On Wednesday morning Ann Widdecombe was at home in Devon giving an interview in which she passionately defended the scandal-hit Reform leader, Nigel Farage.
Hours later, the former Conservative MP is believed to have been attacked. Police said they were called to the property at about midday the next day, where they found the former minister with “serious injuries”.
A 28-year-old white British man has since been arrested on suspicion of murder in Rotherham, South Yorkshire – about 270 miles from Widdecombe’s home – police said on Saturday.
8 July
Widdecombe appears on TalkTV
8.05am
Widdecombe defends Farage and the scandal surrounding his finances in an interview with TalkTV from her home outside Haytor Vale, a tiny village on the edge of Dartmoor.
Widdecombe responds to Channel 5
12.19pm
The former MP speaks to a producer from Channel 5 about arranging an interview on the subject of Farage’s finances, according to messages obtained by ITV News.
Widdecombe attacked
About 12.30pm
Devon and Cornwall police say they believe Widdecombe was attacked at about this time.
Unanswered messages from Channel 5
12.48pm-1.14pm
The producer at Channel 5 messages Widdecombe, asking her to join a Zoom link before the interview, but she does not reply. ITV News reports there were three unanswered calls, and a message asking: “Is everything OK?”
9 July
Widdecombe found dead in her home
About 11.40am
Police officers are called by the ambulance service after Widdecombe is found dead in her home with “serious injuries”.
10 July
First reports of Widdecombe’s death
6.30am
Widdecombe’s managment team releases a statement confirming her death but does not provide any further details or suggest her death is suspicious.
Police launch murder investigation
3.44pm
Police confirm they are launching a murder investigation and that it is in its early stages.
DCI Ilona Rosson says Devon and Cornwall police are deploying “all of the necessary resources” to locate the suspect, who they believe is a “white male”.
Reaction from Widdecombe’s team
4.13pm
Widdecombe’s management team says they are “absolutely devastated” after the police confirm a murder investigation is under way.
It has been “a very traumatic and upsetting 24 hours”, a statement from Cloud9 Management reads.
Police arrest 26-year-old man
5.45pm
Police say a 26-year-old white man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Assistant chief constable Matt Longman says he has “no information” at this time “to believe that that is a politically motivated crime” and the incident is not being treated as terrorism.
11 July
Police release suspect without charge
6.31am
Officers say the 26-year-old suspect has been released from custody without charge and he is no longer part of their investigation.
The force says a manhunt is under way and the investigation is “moving at a significant pace”.
The police force adds it has made the “active decision not to release further information, including descriptions of any potential suspects or releasing CCTV footage” as it could “compromise ongoing inquiries”.
Police arrest 28-year-old male
11.41pm
Police officers say a 28-year-old white British male has been arrested in South Yorkshire.
“We were supported by counter-terrorism policing north-east and South Yorkshire police who carried out the arrest on behalf of Devon and Cornwall police,” the force says.
12 July
11.36am
Police say there is nothing to suggest Widdecombe’s death was politically motivated, and that officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation.
