Latest news with #ReubenWaithaka
The Sun
08-07-2025
- The Sun
Doting grandpa flies 8k miles to be at grandson's graduation but never makes it as he vanishes a day after landing in US
A FAMILY is desperate for answers after their grandpa traveled 18 hours to attend his grandson's graduation — but then disappeared. It's been nearly two months since Reuben Waithaka, 73, walked out of his son's house and vanished on May 15. 6 6 6 Before he went missing, Waithaka and his wife, Elizabeth, had flown more than 8,000 miles from their home in Kenya to attend the high school graduation of their first grandson in Alabama. The morning after they arrived, Waithaka left the family home in Calera, about 30 miles south of Birmingham, at around 11 am. He hasn't been seen since. The doting grandfather missed his grandson's graduation, which occurred just six days after he disappeared. "He just got here. And then he was gone," Waithaka's grandson, Byron, told CNN. The doting grandpa was planning on attending the graduation and even packed sentimental gifts to celebrate the occasion. Pictures of his son at a young age and matching shirts for his son, grandson, and himself were tucked into his suitcase, CNN reported. His family was seen gathered together in pictures of the graduation as they spoke about the concerning situation in social media posts. Waithaka's daughter-in-law, Mary Ngigi Waithaka, wrote in part on Facebook, "Even as our family navigates the worry and uncertainty of my father-in-law going missing this past week, I know he would want us to celebrate this incredible achievement." MORNING OF MAY 15 Elizabeth said that on the morning he went missing, Waithaka stepped out of the house and seemed confused, according to CBS affiliate WIAT. She followed her husband at first, but returned to lock the doors of the house. When she tried to catch up with him, he was already out of sight. Timeline of disappearance The search for Reuben Waithaka has lasted seven weeks as his family is desperate for answers. Below is a timeline of his disappearance: May 14 - Reuben Waithaka and his wife, Elizabeth, arrive in Calera, Alabama, after 18 hours of flying from Kenya. May 15 - Reuben leaves his son's home at around 11 am wearing khaki pants and a plaid shirt. Within an hour, he's seen two miles away at a gas station. Police later said he was given a ride to the gas station. May 21 - Reuben's grandson graduates from high school without Reuben in attendance. June 3 - Reuben's family celebrates his 73rd birthday without him. 'CONFUSED' STATE Emily Ann Balua, Waithaka's daughter, said the patriarch had appeared to be confused about where he was since they arrived in the US, according to NBC affiliate WVTM. The family said Waithaka might be trying to return to Kenya. "So, if he asks you to take him to a city, especially to Kamboni, that is where he's from,' Balua said. Waithaka was given at least two rides after he left his family's home, according to the Calera Police Department. 6 6 One of the rides was to a Chevron gas station about two miles away from his son's home. Surveillance footage from the gas station showed Waithaka walking with his hands behind his back at around 11:48 am. He waved at the store attendant before walking to a restroom, according to CNN. Waithaka then left through the back door of the store and hasn't been seen since. CPD hasn't returned The U.S. Sun's request for comment. In May, Waithaka's family urged anyone who sees the missing grandpa to call the police instead of giving him a ride. "We don't want him to go any farther," Balua told WIAT at the time. She told WVTM, "We're hoping that if he approaches you for a ride, please don't give him a ride. Distract him and call the police." Waithaka's family said he hasn't been diagnosed with any disease that would impair his thinking. FAMILY'S HEARTBREAK On June 3, Waithaka turned 73 and wasn't with his family to celebrate. "HAPPY 73rd BIRTHDAY To My Father! However it's hard to spend this joyous day without the man of the day," his son, Willington Waithaka, wrote on Facebook. "We all thank you for the continuous support and love we have gotten through these tough days." Recently, Willington shared a heartbreaking message about his dad's disappearance with CNN. He told CNN, 'Sometimes I regret why I asked my parents to come for my son's graduation. I find myself wondering, 'What would I have done differently? "Maybe if I hadn't invited them, my dad would still be with us.' 6
CNN
08-07-2025
- General
- CNN
What flood survivors faced, Cybertruck flop, why women live longer: Catch up on the day's stories
👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! Women outlive men in dire circumstances — even though girls in many parts of the world have access to fewer resources, such as food and medical care. That's because the female body is built for resilience and longevity. Here's what else you might have missed during your busy day. They clung to trees, crawled out of windows and floated on mattresses. These are the conditions survivors — and those still missing — faced during the terrifying Texas floods. ▶️ Watch: A rescue swimmer and his team are credited with saving 165 people. ➕ Follow live updates as the death toll rises. Reuben Waithaka traveled 8,200 miles to witness his first grandson graduate from high school in Alabama. He arrived from Kenya with sentimental gifts tucked in his suitcase: faded photos and African print shirts. The next day he vanished. American children's health has declined profoundly over the past few decades, a new study shows. The issues are so serious that kids in the US are dying at a much higher rate than those in similar high-income countries. Despite Elon Musk's bold predictions, the Cybertruck is officially a flop. The electric truck faces serious competition from the likes of Rivian, Ford and GM, and Chinese rivals are eating into Tesla's market share overseas. You don't have to sacrifice style for sustainability. Kelsey MacDermaid and Becky Wright — aka The Sorry Girls — are transforming secondhand finds into treasures. Get '5 things' in your inbox If your day doesn't start until you're up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to your new favorite morning fix. Sign up here for the '5 Things' newsletter. 🎂 Marking a milestone: Thousands gathered to celebrate the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday in Dharamshala. The spiritual leader has called the Indian city home since fleeing Tibet during a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese communist rule. Trump announces new tariffs of up to 40% on a growing number of countries Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide and there's no 'client list,' Justice Department says Major medical associations sue Kennedy, Trump administration health leaders for Covid-19 vaccine changes 🚞 That's how long Britain's royal train service has been running, but it will soon be ditched for less sustainable options — and not everyone is happy about that. 📸 Above it all: This photo of a shark hunting fish off the coast of Long Island took top honors in the International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition. Take a look at some of the other striking images. 'He could get lucky at times, and eventually luck runs out.' Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison 💬 Intense manhunt: Summer travelers are starting to flock to the Cascades, and police hope it helps their search for Travis Decker, who is accused of killing his three young daughters. 🎾 What major change was implemented at Wimbledon this year?A. Using different tennis ballsB. Players don't have to wear whiteC. Matches are being played indoorsD. Line judges were replaced by an automated system⬇️ Scroll down for the answer. 💍 Tying the knot: Kelly Osbourne just got engaged to her long-term partner, musician Sid Wilson. She calls him her best friend and 'soulmate,' and the proposal took place backstage at what was billed as the last live performance by her father, Ozzy Osbourne. 👋 We'll see you tomorrow.🧠 Quiz answer: D. For the first time in 148 years, Wimbledon has no line judges. An automated system took their place.📧 Check out all of CNN's newsletters. Today's edition of 5 Things PM was edited and produced by CNN's Kimberly Richardson and Sarah Hutter.
CNN
07-07-2025
- General
- CNN
What flood survivors faced, Cybertruck flop, why women live longer: Catch up on the day's stories
5 Things StormsFacebookTweetLink Follow 👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! Women outlive men in dire circumstances — even though girls in many parts of the world have access to fewer resources, such as food and medical care. That's because the female body is built for resilience and longevity. Here's what else you might have missed during your busy day. They clung to trees, crawled out of windows and floated on mattresses. These are the conditions survivors — and those still missing — faced during the terrifying Texas floods. ▶️ Watch: A rescue swimmer and his team are credited with saving 165 people. ➕ Follow live updates as the death toll rises. Reuben Waithaka traveled 8,200 miles to witness his first grandson graduate from high school in Alabama. He arrived from Kenya with sentimental gifts tucked in his suitcase: faded photos and African print shirts. The next day he vanished. American children's health has declined profoundly over the past few decades, a new study shows. The issues are so serious that kids in the US are dying at a much higher rate than those in similar high-income countries. Despite Elon Musk's bold predictions, the Cybertruck is officially a flop. The electric truck faces serious competition from the likes of Rivian, Ford and GM, and Chinese rivals are eating into Tesla's market share overseas. You don't have to sacrifice style for sustainability. Kelsey MacDermaid and Becky Wright — aka The Sorry Girls — are transforming secondhand finds into treasures. Get '5 things' in your inbox If your day doesn't start until you're up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to your new favorite morning fix. Sign up here for the '5 Things' newsletter. 🎂 Marking a milestone: Thousands gathered to celebrate the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday in Dharamshala. The spiritual leader has called the Indian city home since fleeing Tibet during a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese communist rule. Trump announces new tariffs of up to 40% on a growing number of countries Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide and there's no 'client list,' Justice Department says Major medical associations sue Kennedy, Trump administration health leaders for Covid-19 vaccine changes 🚞 That's how long Britain's royal train service has been running, but it will soon be ditched for less sustainable options — and not everyone is happy about that. 📸 Above it all: This photo of a shark hunting fish off the coast of Long Island took top honors in the International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition. Take a look at some of the other striking images. 'He could get lucky at times, and eventually luck runs out.' Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison 💬 Intense manhunt: Summer travelers are starting to flock to the Cascades, and police hope it helps their search for Travis Decker, who is accused of killing his three young daughters. 🎾 What major change was implemented at Wimbledon this year?A. Using different tennis ballsB. Players don't have to wear whiteC. Matches are being played indoorsD. Line judges were replaced by an automated system⬇️ Scroll down for the answer. 💍 Tying the knot: Kelly Osbourne just got engaged to her long-term partner, musician Sid Wilson. She calls him her best friend and 'soulmate,' and the proposal took place backstage at what was billed as the last live performance by her father, Ozzy Osbourne. 👋 We'll see you tomorrow.🧠 Quiz answer: D. For the first time in 148 years, Wimbledon has no line judges. An automated system took their place.📧 Check out all of CNN's newsletters. Today's edition of 5 Things PM was edited and produced by CNN's Kimberly Richardson and Sarah Hutter.
CNN
07-07-2025
- General
- CNN
What flood survivors faced, Cybertruck flop, why women live longer: Catch up on the day's stories
👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! Women outlive men in dire circumstances — even though girls in many parts of the world have access to fewer resources, such as food and medical care. That's because the female body is built for resilience and longevity. Here's what else you might have missed during your busy day. They clung to trees, crawled out of windows and floated on mattresses. These are the conditions survivors — and those still missing — faced during the terrifying Texas floods. ▶️ Watch: A rescue swimmer and his team are credited with saving 165 people. ➕ Follow live updates as the death toll rises. Reuben Waithaka traveled 8,200 miles to witness his first grandson graduate from high school in Alabama. He arrived from Kenya with sentimental gifts tucked in his suitcase: faded photos and African print shirts. The next day he vanished. American children's health has declined profoundly over the past few decades, a new study shows. The issues are so serious that kids in the US are dying at a much higher rate than those in similar high-income countries. Despite Elon Musk's bold predictions, the Cybertruck is officially a flop. The electric truck faces serious competition from the likes of Rivian, Ford and GM, and Chinese rivals are eating into Tesla's market share overseas. You don't have to sacrifice style for sustainability. Kelsey MacDermaid and Becky Wright — aka The Sorry Girls — are transforming secondhand finds into treasures. Get '5 things' in your inbox If your day doesn't start until you're up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to your new favorite morning fix. Sign up here for the '5 Things' newsletter. 🎂 Marking a milestone: Thousands gathered to celebrate the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday in Dharamshala. The spiritual leader has called the Indian city home since fleeing Tibet during a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese communist rule. Trump announces new tariffs of up to 40% on a growing number of countries Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide and there's no 'client list,' Justice Department says Major medical associations sue Kennedy, Trump administration health leaders for Covid-19 vaccine changes 🚞 That's how long Britain's royal train service has been running, but it will soon be ditched for less sustainable options — and not everyone is happy about that. 📸 Above it all: This photo of a shark hunting fish off the coast of Long Island took top honors in the International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition. Take a look at some of the other striking images. 'He could get lucky at times, and eventually luck runs out.' Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison 💬 Intense manhunt: Summer travelers are starting to flock to the Cascades, and police hope it helps their search for Travis Decker, who is accused of killing his three young daughters. 🎾 What major change was implemented at Wimbledon this year?A. Using different tennis ballsB. Players don't have to wear whiteC. Matches are being played indoorsD. Line judges were replaced by an automated system⬇️ Scroll down for the answer. 💍 Tying the knot: Kelly Osbourne just got engaged to her long-term partner, musician Sid Wilson. She calls him her best friend and 'soulmate,' and the proposal took place backstage at what was billed as the last live performance by her father, Ozzy Osbourne. 👋 We'll see you tomorrow.🧠 Quiz answer: D. For the first time in 148 years, Wimbledon has no line judges. An automated system took their place.📧 Check out all of CNN's newsletters. Today's edition of 5 Things PM was edited and produced by CNN's Kimberly Richardson and Sarah Hutter.
