Two separate violent incidents involving Zimbabwean men abroad have shocked communities this week, with one suspect charged in the United States after a brutal stabbing and child abduction, and another the subject of an international manhunt after three bodies were found in the UK.
In St. Louis County, Missouri, 36-year-old Munyaradzi Chiturumani has been charged with first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He is being held on a US$500,000 cash-only bond.
Police say neighbors called 911 after hearing Chiturumani’s wife screaming from their balcony that she was going to die. Officers found the woman with approximately 30 stab wounds. She told investigators Chiturumani had threatened to kill their six-year-old child before fleeing with the child.
Two bloodstained knives were recovered from the home.
Chiturumani’s 2017 Ford Edge was later found abandoned in Frontenac, Missouri. The six-year-old was located safe later that day in St. Louis City.
Authorities tracked Chiturumani to a motel in Caseyville, Illinois, where he was taken into custody. Police believe he had attempted to take his own life before officers arrived. The child’s mother was rushed to hospital and is in stable condition.
Police emphasized that the child, allegedly abducted by her non-custodial father, is now safe and out of danger. No motive has been disclosed. Chiturumani is expected to appear in court for a plea hearing as the investigation continues.
Meanwhile, UK police have launched an international manhunt for 45-year-old Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, also known as Mark, after the bodies of his wife and two young daughters were discovered at their home in Great Denham, near Bedford.
Bedfordshire Police said Tshuma left the UK through Heathrow Airport on Saturday using a British passport and is believed to have traveled to Zimbabwe.
The victims have been named as Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and her daughters, Natalie, 15, and Nala, five. Their bodies were found Monday after officers forced entry into the family home following concerns they had not been seen for several days.
Police released CCTV images of Tshuma passing through passport control and are working with UK and international law enforcement agencies to locate him.
Detective Inspector Lee Martin appealed directly to the suspect: "Mark, unthinkable harm has been caused to those around you and this has left your relatives and friends utterly devastated. Criminal investigation knows no borders. Please do the right thing, come forward and hand yourself in to local authorities." He added that police believe Tshuma is currently in Zimbabwe.
The Great Denham community has been left in mourning, with flowers and tributes placed outside the family home. Pilgrims Pre-Prep School described five-year-old Nala as a "ray of sunshine" with an inquisitive nature and a wonderful sense of humour. Headteacher Jo Webster said staff had known her since she was seven months old. Bedford Girls' School paid tribute to 15-year-old Natalie, with Headteacher Gemma Gibson calling her a bright, accomplished student who excelled in dance, music and sport. "She was fun-loving, full of life and had a positive impact on everyone she came into contact with," Gibson said.
Neighbors described the incident as heartbreaking. One resident called Nothabo "such a gracious mother." Formal identification of the victims has not yet been completed. Bedfordshire Police continue to investigate and are appealing for information about suspicious activity in Great Denham on Friday or Saturday.
Both cases remain under active investigation. Authorities have not suggested any link between the two incidents beyond the nationality of the suspects.