Nobert Matara, 33, was sentenced to life in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the brutal killing of his ex-girlfriend, prosecutors said. The Delaware man admitted to fatally stabbing 31-year-old Tracy Nyariki at her apartment before dismembering her body and stuffing her remains in a suitcase that was later recovered from his car at a Maryland motel.
Background
Tracy Nyariki worked as a home health aide in Newark, Delaware. According to investigators with the New Castle County Police Department, she was last seen alive on the morning of December 17, 2024. When she failed to show up for work over several days, her employer requested a welfare check at her apartment on December 20, 2024.
Police said they found "several suspicious circumstances" upon arriving at Nyariki's residence that raised concerns about her safety and well-being. Detectives identified Matara as a person of interest in her disappearance and began tracking his movements.
Investigators traced Matara's vehicle to a motel in Aberdeen, Maryland. When police opened the car, they discovered a suitcase containing Nyariki's dismembered human remains. Matara was arrested at the scene and transported back to Delaware to face charges.
The Investigation
Matara was charged with first-degree murder following his arrest. Court records show he pleaded guilty to the charge on April 26. In court documents, prosecutors alleged that Matara waited at Nyariki's apartment until she returned home before carrying out the attack, stabbing her 58 times and dismembering her body.
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings credited law enforcement for their work on the case. "The diligent work of the New Castle County Police Department and our Department of Justice trial team has brought this heinous criminal to justice," Jennings said in a press release. "My thoughts are with the victim's family at this difficult time, and I hope this outcome provides them with some degree of peace and closure."
Key Takeaways
- Tracy Nyariki, 31, was killed on December 17, 2024, at her apartment in Newark, Delaware
- Nobert Matara waited for her to return home before attacking her, stabbing her 58 times
- Her dismembered remains were found in a suitcase inside Matara's car at a motel in Aberdeen, Maryland
- Matara pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received a mandatory life sentence on July 2