Kevin Kangethe, 42, has been extradited to the United States after being accused of murdering his girlfriend, Margaret “Maggie” Mbitu, in Boston. Her body was discovered last November in a parked car at Logan International Airport, just two days after she was reported missing. After the crime, Kangethe fled to Kenya, where he managed to evade authorities for several months.
Details of the Crime
Margaret “Maggie” Mbitu was a 31-year-old nurse from Whitman, a suburb of Boston. Her body was found in a bloodied state, with slash wounds on her face and neck, inside a car parked at Logan International Airport. Kevin Kangethe, Mbitu’s boyfriend, became the primary suspect after he was identified through surveillance footage leaving the airport and boarding a flight to Kenya the day before her body was discovered.
Arrest and Extradition
After months of eluding authorities, Kangethe was arrested in January at a Nairobi nightclub, thanks to a tip-off. However, he managed to escape from jail days later. A week after his escape, Kangethe was re-arrested at a relative’s house in Nairobi, following another tip from the public. Kenya, which has an extradition treaty with the United States, extradited Kangethe back to the U.S., where he is expected to face a murder charge in Suffolk Superior Court.
Family’s Reaction and Legal Proceedings
Mbitu’s family, particularly her sister Ann, has expressed deep grief and anger over the loss. Ann told CNN, “Nobody’s daughter deserves this, but why my sister? Why Maggie?” Upon his return to the U.S., Kangethe is expected to be tried for the murder of Margaret Mbitu. The Director of Public Prosecutions in Kenya, Renson Ingonga, has pledged his support for the U.S. prosecution team as they move forward with the case.
International Collaboration
The U.S. State Department, the FBI, the Massachusetts State Police, and Kenyan law enforcement worked together to ensure Kangethe’s capture and extradition. Kevin Hayden, the District Attorney of Suffolk County, thanked these agencies for their efforts in bringing Kangethe to justice, offering Mbitu’s family some hope for closure.
Conclusion
The tragic death of Margaret Mbitu has led to an international manhunt and the eventual extradition of the suspect, Kevin Kangethe, to face justice in the United States. The case underscores the importance of international cooperation in law enforcement and the long road ahead for the victim’s family as they seek justice.