Detectives in Bomet Central have arrested a 28-year-old man suspected of being behind the vicious murder of a 45-year-old woman over a romantic relationship.

The suspect, Wesley Cheruiyot Koech, is said to have murdered Rachealine Rutto in cold blood inside her home and left the mutilated body on the bed before it was found by the deceased’s daughter on Tuesday last week.

“The discovery was made by the deceased’s daughter, who had grown increasingly anxious after repeated calls to her mother went unanswered throughout the day. Driven by concern, she visited her mother’s home, only to be met with a horrifying scene,” the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stated on Friday.

“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.”

After reporting the matter to the police, a manhunt for the perpetrator was commenced, and Koech was eventually smoked out of his hideout in Sailo village, Kipkelion East Sub-County and interrogated.

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The suspect led detectives to his abode, where several incriminating items, including the murder weapon, photographs of the mutilated body and other exhibits, were recovered.

“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,” DCI noted.

A further probe later established that the motive behind the heinous act stemmed from a long-standing grudge after Rutto ended their romantic relationship in 2016 (he was 19, and she was 36) and moved on with another man.

According to the DCI, it is alleged that Cheruiyot felt betrayed after spending money on her during their time together.

The suspect is currently in custody, undergoing processing pending his court appearance.