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Widdecombe's final texts before fatal attack revealed
12 Jul
Summary
- Ann Widdecombe stopped responding to texts minutes before estimated attack time.
- A 28-year-old British man was arrested in South Yorkshire on suspicion of murder.
- She was due to appear on a Channel 5 show but never turned up.
Ann Widdecombe ceased responding to text messages shortly before she is believed to have been attacked, according to newly released exchanges. The former Tory minister was preparing for a remote appearance on Channel 5's Matt Allwright show on Wednesday, July 8.
Her final message, sent at 12:19 PM, read "Received! Panic over!!". She failed to respond to subsequent messages and calls from the producer, including one at 12:48 PM asking her to join a Zoom meeting.
She was found dead at her Dartmoor home on Thursday, July 9. Police estimate the attack occurred around 12:30 PM on Wednesday, after her last known communication. A 28-year-old British national was later arrested in South Yorkshire on suspicion of her murder.
The investigation into her death is ongoing, with police confirming no political or terrorism motive at this time. Cloud9 Management, representing Ms. Widdecombe, confirmed her passing, aged 78, with great sadness.
