A 28-year-old man, Wesley Cheruiyot Koech, has been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of 45-year-old Rachealine Rutto in Bomet.
The victim’s body was discovered by her daughter on Tuesday last week, bearing multiple stab wounds and signs of violent assault.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stated that Rutto’s daughter, unable to reach her mother, visited the home and found the body lying in a pool of blood. “Rutto’s body lay on the bed in a pool of blood, bearing deep neck wounds and multiple stab injuries to her arm, chest, and back,” the DCI said.
Following the discovery, a manhunt for the suspect was launched, and Cheruiyot was arrested in Sailo village, Kipkelion East Sub-County. He led detectives to his home, where several pieces of evidence were recovered, including the murder weapon, a bloodstained knife, and photographs of the mutilated body taken by the suspect.
“Among them were the suspected murder weapon, a bloodstained knife wrapped in a cloth, as well as the deceased’s ring and a mobile phone containing disturbing photographs of the body taken by the suspect after the killing,” the DCI confirmed.
Investigations revealed that the motive behind the murder stemmed from a long-standing grudge. Cheruiyot had been in a relationship with Rutto, which ended in 2016. He allegedly harbored feelings of betrayal after Rutto moved on with another man, despite his emotional investment in the relationship. “It is alleged that Cheruiyot felt betrayed after spending money on her during their time together,” the DCI explained.
Cheruiyot is currently in custody, and further investigations are underway as he awaits court proceedings.
