The man accused of burning Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei alive has died from his own injuries.
The 33-year-old athlete, who had an illustrious career representing Uganda, tragically passed away last week after suffering 80% burns to her body. The alleged attacker, her ex-boyfriend Dickson Ndiema, reportedly doused her in petrol and set her on fire during a heated argument over land ownership.
But now, Ndiema has also succumbed to the flames after he suffered 30% burns and was rushed to the same hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. He was set to be detained by police – but death beat the handcuffs to it. The hospital confirmed this morning that he died from his injuries late last night.
On that fateful Sunday, neighbors heard blood-curdling screams from Cheptegei’s home in Kenya’s Trans Nzoia County.
Witnesses watched in horror as Cheptegei, on fire, sprinted from her home, screaming for help. They narrated how she was engulfed in flames and reaching out to them for help.
They further allege that as people rushed to help, Ndiema returned to throw more petrol on his helpless ex.
