A Kenyan family is mourning a heartbreaking double tragedy after a man died alone in the United States, and his mother passed away just days later in Kenya, unable to bear the pain of losing her son.
Patrick Kariuki, a Kenyan who had been living in Azusa, Los Angeles County, was a former US Marine and a father of four children.
According to reports, he died by suicide after silently battling with a Grade 4 brain tumor, which had severely affected his health—causing intense pain, memory loss, and frequent confusion. His situation had grown so dire that he became completely isolated in his final days.
The news of his death was first shared by Wanderlust, a group that was appealing for help to identify him and find any Kenyan who knew him.
Kariuki’s life had been full of personal struggles and heartbreak. He lost his first wife in 2017, with whom he had three children. All of them are now adults and pursuing their own lives.
Later, he remarried a Filipino woman, and together they had a daughter. However, details about their separation remain unclear, and she was not present or involved at the time of his passing.
The heavy emotional burden of his illness, the pain from his past losses, and the absence of close family support eventually became overwhelming.
Before taking his life, Patrick left behind a heartfelt note expressing his love for his only son, Lawrence, and his youngest child—a toddler daughter.
When authorities discovered his body, they found only one contact saved in his phone: Lawrence. The two had kept in touch from time to time despite living in different states. Patrick lived in Los Angeles while Lawrence was based in Las Vegas.
At the time of the discovery, no one had come forward to claim his body, and the local authorities were preparing to cremate him.
Fortunately, when Lawrence heard about his father’s death, he acted quickly. He made sure his father would not be buried without dignity or family presence.
Sadly, just days after this devastating news, tragedy struck again. Back home in Kenya, Patrick’s mother, who was overwhelmed with sorrow, collapsed and died shortly after seeing off mourners who had visited to console her.
Her death has left the family in even deeper grief, having lost both a son and a mother in such a short span of time.
Patrick Kariuki’s story echoes another recent tragedy involving a Kenyan man in the US. Evans Kibiwott Kangogo was found dead in his apartment in Seattle, Washington.
His colleagues became concerned after he missed work for three consecutive days without explanation. When they went to check on him, they found his lifeless body.
These heartbreaking incidents have sparked renewed concern about the silent struggles many Kenyans abroad may be facing, especially those battling illness, emotional isolation, or mental health challenges away from their families.
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