Man suspected of beheading wife arrested, missing head recovered

Police have arrested the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of 30-year-old security guard Jackline Awuor, whose beheaded body was discovered dumped in a quarry in Maili Kumi, Bahati on March 29,2026. 

Bahati Sub-County Police Commander Charity Karimi confirmed the arrest of 35-year-old Evans Abutu who is suspected to have beheaded his partner Jackline Awuor before fleeing with his head and daughter.

The severed head which was missing has also been recovered.

According to the Police, the suspect was tracked to his rural home in Navakholo, Kakamega County, following a coordinated operation involving detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and officers based in Kakamega.

“After tracing him to Kakamega, our team, working with DCI officers, carried out an ambush and successfully arrested the suspect. He has since been transferred to Nakuru for further interrogation,” says Karimi.

According to police, the suspect later, upon thorough interrogation led officers to the scene where he had disposed of the victim’s head at a quarry about 500 metres from where the body had earlier been found.

“At the scene, officers recovered a blood-soaked sweater and a marvin believed to belong to the deceased, which had been used to cover the severed head,” Karimi states.

The suspect further led detectives to a separate location where the suspected murder weapon, a kitchen knife, was retrieved from a pit latrine where he had allegedly dumped it.

“We have managed to recover the murder weapon. The recovered head has been taken to PNN Mortuary for preservation, and DNA tests will be conducted to confirm whether it matches the body that was initially found,” Karimi adds.

Police say the suspect is expected to be arraigned in court as investigators seek additional time to complete inquiries.

Awour's disappear was noted when her boss reached out to her family who confirmed that she had left home for work.

This prompted a search that led to the discovery of her body dumped in a quarry, still dressed in her work uniform with her head missing.

 Investigators also recovered personal belongings; gloves and earrings believed to belong to the deceased, a few meters from the scene.

According to family members, Awour and the partner were in an abusive relationship which they have asked her to make reports to police but she was murdered before making the report.

The two had been together for four years and had one child together, whom the suspect have eloped with after murdering her.

Karimi adds that during the operation, police also rescued Awuor’s three-year-old daughter, whom the suspect had allegedly taken with him after the incident.

Police say investigations are ongoing and the suspect will be presented in court to seek more days to allow for investigation.

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