• She discovered her mother had been killed through a Facebook article
• The charge was filed against her mother’s husband

A British woman discovered that her mother had been killed after coming across the news of her death on Facebook, leaving her feeling angry and disappointed with the police response.

Karen Bassett had no idea her mother, Ann Green, had been killed until she saw an article on the site published on the same day as the incident.

The 61-year-old victim was found dead at her home on Apple Tree Close in Bromyard, Herefordshire.

Her husband, Julian Thomas, 54, has been charged with her murder and is scheduled to appear at Worcester Crown Court on 27 February.

The police said they could not comment on the case while the investigation is ongoing but confirmed they would do so as soon as possible.

Recalling the day of her mother’s death, Bassett said: “On 27 September, I received a message from a friend saying, ‘I think this is where your mum told me she lives.’ She had sent me a link to an article on social media. When I read it, the ages and location matched, and I realized it was about my mother. People were writing ‘RIP Ann’ on the post, and that’s when I knew it was my mum.”

She added: “I called my local police, as I live in South Wales, and told them I was pretty sure it was my mum who had been killed. They said they would make some inquiries.” She was then told that someone from West Mercia Police would visit her within 40 minutes.

Bassett described her shock: “I knew immediately it was my mother. It was heartbreaking. I felt angry, sad, and let down. I shouldn’t have had to find out this way. I had to tell the rest of the family myself, and some even asked if it was really Mum.”

She later received an apology from West Mercia Police, who referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Bassett said: “I don’t think that will ever be enough. No one should have to learn about the death of a loved one through social media.”