Kenyan track and field athlete Damaris Muthee Mutua (28) was murdered in her home country in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya on the 19th of April 2022.
Police launched a manhunt after the long-distance runner was stabbed to death in her hometown by her boyfriend.
Kenyans.co.ke wrote that Keiyo North County Commissioner, Julius Maiyo, told the media that Muthee’s boyfriend, who is being treated as the main suspect in the murder, fled to Ethiopia on Saturday, April 16, the same day the athlete was murdered.
Police traced his recent phone calls to Ethiopia. According to press reports, the suspect called an acquaintance after the alleged crime and reported it. He informed the police, who then found the body.Â
They also pointed out that there were no visible injuries on the body indicating that Muthee could have died by strangulation.
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It was suspected that Damaris Muthee Mutua had visited the Ethiopian boyfriend Saturday and that she could have been killed the same night because the body was found decomposing.
Police got reports the Ethiopian had killed his girlfriend and when officers came to the residence they found the door locked and upon breaking down the door, found the dead body.
Efforts to get extradition orders were ongoing so that the suspect can be questioned and charged.
Damaris has started as a junior runner for Kenya but later switched to Bahrain. She will be greatly missed by her colleagues and friends who spoke fondly of her in her work and passionate drive in her skill.
The terrible act is reminiscent of the case when Kenyan world-class runner Agnes Tirop (25) was found dead in October last year. There, too, the initially volatile partner was the suspect. He was caught shortly thereafter and has been on trial for murder since November.
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