#379: Killer Was Burnt To Death In Prison, But Caught Shopping With Celebrity GF In Rich Neighborhood
In this episode of Rotten Mango, the podcast examines the remarkable case of Tabbo Bester, a convicted rapist and murderer known as the "Facebook rapist." His intricate escape from prison with the help of celebrity doctor Dr. Nandifa is explored in detail.
The story delves into Bester's criminal history, his deceptive modus operandi for luring victims, and the elaborate plan he orchestrated to fake his death and walk out of prison. The episode also investigates the aftermath, including Dr. Nandifa's suspicious actions and the role of numerous accomplices. While Bester's true motives remain uncertain, the podcast raises intriguing questions about Dr. Nandifa's involvement and potential exploitation by Bester.
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Tabbo Bester's Criminal History
Tabbo Bester, the "Facebook rapist," manipulated women by falsely offering modeling opportunities, only to rob and sexually assault them. His modus operandi involved setting up seemingly professional photoshoots to lure victims, Sanger-Katz explains. Bester was convicted of rape and murder, serving over 10 years in prison.
The Prison Escape Plan
Authorities became suspicious when celebrity doctor Dr. Nandifa repeatedly claimed bodies from the morgue, even filing a court claim stating Bester was her "common-law husband" to retrieve his body. It was later revealed that the body in Bester's cell was not his—he had orchestrated an elaborate escape plan with Dr. Nandifa's help.
The plan involved bribing roughly 10 prison staff, smuggling in supplies, and setting his cell on fire as a diversion. A CCTV technician disabled the cameras, allowing Bester to walk out undetected.
Investigating the Escape's Aftermath
Authorities launched an investigation after Dr. Nandifa's attempts to claim Bester's body raised red flags. The probe uncovered their lavish lifestyle together after the escape and implicated several accomplices, including prison staff.
Another suspicious death emerged: an uninvolved man named Callego with no record was found dead in the prison. His mother received conflicting accounts of how he died and had his body removed without her consent.
Questioning Dr. Nandifa's Motives
Some theorize Dr. Nandifa was manipulated by Bester, who may have lied about his innocence to gain her trust. Bester wrote letters proclaiming his respect for women. However, Dr. Nandifa's unbothered demeanor during the probe and her involvement in scams suggest she was a willing participant, motivated by greed or fame.
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Clarifications
- Dr. Nandifa's motives in assisting Bester with his escape plan from prison are unclear, with some speculating she may have been manipulated by Bester or acted out of her own greed or desire for fame. The nature of their relationship, whether purely manipulative or involving genuine feelings, remains ambiguous and open to interpretation based on the available information.
- The escape plan orchestrated by Tabbo Bester involved bribing around 10 prison staff members to facilitate his escape from prison. These staff members were complicit in smuggling supplies, disabling security measures, and aiding in creating a diversion to assist Bester in leaving the facility undetected.
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Tabbo Bester's criminal history and modus operandi
Tabbo Bester, infamous as the "Facebook rapist," executed a series of crimes where he deceived women with the promise of modeling opportunities, only to rob and often sexually assault them.
Tabbo Bester, known as the "Facebook rapist", would con women with false modeling opportunities and then rob them
Tabbo Bester cultivated a nefarious reputation by exploiting the aspirational lure of the modeling industry to manipulate and victimize unsuspecting women. Utilizing Facebook, he would present highly professional-looking opportunities to lure women into his trap.
Bester would post highly professional-looking modeling opportunities on Facebook, luring women to fake photoshoots where he would rob them and sometimes sexually assault them
Bester was known for posing as a famous agent who could catapult women into stardom, similar to the way celebrities like Gigi Hadid rose to fame. His criminal technique involved creating what appeared to be legitimate and highly professional photoshoot setups complete with lighting, assistants, and cameramen, to make the scenario convincingly real. Women arrived with the expectation of a career breakthrough, only to become victims of Bester's predation. Bester ensured every detail was covered, even following the photoshoot with a meal, which he would use as an opportunity to escape—often leaving the victims stranded, without their belongings and with their bills unpaid.
Bester was convicted of rape and murder for some of these crimes, serving 10+ years in prison
The severity of Bester's actions extended beyond theft. He manipulated scenarios to lead women to private locations under the guise of interviews for confidential modeling jobs or intimate photoshoots. It was in these settings that Bester would commit sexual assaults. His modus operandi also involved tactics like leasing private jets to transport the models to different cities, proceeding to rob them, and fleeing without compen ...
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Tabbo Bester's criminal history and modus operandi
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Clarifications
- A "modus operandi" (M.O.) is a term used to describe an individual's habitual way of operating, especially in criminal activities. It involves the methods and behaviors a person consistently uses when committing crimes, aiding in identifying and understanding the perpetrator's patterns and techniques. In the context of criminal investigations, analyzing the modus operandi can provide insights into the offender's mindset and help establish connections between different crimes. The M.O. can be crucial in apprehending suspects and preventing future criminal activities.
