Capetonian murdered in US, husband arrested
US police have arrested a man who confessed to killing his wife during a 'domestic-related fatal assault' at the weekend.
She was named as Kim White Towne, 32, formerly from Cape Town, who had moved to Chantilly, Virginia, with her husband Alexander Towne.
'On May 24 at 7.48pm, officers responded to a domestic incident inside a residence in the 16,000 block of Bromall Court in Chantilly. The suspect reported he had assaulted and killed his wife. [She had] trauma to the upper body and was declared deceased at the scene,' Fairfax County police said.
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The South African
4 hours ago
- The South African
BackaBuddy campaign launched to repatriate body of Cape Town woman murdered in US
A BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign has been launched to assist the family of Kim White Towne, a 32-year-old Capetonian who was murdered by her American husband in Chantilly in the state of Virginia. The campaign aims to raise funds for the repatriation of her remains to South Africa so that she can be laid to rest among her loved ones. Towne's tragic death, reportedly at the hands of her husband during a domestic dispute, has left her family devastated and facing a financially overwhelming situation. The campaign, organised by Lauren Delcarme, is titled 'Bring Kim Home' and, at the time of publishing, has already raised R88 404 of its R108 000 target. 'Kim was a vibrant and cherished member of our family whose warmth, kindness and gentle spirit touched everyone she met,' said Delcarme on the campaign page. 'Her sudden and untimely death has left us in profound grief, and we are faced with the heartbreaking task of bringing her home to South Africa.' Delcarme noted that the costs of repatriation are substantial and include cremation, legal documentation, and international transport, among other formalities. The family is appealing to the public for any contributions to help reunite Kim with her family in Cape Town. Kim White Towne, originally from the Blouberg area, had moved to the US to build a life with her husband, with whom she shared a young son. The BackaBuddy page has been flooded with messages of support and heartfelt condolences from friends, family, and even strangers moved by the family's plight. Those wishing to contribute can visit the official BackaBuddy campaign via and search for 'Bring Kim Home' or donate directly to the listed banking details on the campaign page. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Herald
9 hours ago
- The Herald
Investigating officer in Vanessa murder argues for Evans to be denied bail
The lead investigator in the Vanessa van Rensburg murder case did not mince his words when he told the court on Tuesday that it was not in the interest of justice to release her boyfriend on bail. He said murder accused Rob Evans could also face more criminal charges as the investigation unfolded. Warrant Officer Xolile Kato was testifying in the packed Humansdorp Regional Court where Evans is applying for bail. Proceedings got off to a late start due to a power outage. And as the wait dragged on, Evans' two older daughters sat quietly in the public gallery, occasionally blowing kisses to their father in the nearby holding cell. Evans, who has already indicated that he intends to plead not guilty to the charges, is accused of beating and strangling Van Rensburg, 36, to death at his Oyster Bay holiday home. Her body was discovered during the early hours of April 20. Asked by state prosecutor Bianca Burger why bail should not be granted, Kato responded that the charges were extremely serious. He said looking at the severity of the charges, Evans — should he be convicted — faced life in prison. 'On top of that, they are gender-based violence related charges,' he said. 'We can see awareness being raised about gender-based violence, including in the media.' Asked what the public was saying about the case on social media, he said: 'Most of the comments are from people pointing a finger at Mr Evans and calling for justice for Vanessa. 'One comment I saw stated 'I worked for him, I could have expected it'.' Kato said Evans' own brother had allegedly told the police they always knew he had a temper, but that they had never expected it to come to this. Burger asked: 'He has a disposition to being aggressive and you're saying that was confirmed by his own brother?' 'Yes,' Kato replied. According to Kato, additional charges could still be added. He said the first person to attend to Van Rensburg's body was a member of the National Sea Rescue Institute, and that she was already cold to the touch. Kato said Evans only contacted a private security company — and not for medical assistance. 'You don't watch your loved one dying and not do anything you can to assist,' he said. 'If you cannot do it yourself, then get help. 'The first thing I would do is to get medical assistance.' He warned that Evans was a flight risk. 'If he paid bail of R100,000 and knows he faces two life terms, he might be a flight risk. 'He has all the means to do so [flee],' Kato said, noting that Evans' businesses made a turnover of more than R7m a month. 'With that money, he can do whatever he wants.' He said Evans could possibly interfere with witnesses. Kato then read out a line from the statement by business owner Ronel van Eyck, who reported a separate assault incident at the Old Grey Club on March 28. Van Eyck said her staff had sent her an incident report while she was in Vietnam, and she had subsequently informed the Old Grey Union and barred Evans from the premises. 'I knew Rob well as I have had encounters with him at Crusaders,' she said, recalling a past altercation during which Evans allegedly swore at her during a dispute over customer tabs. She said the altercation was so heated that bouncers had to intervene. Van Eyck said Evans was given a final written warning at Crusaders, where he served as treasurer. Kato said further that witnesses were allegedly being contacted by the defence. According to the state, Tiaan van Schalkwyk of Danie Gouws Attorneys, which represents Evans, had allegedly contacted Van Eyck. 'It is astounding to me that Vanessa was not the only female victim but also Ms Van Eyck,' Burger said. Testimony continues. The Herald
The Herald
12 hours ago
- The Herald
Embassy offers help to family of Kim White Towne, alleged GBV victim in US
International relations and co-operation minister Ronald Lamola has offered assistance to the family of Capetonian Kim White Towne, who was allegedly murdered by her American husband. 'Our embassy in Washington DC is providing full consular assistance to the family,' he said while sharing his condolences. Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for the minister, said: 'The circumstances surrounding the tragic death remain under active investigation by the relevant US authorities. Out of respect for the investigative process, the sensitivity of the matter and the privacy of the grieving family, the government will not provide further detailed commentary at this time.' Towne, 32, from the Blouberg area, had moved to Chantilly, Virginia, with her husband Alexander Towne. They had a child together but their relationship was tumultuous and she had moved home for a while before returning to him, according to posts by family members on social media platforms. She was killed on May 25 when he allegedly strangled her during an argument. A BackaBuddy campaign has been launched to help her family pay for the formalities involved with repatriating her remains. So far donations of R84,484 have been pledged, with a goal of R108,000. Organiser Lauren Delcarme said: 'Kim was a vibrant and cherished member of our family whose warmth, kindness and gentle spirit touched everyone she met. 'Her sudden and untimely death has left us in profound grief, and we are faced with the heartbreaking task of bringing her home to SA, where she can be laid to rest among her loved ones. The process of repatriating a loved one's remains is complex and costly. Expenses possibly include cremation, documentation and international transport. We are reaching out to our community and beyond to ask for support in raising the funds needed to reunite Kim with her family and homeland.' Friends are sharing their memories of her, recalling her as ' an amazing person who was always smiling and bringing joy', and who showed ' warmth, humour and kindness' to everyone she knew. TimesLIVE
