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How Minnesota officer uncovered UK man's plot to kill British TV host

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How Minnesota officer uncovered UK man's plot to kill British TV host

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A Minnesota detective’s routine monitoring of a crime-infested chatroom led to the arrest and conviction of a U.K. man who made plans to stalk and murder popular English TV personality Holly Willoughby.

In October 2023, the detective had been looking into an online chat called “Abduct Lovers” through Kik, an instant messaging app that allows users to remain anonymous. Using the alias David Nelson, he uncovered 37-year-old Gavin Plumb’s violent plot to kidnap and murder Willoughby.

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“This work requires a creative ability to engage in online chats to build trust and a willingness to maintain an online presence,” Owatonna Police Chief Jeff Mundale told Fox News Digital. “While these online investigations are just part of this detective’s regular work, it is due to a strong commitment to and interest in working covert cases across various social media platforms that led to this case being discovered.”

The detective’s work typically involves sex-trafficking cases involving minors, as well as rape-for-hire and illegal firearms transaction cases, Mundale noted.

SUSPECTED LONG ISLAND SERIAL KILLER’S NOTES OUTLINED METICULOUS MURDER PLOT: COURT DOCS

Gavin Plumb, 37, was convicted of plotting to kidnap and murder English TV host Holly Willoughby. (Essex Police)

“Upon recognizing imminent danger to Willoughby, the detective alerted FBI authorities who contacted London Metropolitan Police and Essex Police,” Mundale said. “The coordination and quick action by law enforcement officials in both countries demonstrate the gravity of this situation and the effective teamwork this case presents.”

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“The brilliant work of our detective and his impact on saving lives and preventing future victimization of others is immeasurable.”

— Jeff Mundale, Owatonna police chief

A Minnesota officer uncovered Plumb’s plot to kill Willoughby, which the defendant discussed in online chatrooms. (Dave J Hogan)

U.K. authorities on July 4 thanked the Minnesota officer’s undercover work after Plumb, of Potters Field, Harlow, was convicted of soliciting Willoughby’s murder, encouraging or assisting the commission of her kidnap and encouraging or assisting the commission of her rape, according to a press release.

Essex Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood described Plumb as “a dangerous and predatory individual who was intent on causing the most serious harm to his victim,” in a July 4 press conference.

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Essex Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood described Plumb as “a dangerous and predatory individual who was intent on causing the most serious harm to his victim,” in a July 4 press conference. (Essex Police)

“He was not just obsessed with Holly Willoughby as he claimed. He carefully planned, over a number of years, to carry out a violent attack in which he plotted to kidnap her from her home, take her to a remote location and ultimately take her life,” Wood said.

“He carefully planned, over a number of years, to carry out a violent attack…”

— Greg Wood, Essex Police DCI

The obsession dated back to 2021, and Plumb plotted with others online to carry out his violent plan.

Owatonna Police Chief Jeff Mundale said he is “proud” of the detective who helped expose Plumb’s murder plot. (Handout)

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Plumb did “extensive research” to try and devise a plan in which he could kidnap Willoughby from her family home, police said in a press release. 

The defendant also made purchases to assist him with carrying out the crime, including metal cable ties, ropes and chloroform.

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Gavin Plumb’s obsession with Willoughby began in 2021, according to police. (Joe Maher/WireImage)

During one of Plumb’s many discussions online, in October 2023, he did not realize that one of the users he was communicating his plans to was the Minnesota detective who eventually flagged him to U.K. officials.

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Plumb had prior convictions relating to the false imprisonment and attempted kidnap of women, including two 16-year-old girls, Essex police said.

Plumb had prior convictions relating to the false imprisonment and attempted kidnap of women, including two 16-year-old girls, Essex police said. (Essex Police)

“Today, we’re extremely grateful to our law enforcement colleagues in America, who not only brought Gavin to our attention but helped gather the vital evidence that secured his conviction,” Wood added.

GET REAL TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB 

During his eight-day trial, Plumb testified that his murder plot was all a “fantasy” and a “massively regrettable” mistake. He also confessed to spending 99.9% of his time online, according to The Guardian. 

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A Chelmsford crown court jury found Plumb guilty after hearing evidence against him. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto)

Regardless, a Chelmsford crown court jury found Plumb guilty earlier this month after hearing evidence against him, including what the Owatonna officer helped compile.

Following his conviction, Essex police posted a video of Plumb’s initial arrest.

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“I’m not gonna lie, she’s a fantasy of mine,” Plumb can be heard saying in the video when police confront him about the allegations.

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Willoughby released a statement after Plumb’s conviction saying, in part, that she will “forever be grateful to the undercover police officer who understood the imminent threat, and to the Metropolitan and Essex police forces for their swift response.” (Lucy North/PA Images)

Willoughby, who has presented for TV shows including “This Morning” and “Dancing on Ice,” released a statement after Plumb’s conviction saying, in part, that she will “forever be grateful to the undercover police officer who understood the imminent threat, and to the Metropolitan and Essex police forces for their swift response.”

“As women, we should not be made to feel unsafe going about our daily lives and in our own homes.”

— Holly Willoughby

Chief Mundale said the Owatonna Police Department Detective Unit “uses online platforms to monitor criminal activity and chatter to gather intelligence.”

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“These investigations have no geographic boundaries and generally land in other states and countries,” Mundale explained. “These covert investigations are conducted across various and changing social media platforms searching for individuals with a criminal mind and intent to traffic minor children or persons that are seeking to hire for rape or murder.”

