It sounds like the plot of a soap opera, but for three Florida women, it was all too real: their charming partner, Henry Betsey Jr., was living a triple life, married to each of them at the same time. Now, as the dust settles on this jaw-dropping case, there are lessons for all of us about trust, red flags, and the surprising gaps in the system that allowed it to happen.


Henry Betsey Jr., 50, seemed to have a knack for romance—or at least for finding women at vulnerable moments. He met his first wife, Tonya, on Tinder, and they married in Jacksonville in 2020. Two years later, he tied the knot with Brandi, whom he met on a dating app for single parents, and then, in the same year, married Michele after a whirlwind three-week courtship sparked on Match.com.



Each woman believed she was Henry’s one and only. Each was a single, recently divorced mum, living in a different Florida county. And each was completely unaware of the others—until Tonya, acting on a hunch, started searching county court records and discovered the shocking truth.


'I just started county by county, putting in his name,' Tonya recalled. 'That’s when I came up with the marriage to Michele and the marriage to Brandi.'

When the truth came out, the women were devastated. Michele, who married Henry just weeks after meeting him, said she had 'no idea' about his other wives until Tonya reached out. All three described Henry as charming and attentive, never giving any hint of his double (or triple) life.


'He seemed like the perfect person, when in reality he was none of those things,' Tonya said.

The women also accused Henry of using them for money. Brandi recalled that he pushed her to add him to her bank account the very day they married. Michele said he was after 'the extra perks of marrying a newly single, divorced woman.'


After his arrest for bigamy, Henry pleaded guilty to the felony charge. But instead of jail time, Judge Daniel Merritt sentenced him to two years’ probation, 100 hours of community service, and a ban on contacting his three ex-wives. He’s also forbidden from using social media.

Michele, still legally married to Henry at the time of sentencing, told the court: 'I am not here today just as a woman betrayed by someone I once trusted, but I am also speaking on behalf of the other women involved.' She admitted she’d hoped for jail time, but took solace in the fact that Henry is now a convicted felon.


Since the story broke, another woman, Micha Everett, came forward on social media, claiming she dated Henry (who used the alias 'Dell Betts') in 2019. She described the early days as 'absolute bliss,' but soon noticed erratic behaviour and suspected he was seeing someone else. Her account suggests Henry’s pattern of deception may have stretched even further than the courts uncovered.

One of the most troubling aspects of this case is how easily Henry was able to marry three women in different counties without raising any red flags. Michele pointed out, 'There are no safeguards, and I feel like that’s part of where the system failed.' In Australia, marriage records are centralised, but in the US, county-level systems can make it easier for bigamists to slip through the cracks.


While this story unfolded in Florida, it’s a timely reminder for Australians—especially those re-entering the dating scene after divorce or bereavement—to trust your instincts and take things slow. Online dating can be a wonderful way to meet new people, but it pays to be cautious.

Have you or someone you know ever experienced a romance scam or discovered a partner’s secret life? What advice would you give to others navigating the world of modern dating? Share your stories and tips in the comments below—let’s look out for each other!

And remember, if you ever feel something isn’t right, don’t hesitate to reach out for help or advice. The Seniors Discount Club community is here for you!

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