CNN
07-07-2025
- CNN
He traveled 8,000 miles to attend his first grandson's high school graduation. The next day he vanished
Reuben Waithaka traveled 8,200 miles to watch his first grandson graduate from high school in Alabama. He arrived from Kenya six daysearly with sentimental gifts tucked in his suitcase: faded photos of his own son at a young age and matching African print shirts for his son, grandson and himself. But they never got a chance to stand together — three generations of men — proudly wearing colorful, coordinated outfits. The morning after he and his wife, Elizabeth Barua, landed in the US, Waithaka walked out of his son's house in Calera, Alabama, and vanished. The home's doorbell camera captured the 72-year-old stepping out ontothe driveway at 11:08 a.m., dressed neatly in khakis, a checkered blue-and-white shirt and black shoes. About half an hour later, surveillance footage recorded him walking intoa gas station almost two miles way. He waved at the store attendant,headed into a rest room and left through the back door, never to be seenagain. 'He just got here. And then he was gone,' says his grandson, ByronBarua, 17, who graduated five days later without his grandfather present. Seven weeks later, there's been no sign of Waithaka. Police have scoured wooded areas around Calera – a city of about 19,000 people some 30 miles south of Birmingham – using helicopters, drones, off-road vehicles, tracking dogs and infrared heat-seeking cameras. So far, they have found nothing. 'Sometimes I regret why I asked my parents to come for my son's graduation. I find myself wondering, 'What would I have done differently'?' says Waithaka's son, Willington Barua. 'Maybe if I hadn't invited them, my dad would still be with us.' The family has retraced Waithaka's steps and watched the surveillance footage over and over, searching for clues. How does a 5-foot-5, 160-pound man disappear in broad daylight — in a foreign country where he barely knows anyone? They've considered the possibility that Waithaka had undiagnosed dementia or another condition that was triggered by the stress of being away from home. It's not uncommon for people with dementia to wander away from home, especially when they're in unfamiliar surroundings, experts say. He must be so scared, says his daughter, Emily Barua, her voice trailingoff as she draws a long breath. 'I want to be hopeful, I really do,' she says. 'But sometimes I wonder — did he sit somewhere and fall asleep in the heat and never (wake) up?' The family has replayed the moments leading up to Waithaka's disappearance and wondered: Did they miss signs that something was wrong? Looking back, Waithaka seemed restless on his trip to the United States. At the time, his family figured it was just exhaustion from the 18- hour journey, his son says. His parents' flight took off from the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on May 13. Waithaka drove his small sedan to the airport, where they boarded a Lufthansa flight through Frankfurt, Germany, to Atlanta. Just before heading to the airport, he did his usual routine –- picked up some yard litter, fed his five German Shepherds and cleaned up their space. He'd hired someone to care for the dogs while they were gone, his son says. The flight to Frankfurt went fine, but things went downhill on the journey's second leg to Atlanta. Waithaka became incoherent and agitated, and a flight attendant had to step in to help his wife keep him seated, his son says. Waithaka's unease didn't end after landing in Atlanta. He appeared confused, and fell and hurt his knee when he tried to go the wrong way on an airport escalator, his son says. His limp from that fall is visible on the gas station security footage. Barua took his father to the ER once they arrived in Calera. He was discharged in the early morning after a CT scan of his head and some bloodwork came back normal, Barua says. Jetlagged and exhausted, Waithaka showered, took a nap and ate a breakfast of fried eggs and tea. Then he stepped outside. His wife followed initially, but when sherushed back to close the garage door, he was gone, his son says. Waithaka got two rides from motorists after he left his son's home that morning, giving him a significant head start. His family believes those rides changed everything. Investigators interviewed both people who gave him rides, says Calera Police Chief David Hyche. Waithaka first asked a neighbor to drop him off eight houses away, mistakenly thinking it was his son's home. There, he flagged down a DoorDash driver and asked for a ride 'to town.' The driver stopped at a gas station and Waithaka told him that location was fine, Hyche says. His last confirmed sighting was at the gas station — at 11:43 a.m. A resident later reported seeing someone matching Waithaka's description entering a hunting club near the gas station. The woman told police that he crawled under a gate and disappeared into a wooded area, Hyche says. Police have interviewed the people who live in the area several times. Investigators speculate Waithaka may have caught another ride at a truck stop behind the gas station — potentially out of town, Hyche says. Shortly after he was reported missing, his family went on local television and begged people to stop giving him rides. They feared each ride was taking him farther from home — and from them. 