Why autopsy of murdered Athi River children could not indicate their cause(s) of death

The Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor said Tuesday that a four-hour postmortem exercise conducted on two Athi River children, whose bodies were discovered in a vehicle impounded at Athi River Police Station on July 1, could not indicate their cause(s) of death due to the extent of decomposition of their bodies.

Speaking at the Chiromo Funeral Parlour, where the autopsy was conducted Tuesday afternoon (July 7), Dr. Oduor said both bodies had no visible injuries or fractured bones to suggest the children had been subjected to trauma.

Samples extracted from the bodies, were forwarded to the Government Chemist for further tests to establish the duration the bodies had stayed in the vehicle before being discovered.

Bodies of the siblings were found in an accident wreckage car parked at Athi River Police station. They were identified as Alvina Mutheu, 3, and Henry Jackton, 4.

Police said the two children were reported missing more than three months after the car was towed to the station following an accident on Mombasa Road, making them believe they must have been killed and their bodies taken there.

“It is very strange, because the vehicle had been at the station for more than three months before they were reported missing,” a police officer at the station said.

Athi River Police Chief Catherine Ringera said an investigation had been launched on the mysterious murders. Parents of the two children positively identified them.

She said the bodies were discovered on July 1, but it remained unclear how they had gone unnoticed for a month.

So far, six people, including the children’s parents, have been grilled by homicide detectives.

Besides the children’s parents, the owner of the vehicle in which the deceased were found, will also be interrogated. Also to be probed, is a traffic police officer who moved the car from where it was initially parked at the station after it was impounded.