US police search for Ghanaian man over wife’s death
Allegheny County police Saturday charged a Forest Hills man with homicide because they suspect he strangled his wife to death.
As of late yesterday, authorities were searching for Jude Agbley, 34, a native of Ghana, who recently married Brenda Agbley.
Brenda Agbley, 40, was found dead in her Ogden Avenue home late Friday afternoon. Police went to her house after they were told she did not pick up her son, who is in first grade, at the bus stop.
Police have issued a warrant for Agbley’s arrest, and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled the death a homicide.
Jude Agbley, who uses the name Vincent Coffie and possibly other aliases, is about 5-feet, 9-inches tall, thin and speaks with an accent, according to Allegheny County police.
A list of Allegheny County Marriage Licenses dated Aug. 6 indicates a Delai Kudjoe Agbley married Brenda Lee Lorigan.
Paul DeVito knew Brenda Agbley and her son, Corey, from Cub Scouts. Agbley was a den mother for Cub Scout Pack 90 in Forest Hills. DeVito is the pack’s cub master.
“She was a nice person. I feel horrible,” DeVito said. “I tried to call her today because we had our pinewood derby yesterday and she wasn’t there. It’s a big event for the kids … she will be greatly missed.”
DeVito said he had recently trained the woman to be a Tiger cub leader.
“She has done a great job with the kids, very patient and she was very well-liked,” he said. “Her son is a really nice kid. I can’t even imagine what the family is going through. It’s horrible.”
Brenda Agbley’s family has suffered through violence before.
Her daughter, Heather Turk, was severely injured when she stabbed her in her apartment in May. Turk, who is in her early 20s, was unable to breathe on her own for a while after the attack.
Brenda Agbley’s ex-husband Thomas Lorigan was killed in the attack. Two people were arrested and charged in the crime.
Turk has undergone extensive physical rehabilitation.
DeVito said Brenda Agbley had mentioned that her daughter was going to be able to return home soon.
Neighbor Albert Sciullo, 52, said he occasionally saw the Agbley family, but he did not know them. Sciullo said he was shocked to see a coroner’s van parked across the steep, residential street when he arrived home late Friday after having his car repaired.
“It’s really a nice, quiet street. People around here have jobs,” he said. “We want to know more about it.”
Jude Agbley was arrested twice for burglary in 2003, police said.
After failing to appear in court, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest and federal immigration officials issued a deportation warrant.
He is known to have friends and family in New Jersey, Kentucky and Virginia. Police said they believe that Jude Agbley has used false Social Security and resident alien cards.
Source: Pittsburg Tribune Review