Man Jailed for Stealing Money From Missing Kenyan Girlfriend in the US

Nathan Hightman, the ex-boyfriend of Irene Gakwa, was on Wednesday, June 14 sentenced to six years in Prison. 

Hightman pleaded guilty to stealing and misusing Gakwa's credit card which was presented as evidence in the hearing. In the case heard at Campbell County District Court in Gillette, Wyoming, the accused was sentenced to serve six years in prison for felony theft and unlawful use of a credit card.

Gakwa, a 25-year-old Kenyan immigrant, was last seen in Gillette, Wyoming, on March 1, 2022. One month later, Hightman was arrested on suspicion of stealing thousands of dollars from Gakwa, weeks after her disappearance. He was also accused of using her credit cards, withdrawing funds from her bank account, and selling some of her possessions. The prosecution claimed that Hightman withdrew Sh518,000 ($3,700) from Gakwa's bank account and spent Ksh452,000 ($3,230) on her credit card.

Hightman admitted that he had taken the funds and sold Gakwa's belongings, but refuted claims linking him to Gakwa's disappearance. Investigators said Hightman changed Gakwa’s banking account password and deleted her email account. Gakwa's family have maintained that Hightman is responsible for her disappearance, further hoping that the search mission would bring a positive result.

Gakwa moved from Kenya to attend nursing school in the Boise, Idaho, area, where her two older brothers live. She met Hightman on a Craigslist forum and moved to Gillette with him in July 2021. Gakwa's family last had contact with her on a video call on February 24, 2022.