Photo of a man and his granddaughter.
Share this @internewscast.com

A grandfather vanished just a day after undertaking a journey of over 8,000 miles for his grandson’s graduation, prompting a heartfelt appeal from his granddaughter for his safe return.

Elaine Westry, 19, urgently called on anyone with information about her cherished grandfather to guide him to the authorities and “return him” as the search enters its second month.

Photo of a man and his granddaughter.
Westry and Waithaka together around 2016Credit: Elaine Westry
Photo of Reuben Waithaka.
Reuben Waithaka, 73, has been missing since May 15Credit: Facebook/ Willy Waithaka
Missing person poster for Reuben, last seen May 15, 2025.  Includes photo and statement from a woman.
Elaine Westry, 19, made a TikTok urging the public to help her find her grandfatherCredit: TikTok/elaine.westry

Efforts to locate Reuben Waithaka, 73, began following his mysterious departure from his son’s residence in Calera, Alabama, on May 15. He went missing while visiting the U.S. with his wife from Kenya.

“It’s like a nightmare,” Westry said in an emotional conversation with The U.S. Sun.

“We don’t have any answers, so it’s hard to move on and go to sleep, wake up, do our thing, our daily routines, not knowing where he is.”

Westry, who lives in Seattle, last saw her grandfather when she visited Kenya in 2022.

She was looking forward to being reunited with him on the family trip, and described their tight-knit relationship as one full of jokes and phone calls to catch up about school and life.

“Every time I hang up the phone, he’s telling me to remember that my life is important and not to take my life for granted,” Westry said.

“He gives tough love. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Waithaka and his wife, Elizabeth Barua, flew over 18 hours for the graduation, traveling from Nairobi to Frankfurt before flying to Atlanta, where they had a nearly three-hour drive to Calera.

“The flight was a lot for him,” Westry said.

“The drive from Atlanta to Alabama was probably even more.”

Doting grandpa flies 8k miles to be at grandson’s graduation but never makes it as he vanishes a day after landing in US.mp4_1

Despite the difficult journey, Waithaka was determined to be in attendance when his eldest grandson, Byron, graduated from high school.

“This time he was like, ‘I have to go, it’s my first grandson’s graduation,'” Westry said.

But by the time Byron walked across the graduation stage six days later, Waithaka had disappeared.

“He just got here. And then he was gone,” Byron told CNN earlier this week.

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 13 – Reuben Waithka and his wife, Elizabeth, board a flight from Nairobi, Kenya. They then went through Frankfurt, Germany, to get to Atlanta.

May 14 – Reuben and Elizabeth arrive in Calera, Alabama, after 18 hours of flying from Kenya.

May 15 at 11:08 am – Reuben leaves his son’s home wearing khaki pants and a plaid shirt.

May 15 at 11:43 am – Reuben’s last confirmed sighting on CCTV footage at a gas station two miles away from his son’s home. 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.

June 20 – Elizabeth returns to Kenya.

Source: CNN

On the morning of May 15, the day after Waithaka and Elizabeth arrived in Calera, the grandfather walked out of his son’s home with the family dog.

Then the dog returned to the home without Waithaka, raising alarm bells for the family — but he was already on the move.

GAS STATION FOOTAGE

After leaving the home, Waithaka hitchhiked twice before arriving at a Chevron gas station two miles away, Calera police said.

CCTV footage showed Waithaka walking across the gas station’s parking lot with a slight limp and with his hands behind his back.

The video marks the last time Waithaka was seen before he disappeared out the back door of the gas station.

Security camera footage of a man walking away from a large white tank.
Gas station footage showing Waithaka walkingCredit: CCTV
Elaine Westry asking for help finding her grandfather.
Westry, who says the past seven weeks have been a ‘nightmare’ for her familyCredit: TikTok / elaine.westry

Westry said she couldn’t watch the video without becoming upset about the two people who gave him rides.

“My reaction to it was, why would someone pick up an old man?” she said.

“It just makes me mad because why would someone pick him up and not take him to the police? When I see that video, you see him standing there. Take him to the police.”

Westry said she could tell by his face in the footage that her grandfather was confused.

She continued, “I was just very angry because people are supposed to help people. If you see an old man being confused, take him to the hospital. Take him to the police.”

“I don’t understand why my grandpa isn’t found yet.”

She urged, “Whoever has my grandfather, give him back. Don’t take advantage of him.”

‘CONFUSED’ STATE

Waithaka’s family believes he is disoriented and trying to get back to Kiambu, the town in Kenya where he lives.

His son, Willington Barua, told CNN that Waithaka seemed confused and was behaving unusually agitated during the flight to Atlanta.

He then fell on an escalator in the Atlanta airport and hurt his knee, explaining his limp in the surveillance video.

Once the travelers arrived in Calera on May 14, Westry said he refused to go into his son’s house at first.

The family then took Waithaka to the hospital to make sure everything was alright.

A CT scan of his head came back normal, as well as some of his bloodwork, and he was discharged, Willington said.

I hope he’s eating because everytime I eat, everytime I sleep, I’m just like is he sleeping? Is he eating? Is he okay? Is someone taking care of him?There’s so many questions that nobody can really give me the answers to.

