent a final text message saying 'Panic over!!' just minutes before she was attacked at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, according to newly released correspondence. The former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokesperson was found dead with serious injuries on July 8, 2026, prompting a murder investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police.
Timeline of Events
Police believe Widdecombe was attacked at approximately 12:30 pm on Wednesday, July 8. Her body was discovered roughly 24 hours later. On the day of the attack, she had been scheduled to appear via Zoom on Channel 5's Matt Allwright show around the time of the incident. When she failed to join the call, production staff sent multiple unanswered messages and voice calls. A producer asked if 'everything was okay'. Her final text, sent minutes before the estimated attack time, read 'Panic over!!' — apparently referring to a previous technical glitch.
Last Public Appearance
Her last televised appearance was a TalkTV broadcast on the morning of July 8. The investigation is ongoing, with police appealing for information from the public.
