Actor Chris Attoh’s wife, Bettie Jennifer, who was gunned down while leaving her office on Friday was married to two different men simultaneously, one of whom is a convicted Baltimore drug lord, police said Sunday.
Greenbelt police said 44-year-old Bettie Jenifer of Bowie, left her office in the 6300 block of Ivy Lane about 5 p.m. and was walking to her car when a man armed with a handgun approached her.
When she tried to run away, the man followed her and fired multiple rounds. At least one bullet struck her in the head, police said.
The suspect took off in a vehicle. Police described the suspect as black and having a thin build with black hair. He was wearing dark clothing and may have been in a blue car.
Police confirmed Saturday that Jenifer was marriedto Chris Attoh, a well-known actor and TV host in Ghana. The two married in October, following Attoh’s divorce from his first wife, multiple outlets reported.
On Sunday, police said Jenifer was also married to 47-year-old Kedrick Jenifer, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for importing large amounts of cocaine into Baltimore from Texas.
The U.S. District Attorney’s Office said the kingpin’s “Jenifer drug trafficking organization” distributed at least 450 kilograms of cocaine in Baltimore and Woodbridge, Virginia.
“Kedrick Jenifer lived large as a major Baltimore drug dealer, but now he will lose all of his toys and live for two decades in federal prison,” U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said in a news release after his sentencing, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Court records show that Kedrick Jenifer filed for a divorce on April 9. Bettie Jenifer then filed for divorce six days later. The attorneys involved declined News4’s request for comment.
Greenbelt police confirmed Sunday the shooting was targeted and not a random incident.
Police have not named a suspect or motive in the case.
Co-workers said Bettie Jenifer worked at a temporary staffing agency on the first floor.
A spokesperson for Attoh’s talent agency gave the following statement:
“Waka Talent Agency is saddened by the death of Bettie Jenifer, who was married to our client, Mr. Chris Attoh. We would like to note that the family has requested to mourn in private and therefore will not be doing any press interviews or commenting on the death.”
