HE NEEDS TO KNOW
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Karren Bassett’s mother, Ann Green, was found dead at a residence in Wales on September 27, 2025
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Bassett revealed in a BBC interview on Friday, February 6 that he first learned of his mother’s death from a Facebook post
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“It was awful and then I had to break the news to other family members,” she said, referring to how handling her mother’s death has evolved as a result of the social media post.
A woman in England is reliving the moment she found out her mother was murdered through a Facebook post.
Karen Bassett, from Chepstow in Monmouthshire in south-east Wales, revealed that she found out her mother, Ann Green, had died after being sent an article by a friend that was published on social media, according to the BBC.
West Mercia Police previously confirmed that Green was found dead on September 27, 2025, at an address on Apple Tree Close in Bromyard, Herefordshire, according to a press release. Police added that a 54-year-old man has been charged with murder.
The man charged is Green’s partner Julian Thomas, who is due to appear at Worcester Crown Court on February 27, the BBC reported.
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Bassett said of learning of her mother’s death: “I got a text on September 27th from a friend who said, ‘I’m pretty sure this is where your mother told me she lives,’ adding, ‘She sent me an article from a certain place that posted it on social media.’
“I read this article and the ages matched, so I commented that this is where my mom lives, because it was a little cul-de-sac, literally everybody knows everybody,” Bassett continued.
“People were also writing ‘RIP Ann’ on the post and then I [realized] it was my mother,” she told the BBC. “So I called my local police because I’m actually in South Wales and I said I’m pretty sure it was my mother who was killed and they said they’re going to do some enquiries.”
After being told she would receive a visit from West Mercia Police in 40 minutes, Bassett said she “knew straight away” it was her mother.
The mother-of-three told the BBC: “It was heartbreaking. I felt angry, I felt emotional, I felt let down. I shouldn’t have found out like this,” adding: “It was awful and then I had to break the news to other family members myself and I even had a few family members asking me if it was my mum. It was just awful.”
A spokesman for West Mercia Police said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE: “We continue to offer our condolences [to] Ms Green’s family and loved ones at this extremely upsetting and difficult time.”
“The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is continuing to conduct an independent investigation into our contact with Ms Green prior to her death and the steps taken by the force to notify her family of her death,” they continued.
The statement concluded: “It would be inappropriate to comment while the investigation is ongoing, but we will do so as soon as we can.”
Bassett told the BBC he had received an apology from West Mercia Police, but said: “I don’t think it will ever be good enough.”
“No one should ever have to find out their loved ones have been taken through social media,” she added to the outlet.
An IOPC spokesperson said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE: “Following assessment of a referral from West Mercia Police, we are investigating police contact with Anne Marie Green and her partner, Julian Thomas, prior to Ms Green’s death on September 27, 2025.”
“We are reviewing the police response to several incidents which were recorded by the force, with Mr Thomas as the suspect and Ms Green as the victim, from February 2024 to September 2025,” they added.
“Our investigation is considering the actions and decisions taken by West Mercia Police in relation to the adequacy of the risk assessments and safeguards put in place for Ms Green and whether actions or measures designed to protect Ms Green were followed,” the spokesman continued.
They concluded: “We are also looking at the timing and steps taken by the force to notify Ms Green’s family of her death.”
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Green’s family previously said in a tribute released by West Mercia Police on October 2: “We mourn the loss of a wonderful mother, step-mother, wife, sister, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother.”
“Our mother was one of a kind. She always took everyone as one of her own,” they added. “She was kind, caring and as a family we are all lost without her.”
“Her loss has left a great hole in our lives that can never be filled,” the family continued. “We will now focus on suffering as a family and getting the justice they deserve.”
PEOPLE has reached out to Karen Bassett for further comment.
Read the original article on People