Massachusetts

The suspect in the death of a woman whose body was found at Boston Logan International Airport has escaped from authorities in Kenya, police said Thursday.

Kevin Kangethe, 40, escaped from the Nairobi Police Department and into a privately owned minivan, which is the main source of transportation in Kenya.

Kangethe had been in custody since Jan. 30. He was awaiting extradition on a warrant out of Massachusetts that alleged he killed his girlfriend — Margaret “Maggie” Mbitu — back in October and left her body in a car at Logan airport.

The Nairobi police chief said they have arrested the officers who were on duty when Kangethe escaped.

According to The Associated Press, police corruption has been a problem in Kenya for decades, and his escape raises suspicion that bribes were paid for his freedom.

Massachusetts officials had worked with Kenya authorities for three months before they located and arrested him at a nightclub last month.

Kangethe had his next court hearing scheduled for Friday and now the search for him begins once again.

More on the Maggie Mbitu case

Massachusetts

Jan 30

‘Beginning of the justice’: Slain woman’s family grateful for suspect’s arrest overseas

Massachusetts

Jan 30

Boyfriend wanted in killing of woman found in SUV at Logan airport arrested in Kenya

death investigation

Dec 1, 2023

‘It’s been a painful month’: Family of woman found killed at Logan Airport seeks answers

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Many organizations across Massachusetts are in need of assistance, and one nonprofit in the Merrimack Valley says donations are depleting as a result of the rise in child poverty, homelessness and the arrivals of migrants to the region.

For almost 15 years, Catie’s Closet has helped 90,000 low-income students in schools all over Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

“Catie’s Closet was created to solve a major problem and a barrier to education and that is access to clothing and basic necessities,” said CEO Mickey Cockrell.

She added that the organization’s SOS Urgent Response Program is experiencing unprecedented increase in special requests, especially since Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency last August amid the influx of migrants seeking shelter.

“Probably at the beginning of 2023, we were supporting around 50 to 100 kids in a month, and now, it would be more like weekly,” Cockrell said.

At one moment, Catie’s Closet had more than 1,000 children on the SOS Urgent Response waitlist and was unable to fill orders due to lack of funding.

“It’s tough to close your eyes at night knowing that there might be a child in need who is just wondering why they got the short end of the straw,” she said.

More on the migrant crisis in Massachusetts

Roxbury

Jan 31

Migrants to move from Logan airport to Roxbury shelter: ‘We really don’t have a choice’

The International Institute of New England says it has recently served around 3,000 migrants.

“Specifically making sure all those clients are connected with public cash assistance, food stamps, TFDC,” said Caroline Rowe, managing director of IINE’s Lowell site.

She says organizations like Catie’s Closet are essential for the families she works with, especially since migrants are only getting around $530 a month.

“We cannot do refugee resettlement without a community and a network of organizations and other nonprofits, the schools, the health centers,” Rowe said.

The hope is to deliver special packages to the schools that requested them within 48 hours. Inside the customized bags, kids will find up to two weeks of clothing and other basic essentials.

Catie’s Closet says the best way to help is by donating on its website.

Gov. Maura Healey on Wednesday nominated Appeals Court Judge Gabrielle Wolohojian to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Judicial Court, elevating to the state’s highest court a longtime appellate judge who is also the governor’s former domest…