Family Members Pleaded With Public Not To Offer Him Rides
After leaving home that morning,Waithaka was picked up twice by passing cars. His family reports a meaningful change in his condition over the past two years.
Calera Police Chief David Heich stated that investigators have interviewed both drivers who gave Waithaka rides. Initially, Waithaka mistakenly believed a house eight doors down was his destination and asked a neighbor for a drop-off.He then flagged down a food delivery vehicle, requesting a ride “to town.” According to Chief Heich, the driver stopped at a gas station, where Waithaka indicated he was alright.
He was last seen at the gas station at 11:43 a.m.
A nearby resident later reported seeing someone resembling Mr. Waithaka entering a wooded area adjacent to the gas station.The individual reportedly whent under a gate and disappeared into the trees.
Police have conducted multiple interviews with local residents. Investigators suspect Waithaka may have received another ride from a truck at the drive-in behind the gas station and subsequently left town.
Promptly following Waithaka’s disappearance, his family issued a plea on local television, asking people not to offer him rides, fearing he would travel long distances each time he entered a vehicle.
Chief Heich said police officers worked continuously for 18 days after Waithaka went missing.Despite dwindling leads, he assured the family that the search would continue until Waithaka is found.
Community members have distributed flyers and conducted searches throughout the surrounding forests. Mr. Heich noted the overwhelming support received.
“We couldn’t even respond to everyone,” he said. “During nighttime searches utilizing infrared cameras and police dogs, we occasionally had to ask well-intentioned volunteers to leave to prevent interference.”
Waithaka had a Kenyan mobile phone with him when he disappeared. Mr. Heich, with assistance from the FBI’s Nairobi office, requested the carrier to trace the phone’s signal. The results took several days to obtain.
According to Chief Heich, the phone last emitted a signal in Frankfurt. It’s possible the phone was in airplane mode, hindering tracking efforts. Mr. Waithaka possessed a U.S. B2 (short-term tourist) visa but did not have a passport attached to it. The family believes he may have had some Kenyan currency but no U.S. dollars.
Calera’s investigative team has searched abandoned buildings in the area and routinely contacts homeless shelters, hospitals, and immigration authorities to check if Waithaka’s data appears in their databases.
Mr. Heich stated he empathizes with the family’s distress, having personal experience with a father who suffered from dementia. He expressed hope that…
2025/12/10 16:31:48