Fugitive who allegedly killed girlfriend in Boston caught in Kenya after escaping custody

(LONDON) — The suspect accused of killing his girlfriend at Boston’s Logan International Airport and fleeing to Kenya was recaptured Tuesday after he escaped custody a week ago, police said.

Kevin Kangethe was caught after they conducted an intelligence-led operation, Kenyan officials said.

Earlier this week, police said they arrested two people they believe helped him escape custody.

In addition to announcing the arrests, Amin Mohammed Ibrahim, chief of Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations, had said Tuesday that they had made progress in their search for Kangethe.

“It’s unfortunate that after we made laborious efforts to apprehend him that through circumstances yet to be determined Kevin escaped from police custody, Muthaiga police station for that matter,” he said. “But so far so good, we have progressed very well and as of today arrested two people who we suspect facilitated the disappearance of the fugitive,” he said Tuesday.

Authorities offered no further details on the two people who were arrested or how they helped facilitate Kangethe’s escape.

Kangethe was awaiting extradition to the U.S. under suspicion that he killed his girlfriend and left her body in an airport parking garage last November.

“In the fullness of time and very soon, we should be able to apprehend him and also take action against all persons who aided or abetted the escape of Kevin from lawful police custody,” Ibrahim said Tuesday.

Kangethe was being held at Muthaiga police station in Nairobi when he escaped custody on Feb. 7.  

He is facing first-degree murder charges in the death of 31-year-old Margaret Mbitu. Mbitu’s body was found in a vehicle at a parking garage at Boston’s Logan International Airport on Nov. 1, 2023.

Kangethe boarded a plane to Kenya after the alleged murder and was arrested Jan. 30 after a three-month international manhunt.

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