The body of missing Whitman woman Margaret “Maggie” Mbitu was discovered in a car at a Logan Airport garage, according to Massachusetts State Police and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office on Thursday. Authorities are currently searching for her partner, Kevin Kangethe, a 40-year-old resident of Lowell, who boarded a flight to Kenya from Boston.
Sources from the I-Team have revealed that Mbitu was stabbed and found in the passenger seat of the vehicle.
Law enforcement has issued an arrest warrant for Kangethe, charging him with Mbitu’s murder. They are collaborating with Kenyan authorities to locate him.
Mbitu’s family reported her missing on Monday. She was last seen leaving her job in Halifax that night. Her coworkers shared a flyer on Facebook, hoping for her safe return.
This is devastating news for Jane Wambu, a close friend of the family, who considered Maggie as her own daughter. “It’s incredibly unfortunate that someone would choose to do something like this,” Wambu expressed. “This is a tremendous loss for her parents, relatives, and the entire community, even the nation.”
The FBI operates an international operations office in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. Jennifer Coffindaffer, a former FBI special agent, suggests that agents are likely already coordinating with local authorities to track down Kangethe and extradite him to face charges. “The United States has an extradition treaty with Kenya, so the outlook is promising in terms of cooperation from Kenyan authorities,” stated Coffindaffer.
WBZ-TV’s I-Team initially reported that the police issued a “be on the lookout” alert for the vehicle around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday and eventually found it overnight parked in the Central Parking garage at the airport.
Sources reveal that investigators are using video surveillance to piece together a timeline of events.
Mbitu was employed at BAMSI in Brockton. In a statement, the nonprofit organization expressed their heartbreak over her tragic murder. “She was a warm, caring individual who was loved by everyone she worked with, both colleagues and the individuals she cared for in our group homes,” BAMSI stated. “As an agency, we are mourning the loss of such an incredible young woman.”
Her family hopes for justice. Wambu said, “We’re praying that the Lord brings peace to the family and, above all, that the culprit responsible for this mayhem is apprehended.”
