KAJIADO,Kenya, June 4 – Detectives Thursday evening apprehended the key suspect in the brutal murder of 8 year-old Shantel Nzembi at her home in Noonkopir area, Kitengela.
The suspect identified as Nativity Mutindi Nthuku was arrested at around 8pm.
A morning raid Friday, at her house saw detectives recover the airtel sim card allegedly used by the kidnappers to solicit for ransom totaling Sh300,000. Several woven head gears suspected to have been worn by the deceased were also confiscated.
Detectives also recovered a machete including bedsheets suspected to have been used to wrap the deceased before her body was put inside a gunny bag and dumped.
“We will now admit these bed sheets as exhibits which will serve as evidence. We intend to take samples and compare it with those that were used to wrap the girl’s body before it was dumped,” said the DCI
Detectives used Global Positioning System (GPS) and eye witness testimonies to locate the suspect who coincidentally lives just 300 meters where the body of the former grade 2 learner was dumped.
Residents who spoke to Shahidi News and sought anonymity said that the suspect, had a larger than life behavior and though she mostly kept to herself, staying indoors for most of the time, she could be seen going out during the evening.
She is also said to have operated an M-pesa shop which closed down several months ago and could possibly be the reason why she kept to herself, staying indoors for long hours.
The suspect who many knew as mama Mercy lived in her bedsitter home for more than a year.
“She appeared friendly and even interacted with some of our children here” said one of her neighbours.
Police now say it is possible that the girl was held at Mutindi’s apartment before she was killed.
Mutindi is also a mother of one, a grade three learner.
“We did an identification parade and the children that were playing with Shantel confirmed the woman is the one that took her. We now have no doubt she was the one that committed the killing,” said Jeremiah Ndubai, DCIO Isinya
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Her arrest comes days after three other suspects were arrested.
Two male suspects, Livingstone Makacha Otengo and Francis Mbuthia,were arrested and arraigned yesterday where they will now be detained for a further 10 days.
Another suspect, a woman identified as Agnes Kasiva Nzioki was also arrested. She is said to have kidnapped Shantel outside her home.
An autopsy will be conducted Friday afternoon.
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