Authorities have arrested a 28-year-old man in Rotherham on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of former minister Ann Widdecombe. The body of the 78-year-old politician was discovered at her retirement bungalow in Haytor, Dartmoor National Park, on Thursday, approximately 24 hours after she is believed to have been killed. Police initially kept the death a secret for another 24 hours after discovery, leading to a lack of public information and subsequent speculation.
Devon and Cornwall Police announced on Saturday that a 26-year-old local tradesman, initially arrested on suspicion of murder, had been released and had no connection to the crime. The suspect arrested in Rotherham is described by police as a 'dangerous man'.
Widdecombe, a former Member of Parliament for Reform UK, had named her bungalow 'Widdecombe's Rest'. The location is near Hound Tor, a distinctive crag that inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'. The circumstances surrounding her death have been a source of mystery, with no cause of death publicly disclosed by police five days after the murder. It remains unknown if the arrested suspect knew Widdecombe.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who paid tribute at the scene, suggested the killing was 'premeditated' and theorized it may not have been a burglary gone wrong, citing a car that arrived at her house minutes before the believed time of death. These comments were made despite police appeals for the public not to speculate. Widdecombe's family has reportedly expressed unease about her death being used for political purposes.
Reform UK colleagues, including Richard Tice and Lee Anderson, also visited the scene to lay wreaths. Tice focused his remarks on Widdecombe's legacy rather than engaging with speculative theories.
Local residents have also reported unusual activity. A garage manager in Haytor alerted police to a dark VW Golf Mk4 parked in a 'strange place' near Widdecombe's home on Wednesday morning. Another resident reported seeing two shirtless men drinking at a local pub around the time of the murder, one of whom was from South Yorkshire, and felt his report to police was not adequately addressed.
Widdecombe was known to have security concerns, with a friend having previously urged her to install an electronic gate, which she declined. Residents noted that despite the area's tranquility and presence of affluent individuals, rural crime, including theft of vehicles and farm equipment, and drug dealing, is an issue in the region.
The police cordon around the village has been maintained, with a significant police presence, which has disrupted the normally quiet hamlet. The investigation continues as the community awaits further details on the events that led to the former minister's death.