Nyeri: CCTV Footage Shows Suspect Walking with Slain Girl Tamara on Night She Went Missing

• Emerging CCTV footage captured the final moments of seven-year-old Tamara before she went missing last Saturday
• The footage shows Tamara walking hand in hand with the suspect, who appeared cheerful and gained her trust
• The suspect denied involvement until an eyewitness and CCTV evidence placed him with Tamara near his home
• Tamara’s body was found buried under his bed, sparking public outrage and protests

Emerging CCTV footage now shows the last moments of slain girl Tamara before she went missing last weekend.

Seven-year-old Tamara went missing on the evening of Saturday, May 24, with the search for her culminating in the discovery of her remains buried under the suspect's bed.

CCTV footage shared by NTV captures how the suspect walked hand in hand with the young girl in the hours before she was reported missing.

In the clip, the suspect walked gleefully with the young Tamara, who appeared to have trusted him. She was holding his hand as they walked towards his house in a slum on the outskirts of the town.

An eyewitness said the child was eating a sweet, which the suspect is believed to have used to entice her to his home.

In the CCTV video, the man was carrying a blue bag, while the girl, who did not sense any danger, was in pink trousers, a brown top and white sandals.

This was the last time Tamara was seen alive.

Her mum grew anxious after Tamara failed to return home on Saturday night, and she launched a search for her after reporting the matter to the police station.

The family looked for the young girl till late. The following day, the suspect joined in the search, even asking her family if they had found her.

"Our child disappeared mysteriously. We looked for her here in town until 2am," the child's grandmother said.

Eyewitness and CCTV evidence help corner suspect

A woman who hawks tea helped nail the suspect after telling the family that she saw him walking with Tamara towards his Majengo home.

The suspect initially denied having seen or been with Tamara, but once the CCTV footage from cameras installed along the path to his home was recovered, he was cornered.

Residents found Tamara's body buried in a shallow grave under his bed, leading to demonstrations as residents bayed for the suspect's blood.

It also emerged that the suspect was proceeding with his day as if nothing had happened.

A friend of the family detailed how he proceeded to a miraa base and asked about Tamara's whereabouts when he ran into her family.

Family friend narrates Tamara's last moments

Jacque, a close friend of the family, broke hearts when she narrated the moving last moments of the slain young girl.

She narrated that the main suspect was well known to her mum as he worked as the market's porter, helping ferry her market produce.

"Tamara, your face was not new to that market. I mean, you have practically been raised within that environment, as your mother Sue, went by her business with you by her side until you overgrew her lap and could walk around and even attend school," she said.

He said the suspect saw Tamara growing up to be the bubbly young girl she was, and she even trusted and made him her friend.

She explained that no one would have sensed danger was looming when they saw Tamara heading to the Majengo area with him, because Tamara had made him her friend.

"On that Saturday you never went home, and your now worried mother, together with friends, searched with the hope of finding you either lost or maybe you had left with friends and lost track of time. When there was no trace of you, a report was made at the Nyeri police station that same night," she explained the aftermath after Tamara's disappearance.

Counsellor Jane Mugo speaks on healing after child's death

Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, counsellor Jane Mugo noted that the first step in overcoming a child's death is accepting, so that one can start the journey to healing.

She also noted that seeking support from friends and family can help overcome grief from the loss of a child.

"I found myself in the same situation. It was tough, but I thank God I overcame the trauma. The first thing is to accept. Accept that the child is gone. Avoid anything that can bring memories (clothing, accessories, etc.) Avoid being alone, as one may start remembering memories. A grieving parent should take a holiday with friends or a close relative too," she said.

Tamara's mum demands justice

In other news, Tamara's mum spoke amidst tears while narrating her last moments with her little girl.

She demanded justice for her child.

"I went to the police station, and she was last seen around 6pm. She was playing with a police cat together with another child. I do not know what happened after that, because I lost my child mysteriously. She is a kid who returns home from school on her own every day. She has been brought up in town and finds her way home from school. She is well known," the heartbroken mother said.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke