NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

*Nigerian Prof. Kills Wife, Self In The U.S.

By Masterweb News Desk

U.S. police are investigating what made a Nigerian lecturer, Chukwudubem Okafor, 64, to kill his wife and himself. Okafor was an associate professor of English and Literature at Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. His wife Cheryl, aged 37, previously known as Cheryl Philmore (from previous marriage), came at age nine as Cheryl Moncrieffe with her parents to the U.S. from Jamaica. The family settled in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania where Cheryl grew up. Birdsboro is eight miles (13 km) southeast of Reading were the murder suicide took place.

The couple were found dead last Sunday inside a Chukwudubem sister’s home on Pear Street in Reading, Pennsylvania. A small-caliber handgun was found near the bodies. Reading Police are still checking whether Chukwudubem legally owned the gun used in the shooting. As at the time of this report, no information is available for the possible motive for the murder suicide. The couple had four children.

Cheryl Okafor was a Kutztown University alumna. She graduated from the university with a bachelor’s degree in art education in 2002 and a master’s degree in art education in 2005. Apparently the couple met at Kutztown University, as Chukwudubem had taught there for 15 years, which covered the period Cheryl studied there. Reading Eagle, a local newspaper, reported that Cheryl in a 2006 interview, said she was a victim of domestic violence in a previous marriage before her marriage to Chukwudubem. ( Continues below…… )

Photo Above: Chukwudubem Okafor and wife Cheryl (Photo 1).

Cheryl’s marriage to Chukwudubem was the second to end in violence. She left her first husband, Alfred Simon Philmore sometime in the 90s for another man according to reports. Philmore caught up with her and her boyfriend in Reading in 1998, shooting the man, Osmond Dacosta Walker dead. He was convicted of third degree murder in 1999 and remains in prison in Fayette County according to reports.

Chukwudubem Okafor, an acclaimed poet, is cousin to the late poetry giant, Christopher Okigbo. According to sources, Chukwudubem apparently upset his wife left him, arranged a meeting with her last Sunday at his sister’s house in Reading, where he shot her dead and shooting himself on the head.

Chukwudubem held a Ph.D. from University of Minnesota obtained in 1994. He was on sabbatical for the 2009-10 school year at the time of the murder suicide.

Masterweb will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

Photo Above: Chukwudubem Okafor and wife Cheryl (Photo 2).

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*Tags: Nigerians, Chukwudubem, Okafor, Kill, Wife, Cheryl, Attack, Woman, Crime, Africa, Masterweb