Undercover Minnesota cop uncovers murder plot for British TV star

OWATONNA, Minn. (WCCO) — Thousands of miles away in Minnesota, a sinister plot to murder a famous British woman was uncovered and foiled.

Gavin Plumb was found guilty on Thursday of planning the kidnapping, rape and murder of popular British television personality Holly Willoughby.

Police in Essex, outside London, said Plumb had carefully planned the attack for years.

“Gavin Plumb is a dangerous, predatory individual who was intent on inflicting the most serious harm on his victim,” said Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood. “Today, Gavin Plumb is where he belongs: behind bars.”

The investigation into Plumb began in Minnesota.

In an online chat, he asked an undercover investigator in Owatonna to commit the kidnapping and murder.

The police officer contacted both the FBI and the British police.

The officer testified anonymously via video call at the trial last month under the name David Nelson. He told the jury that he uses various false identities on social media in his investigation.

He said he was looking into human trafficking and kidnapping cases and met Plumb in a group called “Abduct Lovers.”

“Today, we are extremely grateful to our law enforcement colleagues across America for not only bringing Gavin Plumb to our attention, but for helping to gather critical evidence that secured his conviction,” Wood said.

Willoughby issued a statement to British media in which he said, in part: “I will be forever grateful to the undercover police officer who recognised the imminent threat.”

Owatonna police say they will release more information about the case next week.