- The aspirational lure of the modeling industry refers to the attractiveness and desirability associated with the prospect of becoming a successful model. It encompasses the dreams of fame, glamour, and recognition that draw individuals to pursue modeling careers. This allure can sometimes be exploited by individuals like Tabbo Bester to manipulate and deceive aspiring models for personal gain.
- A "nefarious reputation" indicates a widely recognized pattern of engaging in harmful or criminal activities. It suggests a consistent history of deceit, manipulation, or wrongdoing that has led to a negative perception of the individual's character or actions. In the context of Tabbo Bester, being described as having a "nefarious reputation" means that his criminal behavior, specifically deceiving and victimizing women, has become well-known and associated with his identity. This term emphasizes the seriousness and notoriety of his actions, highlighting the impact and scale of his criminal activities.
- Predation in this context refers to the act of Tabbo Bester targeting and victimizing women through deceitful schemes, often involving theft and sexual assault. Bester's predatory behavior involved manipulating women by offering fake modeling opportunities to lure them into vulnerable situations. His actions were characterized by a calculated approach to exploit and harm his victims, leaving them in distress and facing significant losses.
- A "modus operandi" (M.O.) is a term used to describe an individual's habitual way of operating, especially in criminal activities. It involves the methods and behaviors a person consistently uses to commit crimes, evade detection, and escape. Understanding a criminal's modus operandi can help in identifying, catching, and linking them to various crimes. In essence, it's like a signature style or pattern that a criminal follows when carrying out illegal activities.
- A "modus operandi" (M.O.) is a term used to describe an individual's habitual way of operating, especially in criminal activities. It involves the methods and patterns someone consistently uses to commit crimes, evade detection, and escape. Understanding a suspect's modus operandi can help in identifying and apprehending them, as well as linking crimes togethe ...
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The prison escape plan and Dr. Nandifa's involvement
The case of Dr. Nandifa’s peculiar morgue visits has unfolded into a saga of deceit and corruption revolving around the supposed death and subsequent prison escape of Tabbo Bester.
Dr. Nandifa, a celebrity doctor, started visiting the morgue to pick up random bodies, which raised suspicions
Dr. Nandifa, a celebrity doctor, was repeatedly seen at the morgue picking up dead bodies, claiming them to be either her father’s or a friend’s. This behavior seemed out of place for her profession and raised suspicions among authorities. She often forged official documentation to retrieve these bodies and on one occasion, filed an official court claim stating that Tabbo Bester was her common-law husband in an attempt to retrieve his body from the morgue. However, authorities found that the bodies were not associated with her, and two bodies she retrieved ended up being buried with one in a river.
Dr. Nandifa filed an official court claim stating that Tabbo Bester was her "common law husband", demanding his body from the morgue
Her claim to be the common-law wife of Tabbo Bester further complicated matters, as she sought to gain possession of his body from the morgue.
Authorities discovered that the body in Tabbo Bester's prison cell was not actually his, and that he had orchestrated an elaborate prison escape plan with the help of Dr. Nandifa and several corrupt prison staff
The true connection between Dr. Nandifa and Bester became clear when it was revealed that the body found in Bester’s jail cell was not his. Instead, Bester faked his death as part of an escape plan that implicated Dr. Nandifa and involved bribing about ten different prison guards, each with about $5,000, and manipulating prison systems.
Tabbo Bester's prison escape involved smuggling in supplies, setting a fire in his cell, and walking out during the chaos
To facilitate his escape, Bester exploited his transfer to a secluded cell, which had been granted under the guise of providing protection from a prison gang. This cell was partly obscured from CCTV cameras, making it an opportune spot for the plan.
A CCTV technician disabled the cameras in Tabbo's cell block, allowing him to escape unnoticed
Complicit in the escape plot, a CCTV technician cut the power to the surveillance system in the segregation unit. This unit housed Bester’s cell and was observed to have cameras in ...
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The prison escape plan and Dr. Nandifa's involvement
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Actionables
- You can enhance your critical thinking skills by analyzing the plausibility of news stories. Start by selecting a news article and dissecting the narrative as if you were a detective. Look for inconsistencies, question the motives of the people involved, and research the background information to see if the story holds up. This practice will sharpen your ability to discern truth from fiction, much like scrutinizing the details of Dr. Nandifa's and Tabbo Bester's story.
- Improve your personal security by conducting a "security audit" of your daily routines. Take note of patterns in your behavior that could make you predictable and therefore vulnerable, such as always taking the same route to work or posting your location on social media. Then, make changes to introduce more randomness and unpredictability into your routines, reducing the chances of someone exploiting your habits, similar to how Tabbo Bester's escape relied on exploiting predictable security flaws.
- Develop a better understanding of legal documents by creating mock scenarios where you need to verif ...
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The investigation and aftermath of the escape
Authorities launched a thorough investigation after Dr. Nandifa's attempts to claim the body of Tabbo Bester raised suspicions, leading to startling revelations and a cascade of arrests.
