Nanyuki town – a mother’s body and her two children found buried in a shallow grave at Thingithu Estate in Nanyuki town while visiting their father.
It has been called the “Fatal Attraction” murder, grabbing headlines in Nanyuki Town. The case has drawn comparisons to the 1987 movie starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close.
Joyce Syombua 31 with her daughter Shanice Maua 10 and son Prince Michael 5 were recovered from a shallow grave where they had been buried.
The three were declared missing at the Soweto Police Station on 20 October 2019. Syombua’s mother, Elizabeth Maua in Nairobi had reported her family missing.
Suspects Arrested
This comes a day after the arrest of Major Peter Mugure in connection with his strangled wife and the disappearances of children. Peter Mugure worked at Laikipia Airbase as an Army officer.
Investigations identified him to be the principal suspect after members of his family vanished. Thus he was arrested yesterday.
Investigations
The DCI office in Nanyuki town took up the issue and was investigating the whole day. They visited the Air Force barracks where the suspect was living.
A friend identified as Farizana had filed a complaint of missing persons when the three went missing. The investigators shifted from Laikipia Airbase to the abandoned grave yard at around 4:30 pm.
They discovered heaps of murram that seemed to be freshly dug after further inspection of the area. This meant the place was classified as a crime scene.
Mortuary
The kids and the wife’s bodies were dug out and wrapped in sacks. Local residents who got word came together at the scene.
Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary received the three bodies. The county criminal investigation officer Peter Muinde indicated that they are going to continue with investigations.
When they divorced, Syombua and her children visited their father on his appeal, and the court gave the father the right to see them from time to time.
The suspect will be in court on Monday to file a plea as investigations continue.