Betty Akamani, a 35-year-old American academic and research professional, has been accused of murder in the United States after she allegedly shot her husband, Ghanaian academic Dr Kofi Akamani.

Betty Akamani, who has a background in psychology and applied research, was arrested after Kofi Akamani, a professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU), was shot dead in Illinois on September 19, 2026.

She is facing charges of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of endangering the life or health of a child in connection with the case.

Before the criminal proceedings, Betty Akamani had built a professional career in psychology, academic research and data analysis, with much of her education and early career linked to Southern Illinois University.

Her academic background

Betty Akamani began her tertiary education at John A Logan College, where she obtained an Associate in Arts degree.

She later enrolled at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she pursued psychology and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.

During her time at SIU, she became involved in academic research and worked as a research assistant at the university's Social Psychology and Law Laboratory.

Records from the laboratory indicate that her research interests included prejudice, implicit bias and psychosocial interventions.

Her interest in applied psychology

Betty Akamani continued her education at SIU through an accelerated graduate programme in Applied Psychology.

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In 2021, university records identified her as a student pursuing a Master of Science in Applied Psychology.

She was also working as a research assistant at the university's Barriers to Reducing Crime Laboratory.

Her areas of research included attitudes, bias, prejudice, child trauma and interventions.

Her academic work also examined issues surrounding offenders, public attitudes and the relationship between psychology and the criminal justice system.

From university research to professional work

After her studies, Betty Akamani moved into professional research.

She worked as a Research Analyst with the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA), where her work involved research, data collection, analysis and reporting.

Her name appears on several reports examining Illinois' early-childhood and home-visiting workforce.

Among them is the Illinois Staffing and Salary Survey of Home Visiting Programs: Fiscal Year 2023, which lists Akamani among its authors.

Her professional background also includes work involving quantitative and qualitative research, survey development and data analysis.

Her connection to Southern Illinois University

Southern Illinois University played a significant role in her academic and professional life.

Wife arrested after Ghanaian professor Kofi Akamani is shot dead in US

It was where she studied psychology, conducted research and developed her interest in applied psychology.

It was also the institution where her husband, Dr Kofi Akamani, built his academic career.

Kofi Akamani was a professor of Forest Recreation and Conservation Social Science at SIU.

His academic work focused on areas including conservation, natural-resource management and the relationship between communities and environmental resources.

Marriage to Kofi Akamani

Betty and Kofi Akamani were married and had two children.

Reports emerging from the criminal proceedings indicate that the couple had been separated and were involved in divorce proceedings before his death.

Issues concerning their relationship and their children have subsequently featured in accounts of the case.

The death of Kofi Akamani

On September 19, 2026, authorities in Jackson County, Illinois, responded to reports of a shooting.

Kofi Akamani, 48, was found with gunshot injuries and was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, where he was pronounced dead.

Following investigations into the incident, police arrested Betty Akamani.

She subsequently appeared in court and was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of endangering the life or health of a child.

Her current legal status

Betty Akamani remains a defendant in an ongoing criminal case.

She has been charged but has not been convicted, and the allegations against her remain subject to the judicial process.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for October 6, 2026, as proceedings continue.

For now, the case has placed the spotlight on a woman whose public profile had previously been defined largely by psychology, academic research and professional data analysis, rather than criminal proceedings.

Her background at Southern Illinois University and subsequent research career provides the context to the woman whose name is now at the centre of the case surrounding the death of Dr Kofi Akamani.

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