A 16-year-old girl was found dead before she could testify against a school district employee who sexually assaulted her. Police found the fully clothed body of Mujey Dumbuya on January 28 in a wooded area in Kalamazoo, about 50 miles from her Grand Rapids home, the NY Daily News reports.
The teen’s family last saw her on Jan. 24 as she headed off for school. She was reported missing that same day.
An autopsy revealed her cause of death was “asphyxia, including strangulation.”
Dumbaya was scheduled to testify in court against Quinn James, an employee of her school district, who is accused of raping her last summer.
James, 42, was arrested in November and was released on bond. He was arrested again in February on an unrelated sexual assault case.
He has not been charged with Dumbaya’s murder.
In related news, James’ fiancee, Tiara Burnett, 26 (pictured inset), was arrested on a perjury charge and waived her right to a probable cause hearing on Wednesday, March 21.
The judge told Burnett she could have no contact with witnesses related to the case.
Assistant Kent County Prosecutor Kellee Koncki said Burnett’s nephew — who was Dumbaya’s boyfriend — allegedly witnesses the rape, and is expected to testify against James.
