Teacher found dead inside locked house in Tharaka Nithi

police line

A 52-year-old primary school teacher was found dead inside her locked rental house at Chiakariga Shopping Centre in Tharaka South, Tharaka Nithi County.

The deceased, identified as Purity Mugito Kinoti, a teacher at Kombo Primary School, was discovered after neighbours became concerned when she failed to respond to repeated wake-up calls on Sunday morning.

According to police, the landlord alerted authorities after neighbours noticed that her house had remained locked from the inside since Saturday, although one window was open.

Police visited the scene and found Kinoti lying lifeless on her bed under a mosquito net.

Police broke the window grills to gain access to the single-room house. Her body was found partially undressed but bore no visible injuries.

Investigators said Kinoti was last seen on Friday, June 19, at around 7 p.m. outside her house preparing supper. She was not seen again, and her house remained locked throughout Saturday, prompting concern among neighbours.

Her Tecno mobile phone, which was switched on, was recovered inside the house, while all her other belongings appeared to be intact, ruling out an obvious robbery.

The scene was processed and documented before the body was moved to Marimanti Level Four Hospital Mortuary, where it awaits a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death.

Police have launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death.

Elsewhere, a 40-year-old man was found dead inside his locked house in the Shelemba area of Bombolulu, Nyali Sub-County, Mombasa County, several days after relatives were unable to reach him by phone.

The incident was reported on Saturday after the man’s employer became concerned when his caretaker failed to answer calls from Monday, June 15.

The employer visited the house at around 4 p.m. and noticed a foul smell coming from inside. He alerted police, who responded alongside the deceased’s brother.

Officers forced open the locked grill door and found the decomposing body of Louis Mtawanye, 40, lying on a mattress on the floor.

Police said the deceased, who lived alone, had no visible external injuries. Investigators suspect he died three to four days before the body was discovered, based on its state of decomposition.

Crime scene officers processed and documented the scene before the body was transferred to the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, where a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause of death.