25 Investigates: Man accused in 2020 assault of autistic woman still on the run

A group home worker accused of sexually assaulting a disabled woman in his care remains on the run in East Africa, 25 Investigates has learned.

Brian Njeri, an aide at ARCHway in Leicester, fled the country in November 2020, just days before he was charged with sexually assaulting a 21-year non-verbal autistic female under his care.

ARCHway is a provider of services for people with developmental disabilities. In October, the agency closed its instructional program in Leicester, where Njeri’s victim resided.

In a statement, its executive director Sonya Abdien told 25 Investigates: ARCHway closed its Residential School Program on October 12, 2021 as a result of the staffing challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. ARCHway continues to operate its two adult group homes.”

Court documents reviewed by investigative reporter Ted Daniel indicate Njeri likely escaped to his native Kenya. As we previously reported, the documents show Njeri recorded himself sexually assaulting the female resident.

Njeri hopped a plane days before Leicester police issued a warrant for his arrest. The alleged assault occurred around Thanksgiving in 2020, per the documents.

25 Investigates wanted to know what local authorities are doing to locate Njeri, a 2014 graduate of Leicester High School, and bring him back to Massachusetts to face justice.

We sent two emails to the state police asking about the status of the case but our emails went unanswered. We also contacted the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office for comment. In an email, a spokesperson says “the status of this case is unchanged at this time.”

If Njeri is ever captured in Kenya, the U.S. Government would have to file a formal request to have him brought back. Other fugitives have been extradited from Kenya, in part due to an extradition treaty and a good working relationship with Kenya, according to Chuck Jordan, the president of the New York City-based International Bounty Hunters Union.

“Out of all the countries he could be in Africa, Kenya is one of the better countries to work with,” he said. “Perseverance is what is going to bring this guy to justice. There will need to be some time and effort on the part of the local prosecutors, The Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs and the Department of State and the Kenyan government.”

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