NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Charene Chapman-Santiago, 48-year-old Brooklyn-based sister of Jenean Chapman, has stated in an interview with the New York Post that her brother-in-law was a manipulative man with the charm of a serial killer.
Jenean Chapman was the former personal assistant to the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, who is a member of the British royal family.
Jenean was found dead in her apartment in Dallas in September. She had only been married to James Patrick for a couple of months, said Charene.
It has been alleged that Patrick has strangled Jenean to death. He has since been arrested in Austin and will be sent back to Dallas where authorities will charge him with murder.
Charene Chapman-Santiago had doubts about sister's marriage
Jenean, 46, was an intelligent, well-traveled, cosmopolitan go-getter. She had worked for Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.
On the other hand, Patrick, 48, was always out of work, and cloaked his possessive and violent tendencies behind a charming facade, according to Charene.
“Jenean was charmed by his magnetism. He was like Ted Bundy, people thought he was very charming. I saw through it, though. I never liked him,” said Charene.
Ted Bundy was a serial killer who was executed in 1989. He was known to be charismatic and personable to those around him, as well as a master manipulator.
Police officials found Jenean's body on September 25 during welfare check.
Medical examiners in Dallas County ruled her death a homicide and Patrick became their primary suspect.
Other family members have also described the couple's relationship as difficult and toxic.
Jenean's sister Nicole stated, "It was rocky, we were aware of that. She broke the news to our mother (about the marriage), and of course, our mother told us and yeah, we definitely didn’t see that coming. And no, there was no wedding. We were shocked because, before that, it was an on-and-off relationship.”
Charene alleged that Patrick would go to great lengths to try and control Jenean.
“She loved James, she loved him completely,” Charene said. “Even though he mistreated her, she wanted so much to make it work.”
“He was extremely possessive. He would accuse her of cheating, but he was doing the cheating. He was the epitome of a gaslighter.”
Describing her sister as “the most generous person I’ve ever met,” Charene said she had never wanted Patrick for her sister.
She found out about alleged physical abuse a few weeks before Jenean's death and regrets not being able to save her sister in time.
