David Thabo Simelane was born in 1956 in Swaziland (now called Eswatini). Not much is known about his childhood or family life. As an adult, he had trouble with the law, including a conviction for theft. After being released from prison, Simelane reportedly became angry and resentful toward women, believing that some had falsely accused him.

Between 1998 and 2001, David Thabo Simelane orchestrated a series of horrific murders that shocked Eswatini and drew international attention. His method was chillingly consistent and deeply predatory. Simelane lured women—many of whom were poor, vulnerable, or pregnant—into remote forested areas, particularly the Usuthu-Pulp Forest near Malkerns. Once isolated, he would bind them, sexually assault them, and then murder them by stabbing or strangulation. In many cases, Simelane went a step further by beheading the women, either before or after their deaths. The brutality of the killings suggested both ritualistic and rage-fueled motivations.

Several of the victims were found in advanced stages of decomposition, scattered across shallow graves in the forest. Many had been robbed of their belongings, and it later emerged that Simelane had used some of the stolen money to fund his gambling habit. Authorities would later confirm that among his victims were pregnant women and even babies, whose tiny corpses were discovered buried near their mothers.

The killer’s identity remained unknown until April 25, 2001, when Simelane was arrested near the mass grave sites. His arrest came after shepherds searching for a lost cow stumbled upon human remains in the Usuthu-Pulp Forest. The discovery led police to launch a large-scale investigation, eventually calling on six forensic experts from South Africa to assist in the exhumation and identification of the bodies.

Upon his arrest, Simelane confessed to his crimes and even led police to more burial sites. A total of 45 bodies were recovered, including four infants. However, due to the advanced decomposition of many of the remains, prosecutors were only able to formally charge him with 34 murders.

During his interrogation, Simelane provided chilling details. He admitted to wearing the T-shirt of one of his victims, a fact that further linked him to the killings. Despite the overwhelming physical evidence and his own confessions, Simelane showed no remorse during legal proceedings.

After a long trial, Simelane was convicted of 28 murders and sentenced to death on April 1, 2011. He showed no remorse for his crimes. Although he appealed the sentence in November 2011, the death sentence was upheld. His crimes shocked the nation, and he remains on death row. No execution date has been publicly announced, and Eswatini has not carried out an execution in many years.