A man accused of setting Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei on fire has died from burns in a Kenyan hospital.
Dickson Ndiema was treated for burns covering 30% of his body at Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret after the attack, AP said.
The hospital confirmed the suspect’s death and stated they will release a full statement regarding the incident.
Reports suggest Ndiema allegedly set Cheptegei on fire during a dispute over land in Kenya, leading to her death last Thursday.
Her family accused Ndiema of stalking and threatening Cheptegei before the attack, and they expressed concerns over police inaction.
Cheptegei competed in the Paris Olympics women’s marathon and finished 44th place before she was brutally murdered.
According to reports, Cheptegei purchased land in Kenya to train near top athletic centers but had conflicts with Ndiema.
Cheptegei will be buried in Uganda this Saturday, as her family continues seeking justice for her murder.