Police in Ntungamo District have arrested three suspects in connection with the chilling murder of Naekeree Kedress, a resident of Butare Ward in Kauhunga sub-county.
The 58-year-old woman was discovered dead, her body found hanging outside her home under suspicious circumstances. Initial observations suggested suicide, but disturbing details soon emerged, shifting the case toward a suspected homicide.
According to reports, Kedress had been staying with her grandson, who told police that two unknown men forcefully entered their home, strangled his grandmother, and then staged the scene to appear as though she had taken her own life.
The turning point in the investigation came when police deployed Yudah, a trained K9 sniffer dog. Once introduced to the crime scene, the dog picked up a scent and tracked it for approximately one kilometer, eventually stopping at the residence of Mercy, the deceased’s daughter-in-law.
Following her arrest, Mercy allegedly confessed to being involved and went on to name three accomplices. Two of them have since been taken into custody, while one remains on the run. Police say efforts to track the remaining suspect are underway.
Authorities have praised the effectiveness of the K9 unit in solving what could have easily been written off as a suicide. The motive behind the murder remains under investigation, though family conflict is suspected.
The suspects are currently being held at Ntungamo Central Police Station as investigations continue.
This case has sent shockwaves through the local community, with many calling for swift justice and greater protection for vulnerable elderly individuals living alone or in potentially hostile households.
