Suspect Behind The Murder of US-Based Nyamira Couple Arrested In Migori

MIGORI Kenya May 19 -Detectives on Friday May 19 arrested the main suspect behind the gruesome murder of a couple in Nyamira County, which was reported on March 21, 2023.

The 40-year-old suspect Denis Ondara, who was armed with a Ceska pistol loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition, was arrested following a 4-day chase that ended at the Isebania border in Migori County. The sleuths from the Homicide Department that is also leading in the Shakahola exhumation exercise, pounced on the armed and dangerous suspect Friday afternoon, shortly before he crossed the border to evade justice.

Edward Morema Nyangechi, 62 and Grace Mong’ina Morema, 58, both based in the U.S were found murdered in the house in Nyamakoroto village in Keroka, Masaba North Sub-County in Nyamira County.

The couple lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the United States. According to the initial report filed at Gesima Police Station, the house help Silvia Barongo, 19, was the first to become suspicious before she called the farmhand 30-year-old Jeremiah Bosire and together they raised alarm attracting the attention of other villagers.

It is while the villagers were conducting search that the lifeless body of the woman was discovered sprawled on a bed in a pool of blood in one of the bedrooms, while the man’s body was found in the garage.

The bodies bore deep cuts on their heads while their legs and hands were tied together using electric cables.

An autopsy report released later by the government pathologist indicated that the two died as a result of strangulation and blunt object injuries on their heads and upper limbs.

Investigation into the incident was immediately launched and on May 15, detectives received information that the main suspect had been spotted in Ruai, where he had gone into hiding after the incident.

He however escaped the police dragnet and fled to Migori County.

On Friday at around 3pm, sleuths posing as hawkers along the border managed to arrest him without firing a single shot.

Upon searching the suspect, 14 more rounds of 9mm calibre were recovered, assorted spanners, nuts, screw drivers and pliers all used for breaking into parked vehicles.

“The suspect is also believed to be behind a number of reported robbery with violence and murder incidents in Nairobi, Nyamira, Kisii and Migori counties,” the DCI said.

So far, 3 suspects have been arrested in connection with the twin murders.