In a case that has gripped the nation, 32-year-old Irene Gakwa remains missing seven months after her last known contact with family on February 24, 2022. The Kenyan native, who moved to the U.S. to pursue nursing, vanished from Gillette, Wyoming, under suspicious circumstances that have drawn increasing scrutiny toward her boyfriend, Nathan Heitman.

According to reports, Irene’s family last spoke to her during a video call, sensing something was amiss. Just days later, they received bizarre messages from her WhatsApp account, raising alarm bells about her safety. Despite the troubling signs, Nathan claimed she packed her belongings and left, a narrative that her family vehemently contests.

Investigators have uncovered a troubling pattern of financial misconduct tied to Nathan, who allegedly accessed Irene’s bank accounts and made numerous unauthorized transactions shortly after her disappearance. He has been charged with theft but has not been implicated in her disappearance, leaving investigators and her family desperate for answers.

The community has rallied around Irene’s family, with local volunteers conducting searches and maintaining pressure on authorities to keep her story alive. Recent revelations suggest Nathan may have destroyed evidence linked to her case, including a 55-gallon drum he purchased the day she vanished, which witnesses claim he was seen burning.

As the search for Irene continues, her family’s anguish deepens. They are calling for the public’s help in finding her, emphasizing that she did not simply leave her life behind. “Irene deserves to be found,” her family insists, as they await any glimmer of hope in this heartbreaking ordeal. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Gillette Police Department. Time is running out, and every second matters in the fight to bring Irene home.