Nobert Matara, 33, has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2024 murder of Tracy Nyariki

A Delaware man was sentenced to life in prison for the killing of his ex-girlfriend, who was stabbed 58 times and dismembered before being put into a suitcase.

Nobert Matara, 33, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in April 2026 in connection with the death of 31-year-old Tracy Nyariki, according to the Delaware Attorney General’s Office.

“The diligent work of the New Castle County Police Department and our Department of Justice trial team has brought this heinous criminal to justice, and I am grateful for their dedicated efforts,” Attorney General Kathy Jennings said in a news release on Thursday, July 2. “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.”

Nyariki was viciously attacked at her apartment in Newark, Del., on Dec. 17, 2024.

According to prosecutors, Matari lay in wait at her apartment for a few hours; when she returned home; “he attacked her, stabbing her 58 times, dismembering her, and placing her body in a suitcase,” the news release states.

New Castle County police officers went to the residence in the 2700 block of Stone Place in Bear on Dec. 20 after her employer notified authorities she had not been to work for several days and “uncovered several suspicious circumstances that raised concerns about her safety and well-being,” Delaware Online reported, citing a police release at the time.

Matara was later found at a hotel in Aberdeen, Md., “with Tracy’s body in the trunk of his car,” per the attorney general’s office.

Nyariki grew up in Nairobi, Kenya, and moved to the U.S. five years ago to “fulfill her dream of becoming a nurse, and she did so with an unparalleled generosity of heart,” according to her online obituary.

“She left a lasting impact on her patients, colleagues, and all who had the privilege of working alongside her,” the obituary reads.

A GoFundMe has since been organized to help with funeral expenses and provide support to her family in the wake of the tragedy.

“The unimaginable pain of losing someone so vibrant, loving, and full of life has left her family and friends shattered,” the fundraiser reads. “Tracy was a light in the lives of everyone she met. Her kindness, warmth, and infectious smile left an indelible mark on all who knew her. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend, and a cornerstone of her community. She deserved so much more…”

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Source: https://people.com/man-stabbed-ex-girlfriend-58-times-put-dismembered-body-in-suitcase-12013545