What began as a love story ended in heartbreak on Monday when Jacqueline Bolling Elton, a 60-year-old American woman, lost her life shortly after arriving in Warri, Delta State, to be with the man she believed in.
Elton, described as warm and adventurous, had travelled thousands of miles from the United States to spend time with 39-year-old Alawode Olaide, a man she had grown close to. But just hours after what should have been a joyful reunion, tragedy struck. Around 3pm on September 29, Elton suddenly fell ill. In a frantic rush to save her, she was taken first to a private hospital in Otokutu and later transferred to Central Hospital, Warri. Doctors tried, but it was too late. She was pronounced dead on arrival.
The shock of her sudden passing has left her loved ones across two continents devastated. To many, Jacqueline was more than just another name in the news; she was a mother, a friend, and a woman who still believed in love even at 60. For her family back home, the call that came from Nigeria was one they will never forget — a call that turned joy into grief.
Authorities have since taken Olaide into custody for questioning as investigators try to piece together what happened in the final hours of her life. The State Criminal Investigation Department has promised a thorough inquiry to provide answers and possible closure for her grieving family.
In Warri, residents who heard of the incident expressed sadness that a woman who came in search of companionship met such an untimely end. “It’s painful,” one resident said quietly. “She came here with hope in her heart. Nobody should die like this.”
For now, Jacqueline’s story stands as a painful reminder of how fragile life can be. What should have been a chapter of love has turned into a story of loss — one that her family and the community may struggle to understand for years to come.