Authorities launched a investigation after Dr. Nandifa's attempts to claim Tabbo's body raised suspicions
Following the escape of Tabbo Bester, authorities began looking into Dr. Nandifa’s actions when she insisted on claiming his body. This prompted a meticulous investigation that uncovered an intricate escape strategy involving Dr. Nandifa. She had rented a car to move a decoy body as part of their plan. Additional evidence revealed that Dr. Nandifa and Bester had rented houses near Stanton City Mall and were living a lavish lifestyle. Dr. Nandifa had even introduced Bester, under an assumed name, to her business contacts and friends.
The investigation revealed the elaborate escape plan and Dr. Nandifa's involvement, including her renting a car to transport a decoy body
Multiple individuals were implicated following the investigation. Those arrested for their involvement with the prison break included the former unit supervisor for the segregation unit of the prison, Dr. Nandifa's father, the CCTV technician at the prison, six prison guards, and Dr. Nandifa's gardener.
The escape also led to the discovery of another suspicious death of an uninvolved man who was found dead in the prison
During the fallout of Bester's escape, another grave issue surfaced: the mysterious death of a man named Callego, who had no criminal record but was found deceased within the prison walls. The circumstances surrounding his demise prompted further investigation.
The man, Callego, had no criminal record but was found dead in the prison under mysterious circumstances
Callego’s mother had issued a distressing tweet about her son having gone missing, only to discover later that he had died in the prison. Adding to the confusion, she received conflicting explanations from the poli ...
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The investigation and aftermath of the escape
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Actionables
- You can enhance your critical thinking skills by creating a mock investigation based on a fictional scenario, where you piece together clues and establish connections to solve a mystery, similar to the investigative process described.
- By crafting a narrative with various characters and events, you can practice deducing motives, analyzing evidence, and drawing conclusions. For example, write a short story involving a theft in which you introduce suspects with potential motives and scattered clues. As you develop the plot, try to solve the crime yourself, ensuring that all the pieces fit together logically.
- You can improve your awareness of procedural fairness by volunteering to serve on committees or boards that deal with oversight or accountability, such as a neighborhood watch or a school board.
- Serving in these roles can give you a firsthand understanding of the importance of transparency and proper notification, much like the concerns raised by Callego's mother. For instance, if you're on a school board, you could advocate for clear communication with parents regarding incidents at the school, ensuring they are informed and their questions are addressed.
- You ca ...
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Theories and questions surrounding Dr. Nandifa's motivations
Some believe Dr. Nandifa was a victim manipulated by Tabbo Bester, who may have lied about his innocence to gain her trust
It is speculated that Dr. Nandifa might have been manipulated by Tabbo Bester. Tabbo Bester wrote in one letter that he was wrongfully convicted, expressing hurt over media representations and asserting that much of it wasn't true. Dr. Nandy is now claiming that she was technically kidnapped by Tabbo Bester and was taken to Tanzania against her will. In one of his letters, Bester claims he was brought up to respect women and details his struggles with loneliness and rejection. While it's mentioned that Tabbo Bester wrote unsolicited motivational letters while in prison, it is not clarified if these letters were part of the manipulation of Dr. Nandifa. The transcript also discusses whether Dr. Nandifa's behavior suggested manipulation by Bester or if she willingly participated in the crimes, but it does not provide specific information about Bester physically abusing or threatening Dr. Nandifa.
Others argue Dr. Nandifa's behavior and actions suggest she was a willing participant in Tabbo's crimes
Dr. Nandifa's unbothered demeanor when confronted about the car indicates she might not have been under duress or manipulation. Additionally, Dr. Nandy's actions, including filing false claims about Tabbo's body and involvement in a housing scam, could indicate willing participation in his escape plan. Her extravagant lifestyle with Tabbo and her behavior in court suggest she might have been a willing participant in his crimes, which is corroborated by observations of the two flirting, smiling, and whispering to each other in court.
Stephanie Soo points out the contradiction ...
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Theories and questions surrounding Dr. Nandifa's motivations
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Clarifications
- Dr. Nandifa is a renowned celebrity doctor, known for her wealth and high-profile career. Tabbo Bester is an individual who has been convicted of a crime and is connected to Dr. Nandifa in a controversial manner.
- Dr. Nandifa and Tabbo Bester were involved in a series of criminal activities, including a housing scam and an escape plan. These actions raised questions about Dr. Nandifa's role in the crimes and whether she was a willing participant. The podcast transcript suggests that their relationship involved manipulation and potential criminal collaboration, but specific details about the crimes they committed are not explicitly outlined.
- The relationship dynamics between Dr. Nandifa and Tabbo Bester are complex and open to interpretation. Some believe Dr. Nandifa was manipulated by Bester, while others argue she willingly participated in his actions. The ambiguity arises from conflicting behaviors and actions exhibited by both individuals, leaving room for speculation about the true nature of their relationship. The lack of clear evidence regarding physical abuse o ...
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