She moved to the US with big dreams and met a boyfriend on Craigslist. Then she vanished
A Kenyan woman has disappeared in the US after being in contact with a boyfriend she met on Graigslist.
Craigslist is an online platform with sections created for job hunting, sales, housing, gigs, discussion forums, and more.
According to CNN, Irene Gakwa communicated with her family in Nairobi for the last time on February 24, 2022, via video chat.
“When her face appeared on the phone screen, her dad teased her that she looked hungry and tired,” CNN reported.
According to the report, Gakwa’s father advised her to drink hot milk and rest. And that was the last time she was seen by them.
The 32-year-old is the family’s only daughter and the youngest among three children.
Chris and Kennedy, her two brothers, also live in the United States.
Gakwa, who went missing after three years of living in the US was living with her partner in Wyoming, but had not told her parents about their relationship
The man she met on Graigslist was identified as Nathan Hightman, whom the police spoke to. According to him, Gakwa prepared her luggage one night and left in a dark SUV.
In a recent phone interview, her father told the news station that Gakwa was supposed to visit the family for Christmas, but it has been half a year since they last heard from their child.
“I was going to buy that ticket myself for her to come if she couldn’t afford it,” Kambo said.
Gakwa was reported missing by her family on March 20 after several video calls were answered in a bothersome fashion and her text messages appeared strange.
Her oldest brother revealed that for some reason she stopped using a mix of English and Sheng, and instead spoke in English that seemed a lot like Google Translate-generated text.
In one of her last texts to her father, she claimed her mobile had fallen in water, and gave that as a reason for no longer being able to talk with them via video call.
In another message, she said:
“I just want you to know I love and miss you and mom.”
Gakwa’s boyfriend is now considered a suspect by authorities and was arrested in May after he reportedly maxed out his girlfriend’s credit card, changed her bank pin number, and erased her email after she went missing.
🚨UPDATE🚨#IreneGakwa
Help us find Irene!
Police have arrested a person of interest in connection to the disappearance of Irene Gakwa from #Gillette #Wyoming.Please help us share the information below and this updated flyer. pic.twitter.com/L673tRiPid
— Jury File (@JuryFile) May 12, 2022
Gakwa’s father said:
“She was my only daughter. I spoiled her and she took advantage of that.”
“She had not introduced Nathan to me — that’s what kills me.”
“I just want to know the truth. I’m still hopeful, but my hope is dwindling. She knows my number.”
“The fact that she has not called …,” he said with a shaky voice.
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