Agnes Jebet Tirop of Kenya celebrates winning bronze in the Women’s 10,000 Metres final during day two of 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 at Khalifa International Stadium on September 28, 2019, in Doha, Qatar. | Source: Alexander Hassenstein / Getty
The husband of a Kenyan Olympic long-distance runner who was found dead this week in a grisly stabbing has been arrested, according to reports.
Agnes Tirop, 25, was found dead on Wednesday with apparent stab wounds to her neck in her home in Western Kenya. One day later, police in Kenya managed to apprehend Tirop’s husband, Ibrahim Rotich, who is also a world-class long-distance runner. After two days on the run, Rotich was found Thursday night local time in the city of Mombasa, Reuters reported.
“The suspect has been arrested today evening and is in custody at Changamwe police station in Coast Region,” Tom Makori, sub county police commander for Keiyo North, told Reuters. “I can confirm now we have main suspect in our custody.”
The details of Tirop’s killing are scant but very graphic. She was reportedly found with stab wounds in her neck as well as her abdomen. Police said they believe there was a domestic argument before Tirop was killed. They pointed to Tirop’s car having its windshield and windows smashed as apparent proof of their suspicions.
Still, there were no immediate reports of a definite motive in the killing. It was also unclear if Rotich admitted to the killing, but Kenyan authorities suggested he had been charged with murder.
“The suspect is currently being grilled by detectives at Changamwe police station, for more details into the murder, before being arraigned to answer to murder charges,” according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Kenya, which described in a Twitter thread how Rotich was caught.
“Rotich had rammed his getaway vehicle into a lorry at Athi River, along Mombasa road, as he desperately escaped out dragnet,” the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said in a tweet.
Tirop’s track and field accomplishments are noteworthy.
She won bronze medals in the 2017 and 2019 women’s 10,000 meters world championships races and came in at fourth place at this past summer’s Tokyo Olympics in the 5,000 meters race. Tirop also last month broke the world record for a women’s 10K race in Germany. IN 2015, Tirop became the second-youngest person to win the world cross-country title at the age of 19.
Rest In Power: Notable Black Folks Who We’ve Lost In 2021
77 photosLaunch gallery
1. Anthony “A.J.” Johnson, comedian and actor, 56
Source:Instagram.com/therealajjohnson
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2. Michael K. Williams, actor, 54
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3. Carl Bean, gay preacher, 77
🧵More sad news fam…HIV/AIDS activist Archbishop Carl Bean, the founder of Minority AIDS Project and Unity Fellowship Church–often nicknamed the Black gay church for being the country’s 1st Black church affirming of the #LGBTQ community has transitioned and is now an ancestor. pic.twitter.com/r5bOBhyPtj
14. Glen Ford, veteran journalist and Black Agenda Report founder, 71
Source:LinkedIn
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15. Gloria Richardson, civil rights pioneer, 99
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16. Biz Markie, hip-hop legend, 57
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17. Charlie Robinson, actor, 75
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18. Matima “Swavy” Miller, social media star, 19
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19. Suzzanne Douglas, actress, 64
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20. Abdalelah Haroun, track and field star, 24
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21. Consuewella Dotson Africa, MOVE leader, 67
Heartbroken to learn that Consuewella Africa passed away today. She was arrested on Aug 8, 1978 w/ the MOVE 9 + spent 16 yrs in prison. May 13th, 1985, her daughters Netta and Tree were murdered. 2 mos ago, we learned Penn Museum held hostage Tree’s remains. And now she is gone pic.twitter.com/nZSW7Yu2yE
33. Henrietta Turnquest, pioneering Black woman politician, 73
MARTA is saddened by the passing of Henrietta Turnquest, who was appointed to the MARTA Board in 2003, the first African American woman to be appointed and serve on the MARTA Board of Directors. https://t.co/nTGaNeRfIkpic.twitter.com/CFdMRiFT9h
42. Sarah Obama, paternal step-grandmother of Barack Obama, 99
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43. Craig “muMs” Grant, poet-actor
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44. Elgin Baylor, NBA legend, 86
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45. Yaphet Kotto, actor, 81
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46. Reggie Warren, singer, 52
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47. Jo Thompson, muscian-singer, 92
Jo Thompson broke racial barriers during the decades she played the piano and sang to audiences from Detroit’s top supper clubs to ones in Cuba, New York, London and Paris during the 1950s. https://t.co/9GGN8Njdx4
57. Shelia Washington, founder, Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center, 61
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58. Antoine Hodge, opera singer, 38
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59. Douglas Turner Ward, actor, Negro Ensemble Company co-founder, 90
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60. Prince Markie Dee, rapper, 52
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61. Vincent Jackson, former NFL star, 38
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62. Danny Ray, MC who put cape on James Brown, 85
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63. Frederick K.C. Price, evangelist, 89
“They know if we ever let these Black people get equality that they will take over they will be on top of everything” – Frederick K. C. Price pic.twitter.com/NYI11QgTEz
66. Karen Lewis, former Chicago Teachers Union president, 67
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67. Leon Spinks, former heavyweight champion, 67
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68. Dianne Durham, gymnast, 52
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69. John Chaney, college basketball coaching legend, 89
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70. Cicely Tyson, actresss, 96
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71. Hank Aaron, MLB icon, 86
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72. Duranice Pace, gospel singer, 62
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73. Tim Lester, NFL star, 52
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74. Bryan Monroe, former NABJ president, 55
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75. Meredith C. Anding Jr., civil rights icon, 79
We are saddened to hear of the passing of Meredith Anding Jr., one of the Tougaloo College students who attempted to integrate the Jackson Municipal Library in 1961. Thank you for taking a stand for Freedom! Our thoughts and prayers are with the Anding family. pic.twitter.com/HC1tURbUd2