The mysterious death of Rachael Brenda Opiyo, a 30 year old mama fua from Kiembeni in Mombasa, has taken a fresh turn after an autopsy revealed the cause of her death.
Brenda died on Monday, May 5, while at the house of her employer, who is reported to be a police officer. Her death sparked widespread reactions online after reports emerged that her body had visible marks on the hands and legs, leading to speculation and calls for investigations.
The matter attracted public attention after Brenda’s family questioned the circumstances under which she lost her life. Relatives who viewed the body at the mortuary claimed they noticed unusual marks that raised concerns about possible foul play.
However, an autopsy conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor established that Brenda died from a heart attack linked to thyroid complications.
According to the findings, Brenda had an enlarged thyroid gland that eventually caused heart failure. The pathologist stated that there was no evidence showing that the deceased had been electrocuted or physically harmed before her death.
Oduor further explained that the marks seen on Brenda’s body were postmortem skin changes that developed after death because the body had remained exposed for some time. He noted that examinations carried out on the body did not reveal injuries associated with electrocution.
Despite the findings, samples from the body were taken for further laboratory analysis and toxicology tests to rule out any additional factors that may have contributed to the death.
The findings appeared to bring some relief to the grieving family. Brenda’s mother, Janet Ouma, said the family accepted the autopsy report after learning that her daughter had been battling thyroid related illness for some time.
The emotional case had generated debate on social media, with many Kenyans demanding transparency and justice following the young woman’s sudden death.
Her family has since started burial preparations as investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death continue.