The story of Irene

Irene’s brothers had settled in Idaho, carving out a quiet but fulfilling life in the wide, open spaces of the American Northwest. They worked hard, built homes, and started families of their own. Their houses were always full of laughter — children running around, the smell of home-cooked meals, and the warmth of family that reminded them of home in Kenya.

Back home, Irene had just graduated. She had always been a dreamer — bright, determined, and full of compassion. Her heart was set on becoming a nurse, a calling she felt deep within her. She wanted to help people, to bring comfort and care wherever she went. But to do that, she needed to study in the United States, where her brothers had already built a foundation.

Convincing her father wasn’t easy. He was protective, cautious about sending his daughter so far away. But Irene’s persistence, her gentle reasoning, and her unwavering passion eventually softened his heart. He saw the fire in her eyes — the same determination that had carried their family through so much. With his blessing, Irene packed her bags and boarded a plane to Idaho, ready to begin a new chapter.

Life in Idaho was beautiful in its own quiet way. Irene quickly became the heart of the family gatherings. She loved dancing around the living room with her sisters-in-law, singing along to their favorite songs, and laughing until her sides hurt. Her nieces and nephews adored her — “Auntie Irene” who always had time to play, to listen, to love.

Between family life and school, Irene’s days were full. She studied hard, balancing her classes and clinicals with the joy of being surrounded by family. Nursing school wasn’t easy, but she thrived — her kindness and dedication shining through in everything she did.

In Idaho, Irene found not just a new home, but a life filled with purpose, love, and laughter. She was chasing her dream, surrounded by the people who loved her most, and every day brought her one step closer to becoming the nurse she had always wanted to be.

Irene lived a quiet and modest life in Gillette, Wyoming. She balanced her time between school and work, maintaining a routine that reflected her calm and reserved nature. Despite being far from her family, she stayed closely connected with her brothers through regular phone calls and text messages, often giving the impression that she was still living in Arizona. Her bond with her parents in Kenya remained strong as well—she frequently FaceTimed them, sharing updates about her life and checking in on them with warmth and affection.

Neighbors who lived near Irene and her partner, Nathan, described the couple as very quiet and private. They were rarely seen outside and mostly kept to themselves, giving little insight into their daily lives.

In late February, Irene’s family began to worry when their calls and messages to her went unanswered. The concern deepened when they eventually received text messages from her phone that didn’t sound like her. The messages were written in a mix of English and Swahili, but the Swahili portions were awkward and incorrect—clearly not the way Irene, a native speaker, would write. It seemed as though someone had used an online translator to mimic her language, confirming her family’s fear that something was terribly wrong.

Kennedy and Chris, concerned after losing contact with Irene, decided to call in a welfare check to the local police department in Arizona, believing that’s where she and her boyfriend, Nathan, were living. When officers checked the address, they discovered that Irene and Nathan no had never lived there. This was the moment Kennedy and Chris learned that the couple had actually relocated to Gillette, Wyoming.

Determined to ensure Irene’s safety, they reached out to the Gillette Police Department and requested another welfare check. Officers were dispatched to the couple’s residence on Pathfinder Lane. When they arrived, Nathan told them that Irene had packed her belongings into plastic garbage bags, left in a dark-colored SUV, and that he hadn’t heard from her since.

Alarmed by the situation, Irene’s brothers traveled to Gillette and officially filed a missing person report. The police opened an investigation into her disappearance. As detectives began looking deeper, they uncovered troubling financial activity: Nathan had transferred all the money from Irene’s bank accounts into his own, maxed out her credit cards, and deleted her emails and social media accounts.

These discoveries led authorities to open a separate investigation into financial and intellectual property crimes committed against Irene, expanding the scope of the case beyond her disappearance.

A dedicated group of community volunteers came together with one shared purpose — to be the voice for Irene Gakwa’s family and the feet on the ground in their search for answers. Because Irene’s loved ones lived far away, these volunteers became their local support system, organizing and leading more than ten searches across the area. Their efforts spanned foot searches, ATV patrols, and horseback searches, covering miles of rugged terrain in hopes of finding any trace of Irene.

Beyond the physical searches, the group also worked tirelessly to keep Irene’s story alive in the public eye. They hosted a candlelight vigil to honor her and a peaceful protest outside the home Irene once shared with Nathan Hightman. During that protest, Hightman—who continued to refuse cooperation with law enforcement—called the Gillette Police Department claiming harassment. However, the volunteers remained peaceful and lawful, standing firm in their right to demand justice.

Through the persistence of these advocates and Irene’s brothers, her story reached national attention. Their combined efforts led to coverage on CNN and NewsNation, which in turn sparked interest from numerous other media outlets. This grassroots movement of compassion, determination, and advocacy ensured that Irene’s name and story would not be forgotten.