Dad confesses to murder of wife, two children (Vadnais Heights, Minnesota)

Not surprisingly, dad JUSTUS OGENDI KEBABE had a documented history of domestic violence. And yet, in a move that's typical of abusers, he blames his wife (and her alleged "infidelities") for his actions. Frankly, I don't even believe him. Guys like Kebabe are pathologically jealous and controlling. Accusations of infidelity are often just "crazy making" to keep the victim isolated and afraid of contacting anyone about her situation. And if this was really a "passion" killing, it really doesn't explain the deliberate and cold-blooded murder of the two children the next day, does it? Nope, this is just a pure power and control slaughter. Too bad the paper even wastes our time airing his "theories" as to why he killed three human beings.

http://www.presspubs.com/articles/2010/10/16/white_bear_press/news/doc4cb71403cb7c6780448605.txt

Vadnais man confesses to murdering wife, two children

by Kristine Goodrich
Staff Writer
Published:
Saturday, October 16, 2010 9:08 AM CDT

VADNAIS HEIGHTS — A man with a prior domestic assault arrest confessed to murdering his wife and two of his children in their Vadnais Heights apartment. A third child was found unharmed with the suspect.

The victims are Bilha K. Omare, 32, Kinley Ogendi, 12, and Ivyn B. Ogendi, 9.

The father, Justus Ogendi Kebabe, 43, reportedly confessed to striking his wife with a golf club and then strangling her. After drugging his two children he reportedly drowned his son in the bathtub and strangled his daughter.

The bodies were found at Willow Ridge Apartments on County Road D early Thursday morning. Kebabe was already in jail when the murders were discovered — he had just been arrested in southern Minnesota on suspicion of driving while under the influence.

Kebabe was charged Friday with three counts of second-degree murder.

“I don’t recall the Sheriff’s Office ever having a tragedy of this magnitude,” said Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher.

According to the Ramsey County criminal complaint, a relative contacted the Sheriff’s Office after Kebabe contacted relatives threatening suicide and stating he believed his wife was having affairs.

Deputies went to the family’s apartment and no one came to the door. They then went to Omare’s work and learned she hadn’t come to work or called in for two days. Deputies returned to the residence where apartment management let them into the apartment.

Omare’s body was found in the bathroom and the childrens’ bodies were found in bedrooms.

Meanwhile, the State Patrol had taken Kebabe into custody after his car ran out of gas on I-35E near Faribault. Kebabe had a blood alcohol level of 0.04 and said he’d taken several Tylenol PM pills.

The couple’s four-year-old daughter was in the car and was placed in protective custody.

A sheriff deputy and Minnesota Bureau of Apprehension agent interviewed Kebabe, an immigrant from Kenya, who reportedly confessed to the murders.

According to the criminal complaint:

Kebabe admitted he killed his wife Monday morning after they argued over her alleged affairs. Kebabe told the investigators he struck Omare in the head with a golf club and when she started screaming he strangled her with an electrical wire.

Before his children came home from school he dragged his wife’s body into a bathroom, locked the door and put a towel under the door to stop any blood from running out.

Kebabe said he killed his children the next morning. First he put several Tylenol PM pills into their juice. When Kinley took a bath, Kebabe held his son under the water. Kebabe told investigators his son struggled and pleaded “Stop daddy stop.”

After bringing his son’s body to his bed, Kebabe he went to his daughters room. He said he put a pillow over her head and then choked her with his hands.

Kebabe said he then tried to kill himself by putting a bag over his head but was stopped by worry that his younger daughter would be sent back to Africa. He then fled with the daughter.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner findings are consistent with Kebabe’s account of the murders.

Kebabe was arrested in 2008 for misdemeanor domestic assault on his wife. According to the incident report, Omare told officers Kebabe picked up a vacuum cleaner like a bat and threatened to hit her with it. He later pushed her across the room.

The report states Omare also told deputies Kebabe had previously beaten her unconscious in Kenya but “is more careful with the physical assaults in the U.S.A.” Omare also reportedly said Kebabe has threatened to kill her numerous times. Kebabe denied all of the accusations.

The charges were pled down to disorderly conduct. According to court documents, he spent three days in jail and completed domestic abuse counseling and one year probation. There haven’t been any other police calls to the family’s residence since the 2008 arrest, according to Fletcher.

Omare told deputies Kebabe came to the U.S. in 1996 and Omare followed in 2003.

Willow Ridge Apartments assistant manager Amanda Sjostrand said she didn’t hear or see anything suspicious. She didn’t know the family well but they were friendly, she said. Kinley and Ivyn “were always taking care of my little ones,” Sjostrand said. “They were well-raised children.”

Kinley was an honor roll student at Sunrise Park Middle School. Ivyn attended Willow Lane Elementary.

There was no school last Thursday or Friday. White Bear Lake Area School District Communications Director Marisa Vette said district officials spent time at the apartment complex providing counseling to students and families.

Vadnais Heights Mayor Sue Banovetz said she couldn’t recollect another murder in her city.

The mayor and the sheriff encouraged victims of domestic violence to seek help.

“Domestic violence can happen in any community,” Banovetz said.