Woman Vanished In Wyoming After Living With Boyfriend She Met On Craigslist

Kenyan native Irene Gakwa moved to the United States to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. Less than three years later, in March 2022, she was reported missing.

September 14, 2022
32-year-old Irene Gakwa, a native of Kenya, was last seen on February 24, 2022. Her boyfriend, Nathan Hightman, is considered a person of interest in her disappearance.

Kenyan native Irene Gakwa moved to the United States to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. She hasn’t been seen since February 2022.

Photo by: City of Gillette

City of Gillette

32-year-old Irene Gakwa moved from Kenya to the United States to pursue her dreams of becoming a nurse. Less than three years later, on March 20, 2022, her brother reported her missing to police.

She was last seen by her parents on February 24, 2022 on a WhatsApp video call. At the time of the call, they had no idea she was living in Gillette, Wyoming with a boyfriend she had met on a Craigslist forum, according to CNN.

In early March — before she was reported missing but after she was last seen on the video call with her parents — Gakwa’s account was used to send short WhatsApp messages to her parents to “explain” why she wasn’t answering their video calls. According to her older brother, Gakwa usually used a mix of Swahili and Kenyan slang in text messages but these messages seemed different, like somebody was using Google Translate to send them.

After her family couldn’t reach her on the phone, her brothers, whom she shared a phone plan with, looked through her phone records and found out about the boyfriend she’d been living with, 39-year-old Nathan Hightman.

Police talked to Hightman the same day Gakwa was reported missing. He claimed he last saw Gakwa in late February, when she came home one night, packed her clothing in two plastic bags, and left in a dark-colored SUV, the affidavit said.

Hightman allegedly stole from Gakwa after she went missing. He reportedly withdrew money from her account after the disappearance in addition to deleting her email and changing her passwords. He was arrested on May 10, 2022, for “two felony counts of theft, one felony count of unlawful use of a credit card, and two felony counts of crimes against intellectual property,” according to PEOPLE.

On the day after that last WhatsApp call Gakwa had with her family, Hightman used her credit card to purchase a shovel, jeans, and boots.

Her family continues to speak out about their heartbreak and dedication to find justice for Gakwa.

"She's always been a daddy's girl," Francis Kambo, the missing woman’s father, told CNN. "She was supposed to come home for Christmas this year. I was going to buy that ticket myself for her to come if she couldn't afford it. Now I don't know if I'll ever see her again."

Hightman has not been charged in connection with Gakwa’s disappearance but is considered a person of interest. On June 8, 2022, Hightman pleaded not guilty to all charges against him and was released on a $10,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court in November 2022.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Gillette Police Department at 307-682-5155.

Next Up

Ex-Boyfriend Of Missing Nebraska Mother Arrested In Central America

Cari Allen, 43, was reported missing on Nov. 20, 2022. Over two weeks later, on Dec. 6, 2022, her ex-boyfriend, 47-year-old Aldrick Scott, was apprehended in Belize and arrested in connection with her disappearance.

A Georgia Mom Left For The Store In 2021 And Never Returned

Tiffany Foster’s fiancé was later charged with moving her car after she went missing, but he has not been charged with anything else relating to her March 2021 disappearance.

‘She Just Vanished’: Indiana Woman Goes Missing After Night Out With Friends

In January 2021, Kirsten Brueggeman, 26, was last seen on surveillance video walking in an area not far from a popular pub.

Where Is Ella Goodie? Louisiana Woman Disappeared After Giving Somebody A Ride

A Louisiana woman disappeared without a trace on March 9, 2022. Police now believe she may have been murdered.

What Happened To Zion Foster? Family Seeks Justice After Her Disappearance

The Michigan teen was reported missing on Jan. 4, 2022, but it took several weeks before the tragic truth came out.

Have You Seen Missing Florida Mom Lauren Dumolo?

Investigators say since Lauren Dumolo vanished they've worked hundreds of leads. At this point, none have led to her whereabouts. Please call or text the "In Pursuit" hotline with your tips on this case: 833-378-7783.

Family Seeks Answers In Case Of Missing Indigenous Washington Woman

“It’s really hard not knowing,” says the sister of Mary Johnson, who vanished at the end of 2020.

An Alabama Woman Disappeared After Her Boyfriend Dropped Her Off At Home

Nobody has seen Lakira Goldsmith since Nov. 28, 2018, when she disappeared after a date.

California Teacher Arrested After Allegedly Hiding Teen For Two Years

The family of teenager Michael Ramirez thought he was missing for two years until he "inexplicably returned home" on March 11, 2022. Now, an arrest has been made in connection with his disappearance.

Oklahoma Tribal Citizen’s Disappearance Leads To Law In Support Of Indigenous Crime Victims

Ida Beard told family she was going to visit friends but then never returned.