Missing woman Maggie Mbitu found dead in car at Logan Airport in Boston
BOSTON - The body of missing Whitman woman Margaret "Maggie" Mbitu was found in a car at a Logan Airport garage Thursday, according to Massachusetts State Police and the Suffolk County District Attorney's office. Investigators are looking for her partner, 40-year-old Kevin Kangethe, of Lowell, who left Boston on a flight to Kenya.
Sources told WBZ-TV's I-Team Mbitu was stabbed and left in the passenger seat of the car.
Police have an arrest warrant for Kangethe, charging him with the 31-year-old's murder, authorities said. They are working with Kenyan authorities to find him.
Mbitu was reported missing by her family on Monday. She was last seen Monday night, leaving her job at BAMSI in Halifax. The company said Mbitu was a nurse who worked in their group homes for more than ten years, helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
"She was warm, caring, and loved by everyone she worked with, both staff and the people she cared for in our group homes. As an agency, we are in mourning over the loss of such an amazing young (woman)," executive vice president Ulea Grace Lago said in a statement.
Mbitu's coworkers had posted a flyer on Facebook, praying for her safe return.
It's heartbreaking news for family friend Jane Wambu who said Maggie was like a daughter.
"It's just very, very, unfortunate that somebody would choose to do what they have done," Wambu told WBZ. "It's definitely such a great loss to the parents, to her relatives, and to the community at large and I would say to the nation."
The FBI has an international operations office in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. Former FBI special agent Jennifer Coffindaffer says it's likely agents are already communicating with local authorities to track down Kangethe and bring him back to face charges.
"The United States has an extradition treaty with Kenya, so things look very good in terms of Kenyan authorities cooperating," Coffindaffer said.
Wednesday, Margaret "Maggie" Mbitu's co-workers posted this flyer on #Facebook -praying for her safe return. #WBZ #ITeam #Halifax #Whitman #Boston #LoganAirport pic.twitter.com/SwAT1TAD26
— Cheryl Fiandaca (@CherylFiandaca) November 2, 2023
The I-Team first reported that police issued a "be on the lookout" alert for the car at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and found it overnight parked inside the airport's Central Parking garage. Sources tell the I-Team that investigators are piecing together a timeline using video surveillance.
"We're just praying that the Lord may give the family peace and above everything that her culprit, this person may be arrested," Wambu said.