Family and co-workers remember missing Massachusetts woman found murdered as suspect still at large

BOSTON – A missing Massachusetts woman that was found deceased is being remembered by her co-workers and family.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police announced Thursday that an arrest warrant had been obtained for 40-year-old Kevin Kangethe of Lowell, suspected of killing 31-year-old Margaret Mbitu of Whitman, whose body was located Wednesday night in a garage at Logan Airport. The victim had been reported missing by her family on Monday and was the subject of a missing person investigation.

Kevin Kangethe

At approximately 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Massachusetts State Troopers assigned to the Logan Airport Barracks located a vehicle occupied by a deceased adult female in the Central Parking garage at Logan Airport. A subsequent investigation by the State Police Detective Unit for Suffolk County and State Police Troop F Detectives confirmed that the victim was the missing Mbitu. Evidence indicates that she was the victim of a homicide.

The investigation identified the suspect as Kangethe and determined that he had boarded a flight to Kenya. State Police Detectives obtained a warrant charging Kangethe with Mbitu’s homicide and are working with Kenyan authorities to locate Kangethe.

Mbitu was a nurse at BAMSI in Brockton, a non-profit human service organizations in Massachusetts that delivers health services to the elderly, low-income and disabled. Her employer released a statement.

“The BAMSI community is heartbroken by the tragic murder of Maggie Mbitu. She was warm, caring, and loved by everyone she worked with, both staff and the people she cared for in our group homes. As an agency, we are in mourning over the loss of such an amazing young woman.”

Mbitu’s family created a GoFundMe fundraiser for expenses and remembered her for her light and giving nature.

“Maggie was adored by many and it’s impossible to describe the impact she had on everyone during her lifetime or quantify the number of lives she touched. She was a kind, selfless, compassionate nurse that was loved by many. Her death has left a huge burden to her family who have to tackle funeral costs, legal expenses to catch the suspect at large, and other arrangements that have unexpectedly risen to help bring justice for her. Maggie, we love you and we will miss your loving, kind, caring and genuine spirit. You were a friend to many, a helping hand to those around you, and light in many people’s lives. You taught us what it means to live fully and love generously. We’ll miss you and keep your memory with us forever. Thank you for leaving your imprint in our lives.”

The investigation into the facts and circumstances of the homicide are ongoing. The investigation indicates that Kangethe and Mbitu knew each other, and that the homicide was not a random act.