The boyfriend of a missing Gillette woman who has been identified as a “person of interest” in her disappearance has been charged with multiple counts of theft, accused of stealing items from her.
Nathan J. Hightman, the boyfriend of Irene Gawka, has been charged with two felony counts of theft, one felony count of unlawful use of a credit card and two felony counts of crimes against intellectual property, according to the Gillette Police Department.
Gawka, 32, who was last seen in a video call with her parents on Feb. 24, was the victim of all the crimes, the department said.
Gakwa was reported missing on March 20 by her brother. The 32-year-old Kenya native was in nursing school and had moved to Gillette last July with Hightman.
Hightman has declined to be interviewed by GPD Gillette Police Department.
The Gillette Police Department has received numerous tips about Gawka’s disappearance and has executed more than 24 search warrants. Investigators are seeking information about a gray or silver Subaru Crosstrek with Idaho license plates that may have been seen trespassing on private property or in rural areas of Campbell County between Feb. 24 and March 20.
GPD is also asking the public for any information regarding the possible sighting of a 55-gallon metal drum, which may have been burned and/or abandoned within the county.
Irene is described as a Black woman who is 5 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs about 100 pounds.
Anyone with information related to Irene’s disappearance, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is asked to contact the Gillette Police Department at 307-682-5155.
