“I’ll Send You Back to Kenya in a Coffin”: Chilling Threats Before Kenyan Nurse’s Death in US

A Kenyan nurse living in New Jersey, United States, was killed by her husband in a murder-suicide that left their three young children without parents.

Lydiah Okongo, 40, a paediatric home-care nurse, was found dead inside the family’s home at 2 Mina Drive in Jersey City on the morning of March 5, 2018. She had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and torso. Her husband, Henry Okongo, 51, was found in the basement with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The couple’s three-year-old son and one-year-old daughter were inside the house when the incident occurred but escaped physical harm. Their 10-year-old daughter had already left for school.

Lydiah had moved to the United States around 2001 to pursue a career in nursing. She specialised in caring for vulnerable children and was described by colleagues as dependable and dedicated.

Concern grew on the morning of the tragedy when she failed to arrive for a scheduled home visit. Her manager contacted emergency services and requested a welfare check, leading to the discovery of the couple’s bodies.

Henry, who had lived in the US for nearly two decades, reportedly owned laundromats and properties in the neighbourhood. To outsiders, the couple appeared to lead a stable life, with neighbours describing them positively.

However, accounts from church elders later painted a different picture of their marriage, which was reportedly marked by frequent separations and tensions.

Lydiah had previously contacted police after Henry allegedly threatened to kill her and “send her back to Kenya in a coffin,” raising concerns about the dangers she faced before her death.

Despite the difficulties in her marriage, Lydiah continued supporting relatives in Kenya and remained involved in her church and community. Friends remembered her as generous, outspoken and someone people turned to for advice.

Following the tragedy, the children were placed in the care of relatives.

The case highlighted the devastating consequences of domestic violence, underscoring how serious threats can remain hidden behind an outward appearance of a stable family life.

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