Autopsy report has revealed that Shantel Nzembi who was found dead after being kidnapped at Kitengela was suffocated to death by blocking her nose and mouth.
Chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor who conducted the autopsy at Shallom Community Hospital mortuary in Athi River said more samples have been taken to establish if Shantel was defiled before being murdered.
This comes as four suspects among them Nativity Mutindi Nthuku are being held at Kitengela police station in connection to the murder.
Shantel's family are optimistic that justice will finally prevail following the arrest of prime suspect Mutindi.
"I am hopeful that my family will get justice. Detectives pursuing this matter have been cooperative and assisted us as a family in every step. We are expecting to be served justice. We hope all culprits involved in this heinous act will be brought to book," said Christine Ngina, Shantel's mother.
While at it, Ngina says as a family they will embark on preparations to lay the girl to rest upon receiving the report on defilement.
"It's so painful and I am still wondering why would someone be this heartless. I am just a peasant who works from hand to mouth and I still doubt if I was the target of the kidnapper who wanted Ksh300, 000," she added.
Isinya Director of Criminal Investigations officer Jeremiah Ndubai said eye witness and the kid who was lastly playing with Shantel positively identified the prime suspect during a public parade conducted at Kitengela police station.
"We have made a major breakthrough in unravelling this heinous murder of the eight-year-old girl. We now have a tight case against two suspects in our custody. We are compiling our evidence and preparing the file that we will forward to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions," Ndubai said.
This far, Ndubai insists that the motive of the kidnapping remains monetary. He however says further investigations will reveal more details.
Shantel, went missing on May 29, 2021, and her body recovered while stashed in a gunny bag on May 31, in Kitengela.
