Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have launched investigations into the death of 86-year-old Virginia Wanjiru Gitau, whose body was found inside her home in Karima Village, Ndutumi Sub-Location, Kiria Location, Kahuro Sub-County in Murang'a County.

According to investigators, the elderly woman was discovered lying dead in her semi-permanent house under circumstances that raised suspicion of foul play.

Although officers did not immediately observe visible external injuries on her body, they found that she had been partially undressed and noted blood-stained discharge at the scene, leading them to investigate the possibility that she may have been sexually assaulted before her death.A key witness is the woman's five-year-old grandson, who was in the house that night.

The child reportedly told investigators that he saw an unidentified adult man enter the house and go into the bedroom before hearing his grandmother scream.When the woman failed to wake up the following morning, the boy sought help from a neighbour, who alerted local authorities.As police processed the scene, members of the public apprehended a man they suspected could be linked to the incident.

Officers intervened to protect the suspect from an angry crowd before taking him into custody at Kahuro Police Station, where he remains as investigations continue.

Detectives documented evidence at the scene before transferring the deceased's body to Muriranjas Sub-County Hospital Mortuary for preservation and a post-mortem examination.The findings are expected to help establish the exact cause of death and determine whether a criminal offence was committed.