DCI arrest person of interest linked to murder of a 9-year-old girl in Mathira
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, February 10, 2026The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Mathira West, Nyeri County, has arrested one person of interest in connection with the murder of a 9-year-old girl who mysteriously went missing on February 8, 2026, and was later found dead in a pit latrine.
Taking to their social media handle on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, the DCI have confirmed that they have arrested the person of interest after launching an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of the girl, leading to the arrest.
The DCI has reported that the arrested person led detectives to the grisly location where the girl was discarded in a pit latrine.
“A manhunt for the perpetrator commenced, and within no time, intelligence zeroed in on the arrested person and, upon interrogation, led detectives to the grisly location where he’d discarded Shantel’s body in his pit latrine,” the DCI statement read.
Disappearance of the deceased
The DCI has further reported that the deceased girl left home with her parents, together with her 4-year-old sister. However, when the parents returned home, they were met with the devastating news that the girl was missing.
The parents reported the matter to the law enforcement officers, prompting an exhaustive search that unearthed disturbing events where her undergarments and shoes were discovered on an old blue mattress in an abandoned house nearby.
The parents confirmed the items belonged to their daughter, and the area was declared a scene of crime, prompting the detectives to kickstart the investigations. The recovered items were collected and stored as exhibits.
With assistance from the members of the public, detectives retrieved the girl’s body, taking it to the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
The DCI have noted that their investigations revealed that on the day of the tragedy, the person of interest, who lives nearby, lured the deceased’s younger sister by giving her Ksh10 to go and buy sweets.
With the sister momentarily out of the house, the person of interest is reported to have committed the murder of the girl and disposed of her body in his pit latrine.
DCI commitment
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has noted that it remains resolute in protecting the most vulnerable members of society.
They have said that the heinous act against an innocent girl is not just an attack on one family but an assault on the morals of the communities and collective conscience.
The DCI have reported to stand with the girl’s family to make sure that justice prevails, declaring that perpetrators of such heinous acts against children will face the full force of the law.
They have called on members of the public with information on criminal activities to make a report to the law enforcement officers in person or through their provided contact details.