Why Did the ‘Black Godfather’s’ Wife Have to Die?

Speculation has swirled around the murder of 81 year-old Jaqueline “Jackie” Alberta Gray, wife of media’s “Black Godfather,” Clarence Avant. Some even suggest the killing was retribution for the way Avant treated the artists he managed or did business with.

The theory seems to go like this: some disgruntled singer may have put a hit on the media mogul’s beloved wife. There doesn’t appear to be any evidence to support this theory, but when details are scarce, it is just human nature to want explanations for crimes so heinous as the murder of such an elderly woman. The mind invents as many scenarios to battle the temptation to lash out irrationally.

Law enforcement officers will conduct their investigation though, and hopefully they will find evidence enough to bring her killer to justice, but other questions loom: will Black Lives Matter become the banner wavers protesting the premature end of Jackie Avant’s life? Will they be stomping through the streets of Beverly Hills, California?

The scarcity of evidence, at least leaves open the possibility BLM could try to make a race-based argument to justify their involvement, and by the time investigators learn the truth, it may not matter if they were right or wrong. If the suspected home invasion was robbery-turned-homicide, perhaps burglars were spooked, and attacked Jacqueline without intending to kill her. After all, she was still conscious on the way to Cedars Sinai Hospital, and was only pronounced dead on arrival.

If this were a robbery, it was a sloppy one because why would an 81 year-old woman be a threat? She might have just pointed to the money and jewels, and allowed the thieves to take their loot and leave. This case seems like an oddity. The slaying of Jacqueline appears to be more personal, and like a pay-back. Did Avant not properly pay an artist? Did his political connections want to hurt him by taking out the crown jewel of his family?

Perhaps there was another woman whose jealous rage boiled over to the point where she said, “It’s not going to be me, but her.” The mixture of anger and regret might have caused some shadow lady to ensure she would be the one woman left in Avant’s life.

Instead of just considering the idea that Avant may have sensed something as senseless as this, he is certainly training his mind on what actually has transpired. To further speculate, Avant could be placing his nerve on something else.

By setting aside a scorned woman, Avant could have been the main target, but his wife sufficed. It could have been a double homicide had Avant been with Jacqueline in the room at the time of her murder.

What Avant ought to do is send out underlings to investigate privately and discover who took his wife’s life. He has the money and the associations with extremely powerful people in entertainment and politics. He can form a task force to begin his grieving process proactively.

The authorities will be able to discern who actually committed the crime. Once that person or those people are charged, they will be processed through the courts. If found guilty, they will be ready to face reality. The sentencing ought to of course be lengthy and punishment should be just.

As the time passes, the 91 year-old Avant may spend the rest of his days seeing that Jacqueline will be remembered for her benevolence. With her philanthropic endeavors, she delivered on her promise. Her ability to want to help others is something that should be taken into account. Avant may even dedicate a trust in her name to keep her memory alive.