Father of Olympic Marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei Calls for Justice After She's Killed in Gasoline Attack

The long-distance runner died on Thursday, Sept. 5, four days after she was allegedly doused in gasoline and set on fire by her former partner

The father of Rebecca Cheptegei is speaking out in the wake of the Ugandan Olympian’s tragic killing.

“I have a lot of grief because I’ve lost my daughter,” Joseph Cheptegei told reporters at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, Kenya on Thursday, Sept. 5, where the long-distance runner died. “I seek your help so that this person who has killed my daughter can be prosecuted.”

Cheptegei, 33, died from “full organ failure,” four days after her former partner Dickson Ndiema allegedly doused her with gasoline and set her on fire at her home in Trans Nzoia County in western Kenya, authorities said.

Related: Olympic Marathon Runner Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Being Set on Fire in Gasoline Attack by Boyfriend

The athlete suffered burns to almost 80% of her body in the attack, in which Ndiema was also seriously injured.

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“As it is now, the criminal who harmed my daughter is a murderer and I am yet to see what the security officials are doing,” the father said, regarding Ndiema. “He is still free and might even flee.”

The long-distance runner had just returned from church with her daughters on Sunday, Sept. 1 and was heard arguing with Ndiema about land on which she had built a home at the time of the incident, ABC News reported.

Related: Olympic Marathon Runner Set on Fire by Her Boyfriend in Gasoline Attack Weeks After Competing at Paris 2024

Cheptegei, the mother of two young daughters, competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, where she finished in 44th place with a season's best time of 2:32:14. Her previous best marathon time was in December 2022, when she ran 2:22.47 at the Abu Dhabi Marathon.

The runner’s death comes nearly three years after 25-year-old Kenyan Olympian Agnes Tirop was stabbed to death by her husband.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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