Prosecutors in Illinois have revealed that Betty Akamani, the woman accused of killing Ghanaian Southern Illinois University professor Dr. Kofi Akamani, had previously made allegations that her husband was trafficking children.

The revelations were made during Betty Akamani’s pre-trial detention hearing on Monday, September 21, 2026, where she was ordered to remain in custody without bond.

According to prosecutors, Betty Akamani told police during interviews that her husband was trafficking children through a local restaurant.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office subsequently investigated the allegations and found them to be untrue, prosecutors told the court. Interviews with the couple’s children also reportedly did not support the allegations.

Prosecutors also presented evidence from a 2024 order-of-protection hearing in which Dr. Kofi Akamani had documented concerns about his wife’s mental health and described alleged auditory hallucinations and a history of what he considered false accusations.

The details emerged as Betty Akamani faces two counts of first-degree murder and one count of endangering the life or health of a child.

She is accused of fatally shooting her husband on September 19, 2026, following a child custody visitation drop-off. Dr. Akamani, 48, was taken to a hospital in Carbondale, where he died from his injuries.

Betty Akamani, 35, remains in Jackson County Jail. Her preliminary hearing has been scheduled for October 6, 2026. The charges against her are allegations, and she remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Dr. Kofi Akamani was a professor of forest recreation and conservation social science at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he had worked since 2011 and became a full professor in 2024.

The Forestry Department at Southern Illinois University announced a vigil in his honour at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, at the Agricultural Building front lawn. A memorial service is expected to be held at a later date.