Speaking to the press outside the Powder Springs Police Station recently, Mrs Beatrice Wambui Chege expressed concern that the matter was dragging on for too long and that the investigating officers were not letting out much. “It has been nine months since my daughter and two of my grand daughters were brutally murdered. I am appealing to the District Attorney, Chief of Police and the detectives to double their efforts and bring the murderers to book”, a tearful Mrs Chege said.

But in a quick rejoinder, the investigating officer sought to allay fears that the case had been classified as ‘cold’ saying it was still very active. (‘Cold case’ in police jargon refers to a matter whose file has either been suspended or closed for lack of meaningful progress).

He however admitted that progress had been slow. He attributed this to several factors, citing the meticulous manner in which the murders were carried out as chief among them. “Although we recovered the murder weapon, those people were very skillful in executing the murders. They left no trail, leaving little doubt that they were trained killers. I must admit that this is the most challenging murder I have ever dealt with since I joined the force,” said Det. Hewell, who has been handling homicide cases for the last 21 years.

The sleuth said his earlier efforts were also frustrated by lack of voluntary information from the public. “Even after announcing the $10,000 reward for any information leading to the killers, no one stepped forward while some of the earlier leads hit a dead end .But this new lead is very promising,” he said. 

During the press conference, eight year old Jeremy Kuria moved some journalists to tears when he told of how lonely he felt. “I miss my mom a lot…and my two sisters”, said Jeremy who sustained serious injuries in the Summer attack that shook the nation.

The emotionally charged press conference is the first one to be held by Mrs Chege who was granted legal custody of Jeremy Kuria and who has kept a low profile since arriving in the country early September of last year.

The three bodies of Jane Kuria, 46, Annabella Kuria, 19, and Isabella Kuria, 16, were discovered in their Powder Springs house on the morning of July 31^st 2007. The murders spurted an unprecedented outpouring of love and concern mainly from the Kenyan community in Atlanta. Well wishers quickly got together, praying, condoling the family and raising over $90,000 in record time - to offset the funeral expenses.

 A month after the three were accorded a heroines’ burial in Kenya, Jane Kuria’s mother could not hold back her tears when she spoke at an Atlanta Church. She only managed two sentences: “I am deeply touched by the love you have shown us. If not for anything else, God help me to live long enough to know why and who murdered those innocent souls.” Those words have resonated every time one sees the miracle boy, Jeremy. And nine months after that fateful morning, we are still waiting.