Janet McAfee, a 50-year-old woman from Houston, Texas, was tragically killed on May 8, 2010. Janet, who was of Caucasian descent, had been experiencing marital issues with her husband, Ken McAfee, 59, leading up to her death. The couple had been married for about a dozen years and lived in the affluent Southampton Place neighborhood near Rice University. Janet had an impressive career in the oil and gas industry, having founded a consulting firm called Foreign Operations and served as an audit/fraud manager in the South African oil industry. She was also the president of the Houston chapter of the Traveler's Century Club, an elite organization for people who have visited more than 100 countries.
On the evening of May 8, 2010, Houston police responded to a panic alarm at the McAfee residence. Upon arrival, officers spoke with Janet, who indicated that she was not okay. Her husband, Ken, then slammed the door on the police, barricading himself inside the house. A SWAT team was called to the scene, and after more than three hours of negotiations, Ken shot himself in the jaw. It was unclear when Janet was shot, but authorities found her dead inside the home with multiple gunshot wounds. Ken was treated for his injuries at a hospital and survived.
Ken McAfee was charged with the murder of his estranged wife, Janet McAfee, and was held on $50,000 bail. The couple was reportedly in the middle of a divorce at the time of the incident. Janet had previously expressed fear of her husband and had even passed out fliers alerting neighbors to call the police if they saw him. A restraining order was in effect when she died. Ken McAfee attempted to use an insanity defense during his trial, but the jury found him guilty after only a few hours of deliberation. In September 2013, Ken McAfee was sentenced to 99 years in prison for the murder of Janet McAfee.
The tragic death of Janet McAfee shocked the community, and neighbors attended the trial to seek closure. Janet's life and accomplishments were remembered by those who knew her, and her untimely death highlighted the dangers of domestic violence and the importance of seeking help in such situations.
