Detectives investigating the murder of former MP Ann Widdecombe have announced they will not release any further information to the public, including descriptions of suspects or CCTV images, to avoid compromising the investigation. The 78-year-old former Tory prisons minister was found dead at her rural Devon home in Haytor on Dartmoor at around 11:40am on Thursday, July 9, 2026, after sustaining serious injuries. Police believe she was attacked in her home nearly 24 hours before her body was discovered.
Arrest and Release of Suspect
A 26-year-old white British man was arrested on suspicion of murder at an address in Newton Abbot but has since been released without charge. Devon and Cornwall Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday evening, July 11, 2026.
Police Statement on Investigation
In the statement, Assistant Chief Constable 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. We have been working at pace on this investigation. Officers are making progress and are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry. At this time, we have made the active decision not to release further information, including descriptions of any potential suspects or releasing CCTV footage. Releasing such information prematurely could compromise ongoing inquiries and may prejudice future investigative opportunities." He added that the decision is made on an "operational basis" and that the force will release information when it is "appropriate and necessary." Longman urged the public not to speculate on social media and to report any relevant information via the major incident public portal.
Background on Ann Widdecombe
Ann Widdecombe was first elected as a Conservative MP for Maidstone in 1987 and later served as the prisons minister. She also served as a Member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party and as a spokeswoman for Reform UK. Beyond politics, she gained fame as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage's Tribute
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage visited the village of Haytor on Saturday to pay tribute. He told reporters that his party had reviewed its emails for patterns of abuse directed at Widdecombe but found nothing. In a social media statement, Farage called her death and the murder investigation a "terrible reflection on modern Britain." In a video statement, he added: "And I do fear that for anybody in public life, or especially the political space, things have become even more dangerous today."
Last Known Activities
Widdecombe appeared on TalkTV on Wednesday morning, July 8, the day before she was found dead. She was also scheduled to appear on Channel 5's Matt Allwright show on Wednesday afternoon but did not, as first reported by ITV. She had exchanged messages with a researcher from the show but did not respond when contacted to join a Zoom call. Calls and texts sent after the programme aired remained unanswered, and the show's team followed up with her agent later on Wednesday and Thursday.
