Thousands of miles away in Minnesota, a heinous scheme to assassinate a renowned British woman was uncovered and thwarted.
On Thursday, Gavin Plumb was found guilty of devising a plan to abduct, sexually assault, and murder Holly Willoughby, a well-known television personality in the United Kingdom.
According to authorities, the recent attack in Essex, located outside of London, was meticulously planned by Plumb over a period of several years.
Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood stated that Gavin Plumb was a menacing and predatory individual who had aimed to cause severe harm to his victim. He further added that Plumb is currently serving his sentence where he rightly deserves to be: in prison.
Minnesota was where the inquiry into Plumb initiated.
During an online chat, he requested an undercover officer in Owatonna to carry out the abduction and homicide.
After reaching out to both the FBI and British police, the officer made contact.
During the trial last month, a police officer testified anonymously via video call under the pseudonym David Nelson. He revealed to the jury that he employs different fake identities in his online social media investigations.
During his investigation, he came across Plumb in a group known as “Abduct Lovers.” His primary focus was on identifying cases of human trafficking and kidnapping.
Wood expressed his gratitude towards the law enforcement officials in America for their assistance in identifying Gavin Plumb and gathering crucial evidence that led to his conviction.
In a statement to British media, Willoughby expressed his gratitude towards the undercover police officer who comprehended the imminent threat. “I will always remain thankful to him,” he said.
Next week, the Owatonna Police Department has plans to disclose additional details pertaining to the case.
