The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kenya has apprehended Phyllis Nzula Mbithi, the primary suspect, in relation to the heinous murder of Jennifer Mwende, a 29-year-old hairstylist, in a suspected case of a romantic entanglement. Mwende's decomposing remains were discovered in a pit latrine in the Mlolongo area on September 12, 2023, after she had been missing for approximately two weeks. Evelyne Wanza Katumbu, the wife of a man whom the deceased was purportedly involved with, was previously arrested alongside another suspect, Faith Nthemba, in connection with the murder.
Both suspects have appeared in court and are currently being detained at Machalos Prison. A post-mortem examination conducted at Montezuma Monalisa Mortuary in Machakos town revealed that Mwende died from asphyxiation caused by manual neck compression.
The DCI, in a statement released on Saturday, October 28, announced that the prime suspect, Phyllis Nzula Mbithi, was apprehended on Friday night in Kitengela town while attempting to flee to Tanzania. According to the statement, Phyllis had issued threats to the deceased regarding the married man they were both involved with. Phyllis enlisted the help of her neighbor, Faith Nthenya, to entice Mwende to a location under the pretense of having clients seeking her services at a house. Once Mwende arrived at the house, the three women strangled her to death and disposed of her body in a pit latrine.
"Phyllis Nzula Mbithi was apprehended in a matatu bound for Namanga shortly after 9pm following an extensive pursuit conducted by crime research detectives utilizing forensic-led intelligence," stated the report.
"In the tragic incident involving a deadly love triangle, a thorough investigation into the disappearance and subsequent murder of Miss Mwende brought Phyllis to the forefront when it was discovered that she had repeatedly threatened Mwende in relation to a married man they were both involved with.
"Mwende's colleagues and friends at the salon became concerned when she failed to appear at work for several days, leading to a report of her disappearance being filed with the police.
"Mwende's brother, who made the official report at Mlolongo Police Station on August 29, 2023, informed the Officer in Charge (OCS) that she had been missing since August 25, after receiving a call from an unidentified individual. The OCS issued a nationwide alert for the missing woman to all police stations.
"Allegedly, on August 25, Mwende left her salon while engaged in a phone conversation and subsequently vanished.
"After an unsuccessful search for her, the case was transferred to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), where new investigations were initiated and statements were obtained from individuals of interest. Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau detectives, supported by teams from the DCI National Forensic Laboratory, promptly commenced their efforts."
During the investigative interview with the caretaker of the residence where Mwende had rented a room, it was discovered that on August 22 and August 24, unidentified women had visited Mwende's house inquiring about her whereabouts while she was not present.
Through forensic analysis, it was determined that Mwende's disappearance was not a coincidence but rather a carefully planned scheme to end her life. The main suspect, Phyllis, orchestrated this plot with the assistance of two other women.
Detectives uncovered that Phyllis used her female neighbor, Faith Nthenya, to deceive Mwende into going to her house under the pretense that clients were seeking her services there.
Once Mwende entered Phyllis' house, she was subdued by the two women. Phyllis then contacted a third woman, Evelyne Wanza Katumbu, who was the wife of Januaris Musau Mulwa, the man involved in the affair.
It was revealed that Wanza had become protective of her husband and accused Phyllis of stealing him away. In order to protect herself, Phyllis devised a plan to lure Mwende, who she knew was also involved with Musau, and informed Wanza about the situation, shifting the blame onto the defenseless Mwende.
After physically assaulting and making threats against Mwende's life if she were to be seen in Musau, Phyllis and Wanza became afraid that Mwende would report their actions to the police. As a result, they cruelly strangled her using a bedsheet, while Faith suffocated her with pieces of cloth to prevent any screams.
During the subsequent interrogations of Wanza and Faith, who had already been arrested, it was revealed that Phyllis had planned to have the body discreetly removed from the compound and taken to a forest by an unidentified taxi driver. However, this plan failed due to a lack of access to the main gate, which was necessary for the car to enter. Consequently, they resorted to disposing of the body in a pit latrine.
Following these events, Phyllis, who remained under police surveillance, managed to evade capture by fleeing to Mombasa and Kibwezi. However, she was eventually intercepted and arrested last night.
The suspect is scheduled to be formally charged on Monday, October 30, and will join her accomplices Faith and Wanza, who pleaded guilty to murder charges the previous day.
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