A sombre mood has engulfed Mugari village in Kiambere Ward, Embu County after the body of a middle-aged woman was discovered floating in a nearby river.
Villagers are yet to come to terms with the gruesome death of 44-year-old Jane Mwende Kilonzi, mother of seven, who was last seen on Tuesday evening.
From physical observation, the deceased eyes had been gorged out alongside other injuries on the head and limbs.
Traces of blood could be seen several metres from the scene, and blood stained rods were suspected to have been used to kill her.
It was suspected she could have been murdered by a farmhand who was working in the neighbourhood and who was her lover after the death of her husband last year.
According to village elder Jonathan Muswii, the suspect has since gone into hiding.
Her niece Catherine Njoki said she spoke to her at around 4 pm yesterday and nothing seemed amiss.
She said, according to neighbours, the suspect was at the deceased homestead up until 11 pm when screams were heard coming from her home that died out minutes later.
"We don’t know what transpired thereafter, as we just woke up to the sad news of her demise this morning at around 9 am," she said.
The body was taken to Embu Level Five Hospital for preservation.