Maryland police are investigating the death of a 47-year old woman whose body was found last Thursday. She died at the Potomac, Maryland, home of the former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu.
Maryland police are investigating the death of a 47-year old woman whose body was found last Thursday. She died at the Potomac, Maryland, home of the former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu.
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The sudden death of Chinwe Masi is being handled by the Montgomery County Chief Examiner's office. James Hiker, a field medical examiner officer involved in the investigation, told SaharaReporters the case has been turned over to the coroner's office in Maryland.
The coroner's office confirmed that an autopsy has been completed, but that cause of death cannot be disclosed until further toxicology test results are completed and returned from analysis. Dr. Donna Vincenti, a medical examiner for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, performed the autopsy on Chinwe. She told relatives that Chinwe died of cardio-vascular causes consistent with a long history of high blood pressure.
Chinwe is a widow, whose husband Ogbonna died in 2006. Some of her friends who spoke to SaharaReporters anonymously said they were shocked that she was involved with Orji Kalu, who reportedly met her at the upscale Saks Fifth Avenue store a few months ago. Chinwe is a resident of Hyattsville, Maryland and is not known to have any children.
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Chinwe died at Kalu's 14900 Rivers Road, Potomac, Maryland home last Thursday, August 19, according to Montgomery Police officers who also told SaharaReporters that investigations are continuing with the objective of figuring out if there was any foul play.
Chinwe reportedly died shortly after complaining of chest pains. A call was made to emergency services to help her but she was confirmed dead on the scene before she could be transported to the hospital.
Montgomery County Police department said that from initial reports available, Chinwe's death does not appear to be suspicious, but a police detective, Dina Mackie of the homicide section is currently investigating the case. Montgomery County laws require that all deaths are investigated as possible homicide until proven otherwise.
SaharaReporters could not reach Mr. Kalu through his Nigerian or US phone number. Our source said he was with Chinwe at the mansion the day she died. Sources said that he has relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina in the US and is maintaining a low profile while waiting for police to conclude their investigations. Family members of Chinwe are concerned the police will not find the real reason Chinwe died as the former governor, who is allegedly vested in occult practices, may have used Chinwe for unknown rituals.
The home where Chinwe died is the controversial mansion that Orji Kalu purchased in 2004 for $1.7 million from funds pilfered from Abia state treasury. He is currently facing trial in Nigeria for corruption, graft and abuse of office and the mansion is named in the charge sheet containing details of how the former governor looted Abia State.
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