According to the Associated Press, the incident happened at Rebecca’s home in Trans Nzoia County in western Kenya. However, she is originally from Uganda. Her parents said she bought the land in TNC to be closer to its athletic training centers.
Note that Dickson is being reported as Rebecca’s boyfriend. But, her father, Mzee Joseph Cheptegei, told The Star, a Kenyan newspaper, that they’ve been “just friends” for a hot minute.
Trans Nzoia County officials say Dickson purchased a jerrican of petrol and poured it on Rebecca on Sunday, September 1, before lighting her on fire. He also suffered burns during the process. The couple had reportedly been in an argument ahead of the arson attack.
This was allegedly confirmed by the police report and police commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom.
The commander told journalists that neighbors heard the couple arguing outside of their house and witnessed Dickson pouring a liquid on Rebecca.
Neighbors eventually put out Rebecca and Dickson Ndiema’s burning bodies.
It remains unclear what exactly prompted him to commit the attack.
The incident appears to still be under investigation. However, the police commander told a local outlet that they believed Rebecca Cheptegei’s ex-boyfriend snuck into her compound at around 2 p.m. while she was at church with her two kids, per The Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, 30 percent of Dickson’s body was also burned, per The Star.
Rebecca is just a few weeks removed from coming in 44th place during the women’s marathon at the Paris Games last month.
We regret to announce that our athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who competed at the Olympics has suffered severe injuries and is hospitalized at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. This follows an incident involving her Kenyan boyfriend pouring petrol and setting fire on her pic.twitter.com/rgnWvgTpkb
— UGANDA ATHLETICS FEDERATION🇺🇬🇺🇬 UAF (@UgaAthletics2) September 3, 2024
Jesus!!!!!!
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