Md. man charged with killing pregnant woman in Takoma Park

WASHINGTON — A Silver Spring man has been arrested and charged with the fatal stabbing of a pregnant woman in Takoma Park Wednesday.

Thierry Kinshala Nkusu, 33, was charged with second-degree murder for the death of 36-year-old Maria Veronica Mbunga of Takoma Park. Takoma Park police say that Mbunga’s unborn child was also killed.

Additional charges were pending.

Initially, Takoma Park officers believed they were investigating a double stabbing when they arrived at the Cambridge Apartment building on Houston Avenue.

Paramedics were treating Nkusu, whom they discovered bleeding in the lobby of the building near an elevator.

“The fire department showed up and started taking care of him, and he’d indicated there was a woman in an apartment that was also hurt,” said police spokeswoman Cathy Plevy.

Officers found Mbunga in her fourth floor apartment suffering from multiple stab wounds, Plevy said.

“They were not able to save her, and she was pregnant. They were not able to save her unborn child either,” Plevy said.

After learning Nkusu did not need surgery and that his injuries were superficial, investigators interviewed and then charged him.

Investigators do not know if the two were romantically involved.

Mbunga was a school bus driver with Montgomery County Schools.

Nkusu was being held in lieu of $5 million bail, according to police.

Megan Cloherty

WTOP Investigative Reporter Megan Cloherty primarily covers breaking news, crime and courts.

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