Newly released messages show concerned TV producers checking in to ask Ann if she is ok
Newly released messages have been unveiled which show how Ann Widdecombe suddenly stopped replying just minutes before police suspect she was bludgeoned to death in her own home.
The snapshot of messages show how the former MP was in regular conversations around an hour before cops believe she was attacked and killed, only to suddenly not turn up for a TV appearance and stop replying to messages.
Texts seen and released by ITV News reveal how a producer was discussing her scheduled appearance on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show on Wednesday afternoon.
In a WhatsApp conversation shared with ITV News, the producer is seen discussing with Widdecombe details about the appearance before asking her to join a Zoom call from her home to be broadcast live.
The messages were regular between 12.14pm and 12.19pm on Wednesday and sent the last one about the link to the appearance at 12.19pm reading from her as: “Received! Panic over!!”.
A WhatsApp read receipt shows Widdecombe read a response sent at 12.19pm but then did not read any of the subsequent messages from the producer, with the first follow-up sent at 12.48pm.
The thread also shows how the producer had tried to call the former MP a number of times but received no answer, leading to the producer at 12.55pm asking: “Hi Ann is everything ok?”.
At 1.27pm Allwright confirmed live on his show that Widdecombe was scheduled as a guest, but that she had not turned up and records reveal how the show’s production team followed up with Widdecombe’s agent on Wednesday evening and on Thursday morning to check for her welfare.
All of the WhatsApp messages have been passed on to the police, ITV have confirmed.
Devon and Cornwall Police said on Saturday it is believed Widdecombe was attacked on Wednesday at around 12.30pm.
Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor 24 hours later, at around 11.40am on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries.
Widdecombe had previously appeared on TalkTV on Wednesday morning, discussing the by-election in Clacton.
A 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering Widdecombe was released from custody on Saturday and is no longer part of the investigation, which police have confirmed is ongoing.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said on Saturday: “Our inquiries are moving at pace for a suspect who is believed to be a white male.”