Widdecombe Murder: Initial Suspect Released, Devon Police Say No One Is in Custody

Since Ann Widdecombe's body was found with serious injuries at her Haytor home on July 9, the investigation has taken a significant turn. The only person arrested in connection with her death has been released and cleared.

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed Saturday morning that the 26-year-old white British man arrested Friday afternoon in Newton Abbot — roughly 10 miles from Widdecombe's Dartmoor bungalow — had been released from custody and was no longer part of the investigation. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman issued a statement saying, "Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined."

Longman's use of "those responsible" — plural — has not been further explained.

What Police Have Said and Haven't Said

Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson said in the initial Devon and Cornwall Police statement that the investigation was "moving at a significant pace" and that detectives were appealing for CCTV, doorbell camera, and dashcam footage from around Haytor Vale. A major incident public portal was set up under Operation Hunlen, reference 50260179119.

Police ruled out terrorism after consulting counter-terrorism officers and said there is "no information" that Widdecombe's death was politically motivated, according to the Devon and Cornwall Police statement.

What remains unanswered: how Widdecombe died, exactly when she died, and who killed her. The ambulance service called police to her home at approximately 11:40 BST on Wednesday, July 9. Police have not publicly released a cause of death.

Emerging Details from Press Reporting

The Times reported Saturday that detectives are examining whether Widdecombe was killed after hearing an intruder and going to investigate. The Sun reported that an image of a suspected killer was captured on CCTV cameras installed at her property. Neither claim has been confirmed by Devon and Cornwall Police.

Widdecombe was last seen publicly on Wednesday, July 9. She appeared on TalkTV that day, according to The Guardian.

Political Reaction and Security Questions

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, the party Widdecombe represented as a spokeswoman, said he fears that "for anyone in public life, or especially the political space, things have become even more dangerous." The Telegraph reported that security officials are in discussions about whether Reform politicians need additional protection.

Two sitting MPs — Labour's Jo Cox in 2016 and Conservative Sir David Amess in 2021 — were murdered in the past decade. The pattern, however small the sample, is real.

Police have directly addressed the security concern: they found no political motive. That conclusion was reached in consultation with counter-terrorism officials. Until evidence suggests otherwise, the investigation is being treated as a criminal homicide, not a political assassination. Those are different things with different investigative tracks, and conflating them before evidence supports it would complicate the inquiry.

Who Was Ann Widdecombe

Widdecombe served as MP for Maidstone for 23 years, from 1987 to 2010, and held Home Office and employment ministerial roles under Prime Minister John Major between 1994 and 1997. She was known for unambiguous social conservatism on abortion and LGBTQ issues — views she held publicly and without apology long after they fell out of favour within her own party. She later became a spokesperson for Reform UK.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called her death "shocking" and said she was "a distinguished politician over many, many years with many achievements." Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she was "stunned" and struggled to find words. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson called her a "heroic Brexiteer."

BBC political editor Chris Mason, who worked with Widdecombe on Radio 4's Any Questions, described her as someone who "answered the question" — a quality he noted he could not credit to every guest. Her management company, Cloud9 Management, said her life was "driven by strong Christian values and a commitment to public service."

CBS News noted that Widdecombe had told the BBC in 2008 she'd spent childhood time in Dartmoor and had named her home "Widdecombe's Rest," saying she planned to spend the rest of her life there.

Where the Investigation Stands

As of Saturday, July 11, Devon and Cornwall Police have no one in custody. Forensic examination of the property at Haytor Vale is ongoing, a cordon remains in place, and house-to-house inquiries are continuing. The force has appealed directly to the public for information, footage, or anything suspicious observed in the area around Haytor.

With the only arrested suspect cleared, police have publicly stated they are working to identify "those responsible." They have not confirmed whether they have additional persons of interest, a second suspect, or a working theory of how Widdecombe came to be found with serious injuries in her own home.