Elaine WestryReuben Waithaka’s granddaughter

The next morning, despite his state of confusion, it wasn’t unusual when Waithaka stepped outside for a stroll because his family was used to him walking everywhere in Kenya, Westry said.

Elizabeth tried to walk behind him but turned around to lock the doors. When she turned around, he was gone, she told CBS affiliate WIAT.

Westry said she thought her family was joking when they told her Waithaka was missing.

She arrived in town the next day and immediately helped to join the search, but she can’t help but feel like she should have arrived earlier.

“I just know if I was there, if I came the same time as them, this wouldn’t have happened,” Westry said.

“But you never know. So I do blame myself for a lot of things. But he really wanted to come, he really did.”

Two women being interviewed about the search for Reuben Waithaka.
(Left to right) Reuben Waithaka’s wife, Elizabeth Barua, and his daughter, Emily Balua, speaking to WIAT about his disappearanceCredit: WIAT
Person speaking about the search for Reuben Waithaka in Calera.
Reuben Waithaka’s grandson, Byron, speaking to WIAT about his grandfather missing his graduationCredit: WIAT

Waithaka doesn’t have his passport with him or any US dollars.

When police tracked his Kenyan phone, his last location showed he was in Frankfurt, likely meaning his phone was dead or on airplane mode.

The family has worked with the Calera Police Department to put up posters across Alabama asking for the public to keep an eye out for Waithaka.

“The search is still active. We are following up on leads but as we approach the two month mark the leads have slowed down considerably,” Calera Police Chief David Hyche told The U.S. Sun earlier this week.

Westry also made a TikTok post begging for help from anyone who might have seen her grandfather, which has now garnered almost 98,000 views.

She says the community’s support has been vital to the search — but nothing has stopped her from worrying about her grandfather for the past seven weeks.

“I hope he’s eating because everytime I eat, everytime I sleep, I’m just like is he sleeping? Is he eating? Is he okay? Is someone taking care of him?” Westry said.

“There’s so many questions that nobody can really give me the answers to.”

Two women being interviewed for a news segment.
Westry and her mom, Emily Balua, speaking to WVTM about Waithaka’s disappearanceCredit: WVTM
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Frantic manhunt launched after asylum seeker who sexually assaulted teen accidentally freed from prison

Intense Manhunt Underway: Asylum Seeker Mistakenly Released After Teen Sexual Assault Conviction

Criticism has been directed at the UK’s immigration system following the inadvertent…
Ted Cruz Calls $3 Billion US Aid to Israel a “Bargain”

Ted Cruz Labels $3 Billion US Aid to Israel as a “Bargain” Investment: A Strategic Perspective

At the recent Christians United for Israel Summit, Sen. Ted Cruz doubled…
East Chatham, Chicago man billed thousands for ambulance after alleged electric bike crash along S. Cottage Grove Ave.

Shocking Ambulance Bill: East Chatham Man Faces Thousands in Charges After E-Bike Crash on S. Cottage Grove Ave

In a surprising turn of events on Chicago’s South Side, a local…
Louvre director grilled on spectacular security failures, including camera pointing away from key balcony

Louvre Director Faces Scrutiny Over Significant Security Lapses, Including Misaligned Camera Over Key Balcony

The director of the renowned Louvre Museum in Paris is under intense…
Eric Adams endorses once bitter rival Andrew Cuomo in New York City's mayoral race

Eric Adams Offers Support to Former Rival Andrew Cuomo in NYC Mayoral Campaign

In an unexpected political maneuver, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has…
Illegal alien failed CDL test 10 times in 2 months before fatal Florida crash that killed 3

Tragic Florida Crash: Driver Fails CDL Test 10 Times Before Fatal Accident—A Deep Dive into the Devastating Consequences

An undocumented truck driver accused of causing a fatal accident in Florida…
Army Officer Court-Martialed Over COVID Rules by Vindman Brother Finally Reinstated on Active Duty

Army Officer Rejoins Active Duty After Vindman Brother’s Court-Martial Overturns COVID Rules Case

Mark Bashaw, previously the only member of the Armed Forces to face…
Trump says he's ending trade talks with Canada over TV ads

Trump Halts Trade Negotiations with Canada in Response to Television Advertisements

In a striking development on Thursday evening, President Donald Trump declared an…
FBI opens investigation after driver allegedly rams ICE vehicle during Arizona traffic stop attempt

FBI Investigates After Driver Allegedly Collides with ICE Vehicle in Arizona Traffic Stop

In a startling event on Thursday morning, a vehicle carrying two Immigration…
5 takeaways from the demolition of the White House’s East Wing

Key Insights from the East Wing’s White House Transformation

The iconic East Wing of the White House, a space historically utilized…
Vermont police search for student who vanished from Middlebury College

Tragic Discovery: Missing Vermont Student Lia Smith’s Body Found Near Middlebury Campus

During the search for a missing Vermont college student, a body has…
Security video captures moment former mayor stabbed multiple times outside his blue state business

Security Footage Reveals Former Mayor Stabbed Repeatedly Outside Business in Blue State

A dramatic incident unfolded outside a Massachusetts cannabis dispensary on Monday afternoon,…