NDIA: A 38-year-old is in police custody for allegedly raping and murdering his 25-year-old girlfriend in Ndia, Kirinyaga county.

Salvatora Muthiora Gitia was arrested on Wednesday after Sella Wangithi was found dumped in his home compound. She had been reported missing on Sunday.

Miss Wangithi’s body was found naked with her inner garments found at the crime scene.

According to eye witness reports, Salvatora allegedly used banana leaves to cover the body in an attempt to conceal the crime.

According to the deceased’s aunt, neighbours called her when the body was found.

“I was called by my neighbours who raised an alarm over the body of a woman that was covered with banana leaves. When I arrived, I was able to identify her,” said Esther Mutugi.

According to James Muriuki, the deceased’s uncle, the woman received a phone call from the suspect before she went missing.

When she did not return home, they sought her, questioning Gitia’s mother who could not confirm her whereabouts.

“We were shocked to find that she had been killed in the same place where we were told that she had not been seen,” Muriuki said.

Confirming the incident, Kirinyaga west sub county police commander Moses Koskei noted that the suspect is being interrogated by detectives.

“We suspect that he raped her before he killed her because her bra and panties had been removed. Both were found at the scene,” said Koskei.

The deceased’s body has been moved to Karatina mortuary awaiting postmortem as investigations continue.