Ex-Boyfriend Accused of Killing Olympic Marathon Runner in Gasoline Attack Dies of His Burns: Reports

Mar. 15, 2025

Rebecca Cheptegei, Dickson Ndiema.Photo:STR/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock; Dickson Ndiema/Facebook

STR/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock; Dickson Ndiema/Facebook

The former partner of the Olympic marathon Rebecca Cheptegei has reportedly died from the burns he sustained while allegedlydousing the Ugandan athlete in gasoline.

Dickson Ndiema, died on the evening of Monday, Sept. 9, multliple outlets includingBBC NewsandNBC Newsreported on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

Ndiema had been admitted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in the town of Eldoret after suffering more than 30 percent burns to his body in the incident, the BBC added.

Distance runner Cheptegei, 33 — who competed at the 2024Paris Olympics— suffered burns to almost 80 percent of her body in the same attack in Trans Nzoia County in western Kenya on Sunday, Sept. 1.

Shedied from “full organ failure"at around 5 a.m. local time on Thursday, Sept. 5, PEOPLE previously reported.

Dickson Ndiema.Dickson Ndiema/Facebook

Dickson Ndiema/Facebook

“It’s true he has died from the [burn] injuries,” Dr. Owen Menach, who is the Director of Clinical Services and Surgery at the hospital, told the BBC. Local outlets theDaily NationandThe Standardalso confirmed the news.

Per theDaily Nation, Cheptegei is set to be buried on Saturday, Sept. 14 at her ancestral home in Kapkoros, Bukwo District in Uganda.

Rebecca Cheptegei at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Naomi Baker/Getty

Naomi Baker/Getty

“The couple were heard quarreling outside their house,” Trans Nzoia County Police Commander, Jeremiah ole Kosiom, previously said, per theBBC. “During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her.”

After the attack,Cheptegei’s neighbor, Agnes Barabara,said, according to theBBC, “I was in the house and heard people screaming ‘fire.’ ”

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Rebecca Cheptegei.Alamy

Alamy

“When I came out, I saw Rebecca running towards my house on fire, shouting, ‘Help me,’ ” Barabara added.

“As I went to look for water and started calling out for help, her assailant appeared again and doused more petrol (gasoline) on her,” she continued. “But then he too got burned and he ran off towards the garden to try to put it out. We then went to help Rebecca.”

Cheptegei finished in 44th place in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics in August. She’d previously won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.

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source: people.com