Botanist Couple Murdered by Gang in South Africa for Rare Seeds

Respected botanists Rod Saunders and his wife Rachel were brutally murdered by a gang in South Africa after they were kidnapped from a remote forest, their bodies thrown into a river infested with predators. The couple spent six months a year scouring the wild mountains and forests for rare seeds, which they sold through their thriving online business, Silverhill Seeds. The gang, enraged at the couple for taking the seeds from South African nature reserves, brutally beat them to death and then threw their bodies into the river.

Key Takeaways:

• The couple, Rod and Rachel Saunders, were kidnapped from a remote forest in the Kwa-Zulu Natal region of South Africa on February 10, 2018.
• A gang of three, including Sayefundeen Aslam Del Vecchio, Bibi Fatima Patel, and Mussa Ahmad Jackson, have been charged with the murder, kidnap, robbery, and theft of the Saunders.
• The gang allegedly used cell phones belonging to the Saunders to draw money from ATM machines, amounting to R734,000 (approximately £37,000).
• The receipts of items bought on Dr Saunders's bank card were recovered from Bibi Patel's handbag, revealing the extent of the gang's financial gain.
• The couple's bodies were thrown into the river, where they were eaten by river creatures, and were only identified months later through DNA testing.
• Rachel Saunders received dual citizenship after marrying British-born Rod and the pair traveled the globe giving lectures on their passion for Gladioli.
• The trial continues, with the fourth suspect having been given a suspended sentence in exchange for providing vital evidence.

Statistics:

• R734,000 (approximately £37,000) was drawn from various ATM machines by the gang using cell phones belonging to the Saunders.
• 90 miles (145 km) north of Durban lies the Ngoye Forest Reserve, where the couple last set off to camp.
• 6 months a year, the couple would scour the wild mountains and forests for rare seeds.
• 1 Toyota Land Cruiser 4 x 4 vehicle was taken from the Saunders by the gang.
• 3-5 days after setting off to meet the BBC film crew, the couple last contacted an employee at their workplace, Silverhill Seeds.

Sources:

• Pacific Bulb Society
• BBC ( Reference to the TV documentary film crew following Rod and Rachel Saunders)
• South African Police Service (Reference to the Toyota Land Cruiser 4 x 4 vehicle)
• Robin Matthews/Facebook (Reference to the image of the couple, Dr Saunders and her husband Rod, out in the wilds backbacking)