LONDON — British prosecutors charged a 28-year-old man with murder on Monday in the death of Ann Widdecombe. Joshua Kerry is the man charged with murder following a weekslong investigation that included terrorism-related suspicions.

Kerry was charged after more than a week in custody on suspicion of murder and acts of terror. Police believe the 78-year-old former member of Parliament was attacked on July 8, 2026, and she was found dead the next day in her home in a southwest England village.

Police stated Widdecombe sustained serious injuries in a targeted attack. Her home was located in the village of Haytor on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.

Authorities believe the attack occurred after Widdecombe failed to appear on the afternoon of July 8, 2026, for a scheduled TV interview. Detectives discovered her body on July 9, 2026, at her residence in Haytor.

Joshua Kerry was arrested on July 11, 2026, in South Yorkshire county in northern England. He was originally arrested on suspicion of murder before being rearrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism after new evidence was found while he was in custody.

South Yorkshire county is more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) from Haytor. Kerry remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Police are continuing to investigate Kerry's motive, including a potential political or terrorist connection. Detectives are working through more than 800 lines of inquiry in the investigation.

Widdecombe was a former member of Parliament who served in the House of Commons from 1987 to 2010. She served as prisons minister in Prime Minister John Major’s Conservative government in the 1990s.

Widdecombe was known for socially conservative views opposing abortion and the expansion of LGBTQ+ rights. She joined the Brexit Party and briefly served as a member of the European Parliament before Britain left the European Union in 2020.

Beyond her political career, Widdecombe was a reality TV contestant. She appeared on the reality television shows Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.

The case recalls previous violence against UK politicians. Conservative politician David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group.

The investigation into Widdecombe's death involves counter-terrorism authorities examining potential political motivations behind the attack. Police stated the incident was targeted and noted that determining motivation remains an active avenue of inquiry for detectives.

The charging of Kerry follows the collection of new evidence while he was in custody, leading to terrorism-related suspicions alongside the murder charge. The case has drawn attention to security concerns for public figures in the United Kingdom.

Forensic teams processed Widdecombe’s home for several days, collecting DNA samples and digital devices. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from nearby properties and mobile phone data to trace movements in the area around the time of the attack.

Police confirmed that no other individuals are currently being sought in connection with the killing. A post-mortem examination determined Widdecombe died from multiple blunt-force injuries.

Widdecombe had been active in public commentary in recent years, contributing to news programs and writing opinion pieces. She had received low-level correspondence deemed nuisance-level in recent years, but authorities said there was no prior specific threat known to police before her death.

The Crown Prosecution Service reviewed evidence before authorizing the murder charge. A spokesperson said the decision was made based on sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

Counter-terrorism units remain involved in the investigation due to the nature of the evidence collected, though no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.