By Daandii Ragabaa

Addis Ababa, May 10, 2026 (ONA) — She was a mother of two. A worker at the Aleltu branch of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. A resident of Sendafa Beke town. Her name was Adanech Kumsa.

And on the night of December 14, 2018 (Ethiopian calendar), her life was taken in the most brutal manner imaginable.

Today, after months of hiding, the man accused of her murder—Tegegaye Asalfew Gonte, also known as “Segaye”—has finally been captured.

The Night of the Killing

According to police investigation records, on the fateful evening, Adanech and Segaye were dining together at a hotel. At some point, an argument erupted between them. Adanech, feeling unsafe or simply unwilling to remain in his presence, left the table and walked away.

But Segaye followed her.

He forced her into a car and drove to an area known locally as “Gomata.” There, in a secluded spot far from help or witness, he pulled out a gun and shot her. Then he fled, leaving her body behind.

A Mother’s Remains, Scattered by Wild Animals

Adanech was not found for some time. By the time police located her remains, wild animals had already devoured much of her body. Only her head was recovered.

The investigation file describes a scene of profound horror—not just for law enforcement, but for a family that had to bury only part of their beloved mother and daughter.

A Trail of Clues

Segaye did not simply vanish. He abandoned the car used in the murder, along with the gun, in the town of Aleltu. Inside the vehicle, police discovered blood traces—critical evidence linking him to the crime.

With the car, the gun, and the blood evidence in hand, federal investigators began a painstaking manhunt. But Segaye had no intention of surrendering easily.

The Hunt: Fake IDs and Hidden Movements

For months, the Ethiopian Federal Police, working in close coordination with the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), other security forces, and the Sendafa Beke town administration, tracked Segaye across multiple cities.

He had assumed a quiet, peaceful appearance, mingling with ordinary citizens while carrying fake identification documents. He moved from Debre Berhan to Kemise, from Shewa Robit to Ataye—always one step ahead, always under a new name.

But on Thursday, May 10, 2026, in the city of Debre Berhan, his flight ended. Police placed him under formal arrest.

Justice, but Not Closure

The Ethiopian Federal Police have stated that investigations will continue with renewed intensity. They also issued a firm warning: no criminal who attempts to flee from justice can escape the law forever.

In an official statement, police expressed gratitude to all partner institutions and local administrations whose cooperation made the arrest possible.

For the family of Adanech Kumsa—especially her two young children—the arrest brings a measure of justice, but not healing. No arrest can return a mother. No conviction can undo the horror of December 14.

But as the suspect now faces the full weight of the law, there is at least this: the man who tried to hide from his crime has been found. The long arm of justice has reached him.

And a mother’s memory, however painfully, will not be forgotten.

Reported by Daandii Ragabaa, based on official police statements and investigation records.