A YOUNGER brother in a family, living with his parents and had shown signs of mental illness since the 2022 national population census, was unaccounted for at the time of the discovery of the grisly murder of his father and mother.

SACP Simon Maigwa, the Kilimanjaro regional police commander, confirmed the incident, identifying the victims and stating that the couple had been murdered inside their home.

“Geofrey Mota was killed by a sharp object, sustaining fatal neck wounds. His wife Blandina was found without external injuries, suggesting possible strangulation. Their son, who lived with them, has since disappeared and is being sought in connection with the incident.”

Investigations are ongoing to determine the motive and identify who is responsible, he said, affirming that the bodies have been taken to the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) for post-mortem examinations.

The heartbreaking case has left the community in shock as family, friends and neighbours come to terms with the senseless loss of the two lives.

The brutal killing of the couple—Geofrey Mota (60) and Blandina Ngowi (53)—in their home on Thursday at their Msufini Street home in Msaranga Ward of the municipality, was discovered by their daughter Haika, both lifeless in their rented home, under shocking circumstances.

Abraham Mota, their eldest son, shared his anguish at the sudden and violent loss, speaking to this paper. “Losing both parents at once is unbearable. No one expects such a loss.

“Every child hopes to succeed and one day repay their parents for everything they've done. What hurts even more is that, even if I succeed in life, my children will never get to know their grandparents.”

Abraham explained that his father had been violently attacked with a sharp weapon, sustaining fatal wounds to the neck and head. His mother, on the other hand, appeared to have been strangled.

He recounted receiving the devastating news from his sister, Haika Mota, who lives nearby and became concerned when their parents failed to answer calls throughout the day. Upon visiting the house, she discovered their mother’s body and raised the alarm.

“Our sister found them. She called us after trying to reach them by phone—something we do every day. Mum was diabetic and had high blood pressure, so we were extra careful to check in regularly,” Abraham said.

Their younger brother, who had been living with the parents and is known to have struggled with mental health issues, was not at the scene when the bodies were discovered.

Haika, the couple’s only daughter, described the horrifying moment she found their mother: “That day I didn’t go to our parents’ home to help mum with her exercises as usual because I was at Mawenzi (the regional referral hospital) with my child. When I got home, I couldn’t reach them, so I asked my brother who resides in Arusha to check on them.”

After failing to reach them for a second consecutive day, she sought help from a family friend, an education officer, who arranged transport for her to go to the house.

“I found mum lying in a pool of blood. I called for help and neighbours arrived. That’s when I was told it wasn’t just mum—dad had been killed too. They said his neck had been slashed. I was in shock,” she added.