'It is still a possibility that he's in that wooded area because it is just so large,' Hyche says. 'But we were searching with many resources as fast as possible because it's a very hot and very thick area. And someone of his age, we needed to find him as fast as possible. So after several days of intensive ground searching, we moved … to the hope that someone had given him a ride.' After Waithaka went missing, many of the town's police officers worked 18 straight days without a day off, Hyche says. The leads have tapered off, but he's promised the family that detectives won't stop search searching until he's found. In the days since Waithaka vanished, residents have distributed flyersand combed wooded trails. Hyche says offers for help poured in. 'We couldn't even respond to them all,' he says. 'We had to turn away well-meaning citizens during the nighttime infrared searches and K-9 searches to avoid a false positive.' Waithaka had his Kenyan phone with him when he disappeared. Hychereached out to the FBI in Nairobi to ask the local carrier to help track it, a process that took several days. It said the phone last pinged in Frankfurt, indicating it may be in airplane mode, making it difficult to track, Hyche says. The Kenyan did not have his passport, which contains his B-2 visitor's visa to the US. He may have had some money in Kenyan currency but none in US dollars, his family says. Calera detectives have searched abandoned buildings in the area and are regularly reaching out to homeless shelters, hospitals and immigration officials to check whether Waithaka has appeared in their databases, Hyche says. Hyche says his father suffered from dementia and he understands thefamily's anguish. The case has introduced him to the area's Kenyancommunity — a relationship he hopes to maintain, he says. 'It was urgent to really do all we could to try to find him,' he says. 'It's just such a sad case, but it's also given us an opportunity. I did not know we had Kenyans living here. Well, maybe because none of them have ever been in any trouble.' Waithaka has four children: two in Kenya and two in the US, including daughter Emily Barua, who lives in Renton, Washington. Willington Barua has mostly lived in the Birmingham area since he immigrated to the US about 25 years ago. He was drawn to Calera by its small-town charm and mild winters. On May 20, five days after his grandfather vanished, Byron Barua graduated from Calera High School. The family joined hands and had a moment of silence for their missing patriarch before the ceremony. As Byron, 17, crossed the stage to get his diploma, his relatives clapped and cheered, determined to stay strong for him. 'It was tragic, but I tried not to let it get to me or bring me down all the way,' Byron says of his missing grandfather. 'I pray for him to stay safe.' As the days drag on without answers, fear takes over and the family is haunted by endless questions. Was he a victim of foul play? Is he alive? And if he is, how is he surviving with no money? Willington Barua says his parents' flight arrived in the late afternoon, and he wonders whether his father was going through 'sundowning,' a late-in-the-day symptom which can affect people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, according to the Mayo Clinic. It causes confusion, anxiety and aggression, which in turn leads to pacing or wandering. Waithaka's wife, Elizabeth Barua, returned to Kenya on June 20 to be with loved ones. She declined to be interviewed when CNN reached out to her and is too distraught to speak with the media, her son says. The couple has been to the US twice before: in June 2017 and May 2019. On both previous trips, Waithaka's health appeared fine and he had no issues, his son says. His parents even extended their 2019 visit by several months. June 3 marked Waithaka's 73rd birthday. His son had planned a party forhim on Father's Day — his parents' last weekend in the US before they werescheduled to return to Kenya. He was going to roast a goat – a Kenyan delicacy – and invite friends and family from all over the US to celebrate his dad. Maybe they would have worn their matching shirts. But there was no party. What happened to Waithaka remains a mystery. Barua owns a trucking company, and he tapes flyers at rest areas and truck stops wherever he goes. Every time he passes a wooded area, he slows down and peers into the trees. And every time his phone rings, his heart races. He picks up with anticipation and fear, hoping the call will bring answers. The not knowing, he says, is the hardest part.
