Rebecca Cheptegei, a famous Olympian from Uganda, died on September 5 due to multiple organ failure after being attacked by what was believed to be her ex-boyfriend.
Police in Kenya, where she lived, said that on the afternoon of September 1, a man, identified as Dickson Ndiema, doused her with gasoline and set her on fire, according to E! News.
The athlete suffered burns to more than 80 percent of her body, in addition to internal injuries from smoke inhalation, explained Dr. Owen Menach, who treated her at a local hospital.
Rebbeca Cheptegei’s daughters witnessed the attack
After Rebecca Cheptegei’s death, her father, Joseph Cheptegei, claimed he had reported Dickson Ndiema to authorities several times for domestic violence, the Washington Post reports.
The last time the runner accused the aforementioned was on Friday, August 30, when the police asked her to return on Monday, September 2.
However, the previous Sunday, the subject, who law enforcement officials say was Rebecca’s ex-boyfriend, sought her out to kill her.
“She was coming from church with her two girls and it was a little after three in the afternoon,” Joseph said, citing a conversation he had with his daughter while she was in the hospital.
“It was about to rain so they started picking up clothes from the clothesline and Rebecca was in the coop … the guy came into the chicken coop with fuel and put it on her back,” he continued.
“When he came back, he threw some more at her and lit the flame. “The girls saw everything, even when their mother was burning,” he added.
Joseph stated that it was not the first time that Ndiema, who claimed he was only a friend of the runner and not her lover, attacked her.
“In January this year, he beat her and tried to dismember her, but she was saved by her brother. We reported it to the police, who did not handle the matter well, they were too slow,” he said.
Her daughter Rebecca Cheptegei tried to help her
Rebecca Cheptegei has two daughters, one 11 and the other 9, whose father is a man, whose identity is unknown, who lives in Uganda, explains the Daily Mail.
The Standard revealed, this Thursday, that one of the little girls, who remains unnamed, shared that she tried to help her mother amid Dickson Ndiema’s attack.
The minor said she tried to “run to save” her parent, but the man kicked her away.
“I immediately screamed for help, attracting a neighbor who tried to put out the flames with water, but it was not possible,” he said.
Trans-Nzoia County Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom told The Star that Rebecca and Ndiema had allegedly been involved in a protracted land dispute.
Source: univision
Jason Root is a writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth coverage of famous people in entertainment, sports, and politics. He has a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines and bringing readers an inside look at the lives of the famous. He has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Journalism from UC Berkeley.
