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(Source: ABC Action News) In a story that sounds ripped from a true-crime podcast, a Florida man allegedly pulled off a real-life soap opera-level drama: marrying three women in three different counties over two years—without any of them knowing. Now, his jilted spouses are calling out Florida’s marriage license system for its glaring loopholes, calling it a “heartbreak highway” for modern love.

The Triple Marriage Plot Twist

Meet Henry Betsey Jr., a 39-year-old Florida man accused of felony bigamy. His three wives—Michele, Brandi, and Tonya (all sharing his last name)—say they met him on dating apps like Match.com, Stir, and Tinder between 2020 and 2022. Each romance followed the same whirlwind script: sweet talk, lightning-fast proposal, courthouse wedding.

• Tonya: Married in Duval County (Jacksonville) in November 2020.
• Brandi: Wed in Manatee County in February 2022.
• Michele: Tied the knot in Hernando County just nine months later.

The kicker? All three marriages happened while Henry was still legally married to the others.

How Did He Get Away With It? Florida’s marriage system runs on the honor code. When applying for a license, couples swear they’re single, divorced, or widowed—but counties don’t cross-check records.

“You walk in, show your ID, pay $86, and boom—you’re married,” Michele told reporters. “No flags, no alerts. It’s like the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.”

Pinellas County Clerk Ken Burke admitted the system’s flaws: “We’re a wedding destination. People come here for beaches and Disney, not background checks.” With over 6,000 licenses issued yearly in his county alone, Burke says tracking marriages nationally would be “like finding a needle in a haystack.”

The Wives Unravel the Web

The truth exploded in 2023 when Tonya—suspicious after spotting inconsistencies—Googled Henry’s name across Florida’s public marriage records.

“I typed his name and… there they were: Michele and Brandi,” Tonya said. “I felt sick.”

Michele got a chilling call from Tonya shortly after: “She said, ‘You’re married to my husband.’ I thought it was a prank.”

Love… or a Financial Scam? The women now believe Henry’s motives were more bank account than happily ever after:

• Brandi claims he pushed for a joint account on their wedding day.
• Tonya says he eyed “alimony and child support perks” from newly single moms.
• All three say he turned abusive, leading to domestic violence restraining orders.

Henry, now living with a “Christian friend” and claiming zero income, denies the charges. His court hearings continue this month.

Florida’s “Love Is Blind” Problem

Critics argue Florida’s lax laws make it a playground for scammers. Unlike states with centralized databases, Florida’s 67 counties operate in silos. Even if someone’s married in Miami, Tampa won’t know—or care.

The loophole? No waiting period for out-of-state couples. Want to marry a stranger at Disney World? You can do it in 15 minutes.

The Betsey wives want justice—and systemic change. “If counties just talked, this nightmare could’ve been avoided,” Michele said.

But Burke isn’t optimistic: “Short of a national registry? Good luck. People are transient. Divorces happen in other states.”

As for Henry, his Bumble profile (yes, he’s still active) says he’s seeking a “trustworthy woman who understands life’s ups and downs.” His three exes have a different tip: Google him first.

Stay tuned for updates as Henry’s case unfolds in court later this month.