🚨 CASE UPDATE — THE MAN WHO WAS ARRESTED OVER THE ALLEGED MUR-DER OF ANN WIDDECOMBE HAS BEEN RELEASED AND IS NO LONGER UNDER INVESTIGATION… BUT A NEW DIRECTION IN THE CASE HAS NOW OPENED UP AN UNEXPECTED LEAD
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who was arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of Ann Widdecombe in a supposed burglary gone wrong has been released.
The 78-year-old former Tory minister turned Reform UK politician and TV star was found dead at her Dartmoor home on Thursday.
Ms Widdecombe was reportedly found by a carer who worked for herCredit: Stuart Clarke
In a press conference, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said a 26-year-old white British national had been arrestedCredit: PA
The Sun understands that detectives are working on the theory that Ms Widdecombe was murdered in a burglary gone wrong.
She was found covered in blood after being bludgeoned to death and sustaining a serious head wound, with police initially believing she had died in a fall, or accidentally.
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Police arrested a man yesterday on suspicion of murder at an address in nearby Newton Abbot, 11 miles away from Widdecombe’s house but he has since been released.
The 26-year-old white British national is no longer part of the investigation, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
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Police had arrested and questioned a 26-year-old local man but he was released without charge and is ‘no longer part of the investigation’Credit: Getty
What you need to know…
Ann Widdecombe, 78, has been found dead at her Devon home
The politician’s carer reportedly found her body
A “man in hiking clothes arrived at Ann Widdecombe’s house in middle of night”
Cops say they have “no information” to suggest it was politically motivated
The host of Ann Widdecombe’s final TV interview has broken his silence
What we know about her cause of death
Who are her family? From the late politician’s parents to her Anglican reverend brother, everything you need to know
Cops fear she died in a ‘burglary gone wrong’
She didn’t show up to a TV appearance a day before her body was found
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said in an update: “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.”
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In yesterday’s press conference, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said that there was “no information” at this time to suggest the murder was a “politically motivated crime.”
He added: “So [it is] too early for me to comment further on that at this time.”
Detectives have cordoned off the property as they begin probing the tragedyCredit: PA
Tributes have begun to flood in for Ms WiddecombeCredit: PA:Press Association
And, when asked if anything was stolen from the property, he said: “The key thing I think for us is obviously all our efforts today are focused on this investigation to get the right outcome for her family, friends, but also to make our communities feel safe and confident that we have some of the best officers working on it.”
He added that the police cordon will remain in place around Ms Widdecombe’s home.
Her body was found after concerns were raised that she wasn’t responding to messages, it is understood.
Channel 5 star Dan Walker said: “Ann was due to appear on 5 Daytime on Wednesday afternoon but stopped responding to messages and didn’t turn up for the show.
“The team contacted her agent to ask them to check in on her.
“This information has been passed to police as it’s part of the investigation.”
Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson said in a statement yesterday: “This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Ann at this difficult time.
“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.”
Officers attended Ms Widdecombe’s home on Thursday morning and spoke to a carer who worked for the former MP and is believed to have found her body.
Details of the suspicious circumstances of her death had initially been kept under wraps over concerns of foul play.
Police sealed off the road leading to her Dartmoor home, near Newton Abbot.
Officers are carrying out an extensive forensic examination of the property and are also searching the surrounding area.
A spokesman for the coroner’s office for the county of Devon, Plymouth and Torbay said: “Preliminary inquiries are ongoing.”
Members of the media have set up outside Ms Widdecombe’s houseCredit: Getty
The police cordon remains in place today outside Ms Widdecombe’s houseCredit: Getty
Ms Widdecombe’s management said they were “absolutely devastated” by the news that cops had launched a murder investigation into her death, a statement said.
Her nephew, Roger Widdecombe, has thanked the public for their messages of support.
Speaking at the front door of his white fronted Victorian terraced home in Cheltenham, Mr Widdecombe said: “My thanks go to everybody who has sent messages of condolences.
“But we are not going to say anything further at this stage. Thank you.”
Susan Coysh, who is Ann Widdecombe’s neighbour, told the BBC she was “devastated” to hear of the former politician’s death.
She added: “I’m shocked. In this lovely setting where we live. I can’t see why anybody would want to hurt her… it hasn’t sunk in yet actually.”
News of the police probe into the politician’s death has stunned the world of politics and her many supporters and admirers.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the circumstances around Ms Widdecombe’s death were “extremely distressing”, adding: “My thoughts are with Ann’s family and loved ones”.
Meanwhile, Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has paid tribute to “formidable politician” Ms Widdecombe.
Devon and Cornwall Police this afternoon announced they have launched a murder investigation into Ms Widdecombe’s deathCredit: SWNS
Officers attended Ms Widdecombe’s home and spoke to a carer who is understood to have found her bodyCredit: Alamy
Departing PM Keir Starmer said it was “really shocking news” that police had launched a murder investigation and praised the former MP as a “distinguished politician”.
Other Labour MPs, including Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner have also paid tribute.
A spokeswoman for Andy Burnham said: “Andy’s deepest condolences and thoughts are with Ann’s family today, in incredibly distressing circumstances.
“Ann gave a lifetime of public service, and it’s absolutely right that the police put all their resources into investigating this as swiftly as possible.”
Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton Du Beke said he is “devastated” to hear that Ms Widdecombe has died.
Ms Widdecombe spent time as Education Minister and Prisons Minister in then-Prime Minister John Major‘s cabinet.
Following her retirement from Parliament in 2010, Widdecombe swapped the Commons for the ballroom and starred in BBC‘s Strictly Come Dancing.
Ann went on to appear in ITV favourite Celebrity Big Brother, where she finished runner-up to Aussie singer Courtney Act.
She was born in Bath, Somerset, on October 4, 1947.
Her father, James Murray Widdecombe CB OBE, was Head of Naval Supplies & Transport at the Ministry of Defence.
Before venturing into the world of politics, she started her career in marketing at Unilever in 1973.
Two years later, she became senior administrator at London University, where she stayed until 1987.
SOURCE: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/39718383/man-arrested-ann-widdecombe-murdered/
