A suspect who police said confessed to killing 42 women in Kenya’s capital and was detained over the discovery of dismembered bodies has escaped police custody, officials said Tuesday.
Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, 33, was detained at a police station after allowing detectives seven more days to investigate the alleged offenses before he was charged.
Mohamed Amin, head of the Criminal Investigation Directorate, told The Associated Press that it was “unfortunate” that Kalusha escaped with 12 inmates early Tuesday morning after cutting through barbed wire and scaling a perimeter wall.
“This is a high-profile suspect who has to face serious charges. We are investigating the incident and will take action accordingly,” Amin said.
Kalusha was arrested in July after 10 bodies and several body parts were wrapped in plastic bags in Nairobi’s Kwere area.
Police said Kalusha confessed to killing 42 women, including his wife. Kalusha’s lawyer told reporters that his client was tortured and forced to confess and that he was not guilty.
Two more suspects, who were arrested after the mobile phones of some of the dead women were found, will return to court on August 26.
