TAMPA, FL – Three women from different parts of Florida have found themselves entangled in a case of bigamy, all sharing the same husband unbeknownst to each other. The man in question, Henry Betsy Jr., is facing charges for marrying these women across three different counties simultaneously, exploiting a system that fails to cross-reference marriage records across regions.
The women, now speaking out, blame the lack of communication between county systems for their predicament. “There are no safeguards,” one of the women lamented. “If the counties talked, it would have saved me a lot of heartache, stress, and money.” This case highlights how, even in an age where information is readily accessible online, gaps in the system can have profound personal consequences.
Michelle, one of Betsy’s wives, married him in Hernando County in November 2022 after meeting him on a dating site. “It was very soon,” she said of their whirlwind romance, which lasted just three weeks before their nuptials. At that time, Betsy was still legally married to Brandy, who had wed him in Manatee County earlier that year. Brandy, who met Betsy on a dating app, expressed disbelief at how easily he managed to deceive her.
Adding to the complexity, Betsy was also married to Tanya, who obtained a marriage license in Gadsden County in November 2020. Tanya, a survivor of domestic violence, described Betsy as someone who portrayed himself as the perfect partner, only to reveal his true nature later.
The unraveling of Betsy’s web of deceit began when Tanya discovered his other marriages by checking records county by county. Her investigation led her to Michelle and Brandy, who had no idea they were part of a larger scheme. “It was bizarre,” one wife said, reflecting on the ease with which Betsy was able to marry multiple women without detection.
Florida’s marriage system, which relies on applicants swearing the truthfulness of their information, is partly to blame. Kim Burke, a county clerk, acknowledged the lack of safeguards, noting that marriage applications are based on the honor system. Although applicants must declare how previous marriages ended, there is no cross-referencing of documents between counties, allowing Betsy to exploit the system.
The women now believe that Betsy’s motives were financially driven. “The day we got married, he wanted a joint bank account,” one recalled, suspecting Betsy sought financial benefits from his marriages. Despite their experiences, the women managed to escape their marriages, with some obtaining domestic violence orders against Betsy.
Currently, Betsy has pleaded not guilty to the felony bigamy charge and is seeking annulments for his marriages to Michelle and Brandy. His wives hope for a conviction that would hold him accountable, fearing he might only receive probation. “There’s nothing to stop him from doing this again,” one woman said. Betsy’s next court appearance is scheduled for later this month, but he has declined to comment on the case.