Detectives investigating the murder of 25-year-old Nyeri businesswoman Joy Kanini have recovered the last missing part of her body, a development that investigators believe strengthens the case against the prime suspect.

Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ homicide unit led the main suspect, John Ndiritu Muriithi, also known as Tizo, to the location where the victim’s skull and neck were recovered after weeks of searching.

The discovery came shortly after Muriithi was presented before Senior Resident Magistrate Mary Gituma at the Nyeri Law Courts.

The court granted detectives 21 days to continue holding him at Kiganjo Police Station to complete investigations, reconstruct the crime scene and facilitate a mental assessment.

“The suspect posed a flight risk, citing an earlier attempt to evade arrest,” prosecutors argued.

Investigators believe Kanini, a businesswoman and graduate of The Nyeri National Polytechnic, disappeared after visiting the suspect at his rented house in Ngangarithi Estate.

Police allege she was killed inside the residence before her body was dismembered using a panga, which detectives later recovered during investigations.

The inquiry had earlier led officers to sacks containing parts of the victim’s body abandoned along the Nyeri-Karatina highway, while additional remains were recovered from a septic tank at the suspect’s residence following an excavation by detectives.

“After Kanini disappeared, the suspect attempted to divert attention by joining her family in searching for her and contacting her parents while pretending to be concerned about her whereabouts,”police further alleged.

Detectives say he later disappeared after the victim’s remains were identified.

According to investigators, intelligence officers tracked his movements across Laikipia before arresting him during a night operation in Timau along the Nanyuki-Isiolo road.

Police believe he was attempting to leave the country through Uganda when he was intercepted. Detectives have also accused several of the suspect’s relatives of helping him evade arrest by facilitating his escape.

Authorities say the individuals are being processed to face charges related to aiding a fugitive.

With the recovery of all the victim’s remains, investigators are now awaiting the outcome of DNA analysis and toxicology examinations being conducted by forensic experts from the DCI laboratory and the Government Chemist.