Kenyan authorities launched an investigation on Tuesday to determine what caused the death of Olympic marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru. The Kenyan runner died from a fall off his bedroom balcony after he was allegedly found by his wife with another woman. National deputy police spokesman Charles Owino said the inquest will explore whether Wanjiru deliberately jumped, was pushed or intended to commit suicide. Owino said officials will close the case if the police find overwhelming evidence that Wanjiru's death was caused by his own actions. Following Wanjiru's death late on Sunday, police officials gave differing accounts of the cause. Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere said "initial reports indicate that Wanjiru committed suicide."
But police in Wanjiru's hometown of Nyahururu said the runner jumped from his balcony after his wife locked the bedroom door and ran away after he found him with another woman. Jasper Ombati, the police chief in Nyahururu, said he believes Wanjiru may have jumped from the balcony to stop his wife from running out of the compound.