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Detroit, MI

Metro Detroit weather forecast, June 26, 2026 — 4 p.m. Update

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Metro Detroit weather forecast, June 26, 2026  — 4 p.m. Update


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Milwaukee, WI

Brewers Are Making a Mistake With Andrew Vaughn’s Playing Time

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Brewers Are Making a Mistake With Andrew Vaughn’s Playing Time


There are few things that the Milwaukee Brewers haven’t done right so far in 2026.

Milwaukee has navigated difficult injuries all season and yet it is 49-29 and has the second-best record in baseball behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (52-29) heading into an important series against the Chicago Cubs. How many teams out there could accomplish this feat when guys like Andrew Vaughn Christian Yelich, Quinn Priester, Jackson Chourio, and Brandon Woodruff all missed significant time at various points in the season? These are legit, star-level pieces and the Brewers navigated the losses admirably.

Right now, all of them are healthy, except Priester. The young starter will miss the entire season. Now, Milwaukee is firing on all cylinders and yet it could be even better. Soon enough, Logan Henderson will be back. Also, the offense would arguably be even better if Vaughn was given more opportunities. Since May 4, Vaughn is only eighth on the team in plate appearances, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

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Despite this, Vaughn has done nothing but tear the cover off the ball. In 39 games, he has slashed .355/.444/.542 with a .987 OPS, two homers, 12 doubles, and 23 RBIs. That’s the type of production you need in the lineup every night, regardless.

The Brewers Need To Give Andrew Vaughn More Time

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Jun 7, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Milwaukee Brewers infielder Andrew Vaughn (28) rounds third base to score in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

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Brewers manager Pat Murphy acknowledged that Vaughn has had a weakness with some righties, as transcribed by Hogg.

“Heavy east-west sometimes is more troublesome for him,” Murphy said. “But for him this year you can look at it and go, ‘Yeah, against the two-seamer he’s been [worse]. But what about the times against the two-samer that he took it and got something else? You don’t get credit for being good against the two-seamer when you take it. You only get dinged when you swing at it.”

Still, this is a guy batting .355 since May 4. He’s obviously not perfect, but Milwaukee’s offense is better with him in it. Even if the club has to get creative. Jake Bauers has made his mark this season and needs playing time as well and both play first base, among others. Throughout Vaughn’s career, he has seen time at third base, second base, left field and right field, along with first base. Throughout the season to this point, there’s been chatter about how the Brewers haven’t had enough offense on the left side of the infield.

They recently promoted Cooper Pratt to play shortstop, so third base has been handled by David Hamilton and Joey Ortiz. Maybe a good idea could be trying to shift Vaughn to third base for the time being because they could then get his bat and Bauers’ bat in the lineup consistently. In that scenario, the Brewers could also consistently roll with an outfield of Chourio in left field, Garrett Mitchell in center field, and Sal Frelick in right field.

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At the end of the day, the Brewers need Vaughn’s bat in the lineup every day. If you can bat .355 over a 39-game stretch, you deserve significant playing time.

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Minneapolis, MN

Affordable senior housing revived at 600 Main St. SE

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Affordable senior housing revived at 600 Main St. SE


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The Blueprint

A team led by Lupe Development Partners and Wall Cos. wants to bring more than 100 units of affordable senior housing to a triangular parking area near the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, the latest version of a yearslong effort to redevelop the site.

On Thursday, the Minneapolis Planning Commission Committee of the Whole reviewed plans for the five-story, 104-unit building at 600 Main St. SE. The project would require a comprehensive plan amendment, rezoning and other approvals.

Jess Olstad, a city spokesperson, said in an email that the committee took no formal action.

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“The next step for the project team will be to conduct public engagement around their potential comprehensive plan amendment, and to prepare their land use applications for submittal,” Olstad said.

Steve Minn, vice president and chief financial manager of Lupe Development, said Friday that the project received “very positive feedback” from the committee.

“We’re just going to proceed with the rest of our application, which will be in the next week or so,” said Minn, who added that the proposed location is a “perfect site for housing” and that “senior housing is a need.”

A comprehensive plan amendment would require Metropolitan Council review. If the approval process goes well and financing comes together next year, the project could break ground in 2028, Minn said.

A 58-space “principal parking facility” currently occupies the 37,401-square-foot development site, which is framed by Sixth Avenue Southeast, Main Street Southeast, and a railroad property, according to a city staff report.

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The project would primarily offer one-bedroom units, though the mix would also include some two-bedroom dwellings and efficiencies. Thirty-nine stalls of underground parking are also planned.

Located near the Stone Arch Bridge trailhead in the Mississippi River Critical Area Overlay District, the project would be “compatible with the surrounding neighborhood architecture,” according to a narrative submitted on behalf of the developer.

The plan includes site improvements such as structured parking and pedestrian spaces, and a new public trail, which would connect to existing Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board trails in Father Hennepin Bluffs Park.

According to the developer’s narrative, the project “represents a reinvestment in a privately owned, undeveloped parcel that is not used for park purposes and is not planned for acquisition.”

The project would align the property’s “land use, built form, and Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Overlay District designations with the surrounding urban context and applicable regulatory framework,” the narrative states.

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Wall Cos. and Lupe Development Partners, doing business as Bluff Street Development, have long wanted to redevelop 600 Main St. SE. In 2023, the developers pitched a plan for 80 affordable housing units on the site.

The developers’ history with the site goes back as far as 2009, when they proposed separate plans for a 98-unit and a 79-unit apartment project, as previously reported. In 2010, Bluff Street sued the city after the City Council rejected the plans. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2011.

When development efforts first started, the Mississippi River Critical Corridor Area rules and regulations had not been defined, and “there was a lot of angst in the community” about what those regulations would be, Minn said.

Those regulations are now “well defined,” clearing the way for development, he said.



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