Olympian’s Ex-Boyfriend and Alleged Killer Dies From Burns Sustained in Fatal Fire Attack
As the Olympic community grieves the tragic loss of a world-class marathon runner, the man allegedly responsible for her death has succumbed to injuries he sustained in the same brutal attack.
Dickson Ndiema Marangach was admitted to hospital on Sept. 1 with severe burns after a horrifying act of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend Rebecca Cheptegei, who represented Uganda at the Paris Olympics. Authorities said Ndiema doused Cheptegei with gasoline and set her on fire at her home in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya.
Having sustained burns to more than 75 percent of her body, Cheptegei suffered massive organ failure and died at the same facility four days later. At just 33 years old, she had represented neighboring Uganda, her family’s homeland, in several global running championships.