Tracy Nyariki had just returned home to her Newark, Delaware apartment on Dec. 17, 2024, when she encountered Nobert Matara waiting for her inside. The encounter turned deadly in a horrifying fashion — authorities say the 33-year-old former boyfriend stabbed the 31-year-old home health aide 58 times before dismembering her body and stuffing her remains into a suitcase.
Background
Nyariki was reported missing three days later when she failed to show up for work. Her employer contacted New Castle County Police on Dec. 20, requesting a welfare check at her apartment. When officers arrived, they found "several suspicious circumstances that raised concerns about her safety and well-being," according to police statements.
Investigators learned the last time Nyariki was seen alive was the morning of Dec. 17 — hours before she would have returned home to find Matara waiting for her. The Delaware Attorney General's office confirmed during subsequent court proceedings that Matara had been lying in wait at her residence.
The Investigation
Detectives identified Matara as a person of interest within days. Their investigation led them to a motel in Aberdeen, Maryland, where they tracked his vehicle. When authorities opened the car, they discovered a suitcase containing Nyariki's dismembered human remains.
Matara was arrested at the scene on Dec. 21 and transported back to Delaware to face charges. He was initially charged with first-degree murder and remained held without bail throughout proceedings.
Earlier this year, Matara changed his plea to guilty on April 26, admitting to the killing. On June 26, New Castle County Superior Court Judge Vivian Medinilla accepted the agreement and imposed a mandatory life sentence — the only penalty permitted under Delaware law for first-degree murder convictions.
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings noted in a press release that her office sought justice for Nyariki's family. "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. "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, a 31-year-old home health aide from Newark, Delaware, was killed on Dec. 17, 2024
- Nobert Matara waited inside her apartment before stabbing her 58 times and dismembering her body
- Police discovered her remains in a suitcase inside Matara's car at a Maryland motel on Dec. 21
- Matara pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received mandatory life imprisonment on June 26
- The case highlighted the dangers of domestic violence, with Nyariki's loved ones establishing a GoFundMe campaign for her family
What's Next
With Matara's sentencing concluded, there are no further court proceedings scheduled in this case. A GoFundMe established by Nyariki's friends and family remains active to support her surviving relatives during this devastating time.