Chilling final texts show when Ann Widdecombe stopped answering phone 24 hours before being found dead in home
CHILLING texts show Ann Widdecombe stopped replying to messages just minutes before cops believe she was murdered in her own home.
The 78-year-old former Tory minister turned Reform UK politician & TV star was found dead at her Dartmoor property the next day by a horrified carer.
In a WhatsApp conversation shared by ITV News, the producer is discussing with Widdecombe details about her TV appearance and asks her to join a Zoom call from her home.
The conversation shows they were regularly exchanging messages between 12.14pm and 12.19pm on Wednesday.
The last message Widdecombe sent at 12.19pm said: “Received! Panic over!!”.
A WhatsApp read receipt shows Widdecombe read a response sent at 12.19pm but did not read any of the subsequent messages from the producer, with the first follow-up sent at 12.48pm.
The producer attempted to call Widdecombe numerous times but received no answer.
At 12.48, 12 minutes before she was due on air, the researcher wrote: “Hi Ann could you join the zoom now please.”
Five minutes later, a WhatsApp voice call to her phone went unanswered, followed by a message at 12.55 reading: “Hi Ann is everything ok?”
Two further voice calls, at 1.05pm and 1.14pm, also rang off without being picked up.
Officers believe she was attacked in her home just 12 minutes after her final message.
At 1.27pm Allwright confirmed live on his show that Widdecombe was scheduled as a guest, but that she had not turned up.
The show’s production team followed up with Widdecombe’s agent later on Wednesday and again on Thursday.
All of the WhatsApp messages have been passed on to the police.
Police are now working on the theory she was attacked around Wednesday lunchtime in a burglary gone wrong, The Sun understands.
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.
Ms Widdecombe appeared on TalkTV at 8am on Wednesday morning and was due to be interviewed again at 2.15pm on Channel 5 that afternoon.
But concerns were raised when she stopped responding to messages, it is understood.
She was found by a carer covered in blood after being allegedly bludgeoned to death and sustaining a serious head wound, on Thursday morning.
“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.”
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said in an update today: “We believe the attack took place on Wednesday 8 July at around 12.30pm.”
Cops previously said they were called to her home in Devon by the ambulance service at around 11.40am on Thursday.
They said at the time: “Sadly, 78-year-old Ms Widdecombe was located deceased within the property. She had sustained serious injuries.”
A 26-year-old man was arrested on Friday on suspicion of murder but he has since been released and is no longer part of the investigation, cops have said.
Devon and Cornwall Police has confirmed it is still hunting a white male suspect.
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.”
Officers are carrying out an extensive forensic examination of the property and are also searching the surrounding area.
Ann Widdecombe’s personal driver has spoken of his “absolute shock” at finding out the former MP may have been murdered.
Peter Horrell described the ex-Tory prisons minister as a “great lady” who was “very comical” and “down to earth”.
Speaking to journalists after placing flowers in front of her house, he said Miss Widdecombe had “never mentioned any fear” for her safety and that she loved living in Haytor.
A spokesman for the coroner’s office for the county of Devon, Plymouth and Torbay said: “Preliminary inquiries are ongoing.”
Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton Du Beke said he is “devastated” to hear that Ms Widdecombe has died.
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”.
How Ann’s death unfolded
Wednesday
8.05am Ms Widdecombe is interviewed on TalkTV.
12.19pm Ms Widdecombe’s last message to someone from Matt Allwright’s Channel 5 show about a video interview that afternoon.
12.30pm The time police have given for her alleged murder.
12.48pm The researcher messages Ms Widdecombe again with a Zoom link for the interview but has no response.
Thursday
11.40am Devon and Cornwall Police arrive to the house after being called by the ambulance service and find Ms Widdecombe’s body.
Friday afternoon
Police arrest a 26-year-old white British man on suspicion of murder.
Saturday morning
The force announce that the suspect has been released and is no longer a part of the murder investigation.
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.”
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.
