Man accused of killing girlfriend, fleeing to Kenya held without bail after pleading not guilty

Kevin Kangethe arrived back in Boston Saturday, months after he allegedly murdered Maggie Mbitu and left her body in a Logan Airport parking garage.

Accused of killing his girlfriend and leaving her body in a Logan Airport parking garage before fleeing to Kenya, Kevin Kangethe returned to Massachusetts this week to face a charge of first-degree murder.

Prosecutors allege Kangethe, a former Lowell resident, stabbed 31-year-old Margaret “Maggie” Mbitu to death and boarded a one-way flight to Kenya in the fall of 2023. Authorities found Mbitu’s body inside a parked car at the airport on Nov. 1, 2023, two days after the Whitman woman’s family reported her missing.

Kangethe, 42, pleaded not guilty in Suffolk Superior Court Tuesday and was ordered held without bail. He was first arrested at a Kenyan nightclub in January but escaped police custody the following week while awaiting extradition to the United States. Authorities recaptured Kangethe several days later, and he arrived back in Boston on Saturday night.

Speaking in court Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Mark Lee said Mbitu was found with 10 wounds on her face and neck alone, including fatal lacerations to her carotid artery and jugular vein, WBZ reported. Lee reportedly accused Kangethe of covering Mbitu’s body with various items to make it more difficult for authorities to find her.

“For many, this may feel like the end,” Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden told reporters following Tuesday’s arraignment. “But let’s be clear: This is only the beginning of a long road to justice for Maggie Mbitu and her family, and for the entire Suffolk County community and communities that have been affected by this horrible tragedy.”

In an audio clip of the press conference provided by his office, Hayden described Mbitu as a nurse and caregiver “beloved by every patient she served.”

“We’re grateful today for the many people who knew and loved Maggie and the fact that they finally got the opportunity and chance to see the [person] accused for her murder stand and answer to the charges against him,” he said.

Hayden also alleged domestic violence “was a factor in this case.”

Reached for comment Tuesday, Kangethe’s attorney, Jonathan Shapiro, emphasized his client’s presumed innocence. Asked about Hayden’s domestic violence allegation, Shapiro replied: “At this point, I haven’t been provided with any of the evidence the commonwealth claims to have.”

As officials noted Tuesday, tracking down and extraditing Kangethe was a months-long effort between Kenyan authorities and state and federal agencies in the U.S.

“Kevin Kangethe tried to get away with murder,” said Kimberly Milka, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “After a long road with many twists and turns, Kangethe is now back in Boston to answer for the alleged murder of his girlfriend.”

Two of Mbitu’s relatives also spoke to reporters Tuesday.

“It has not been easy for us,” her cousin, Joel Muhoro, said. “I don’t think it’s going to be easy, even going forward.”

He read a statement on behalf of the family, describing Mbitu as “a bright light in our lives.”

“Today, we remember her kindness, her generosity, her smile, and her infectious laugh, which lit up every room she entered,” Muhoro said. “We think about her dreams of being a business owner, of becoming a nurse practitioner to help care for others. And we remember the hole left in the lives of too many because our Maggie was taken from us far too soon.”

Mary Kinyariro, another cousin, shared a statement from Mbitu’s sister Ann.

“It has been a long journey coming,” Kinyariro read. “Today gives us hope and represents a step forward towards justice. … We will continue to fight until this coward is locked up and never sees the light again or gets to harm any other family and take their loved one away from them.”

Kangethe will return to court for a pre-trial hearing on Nov. 5.