'RHOC's Gina Kirschenheiter To Fight For Full Custody Of Kids After Husband's Violence Arrest
Jun. 26 2019, Published 7:57 p.m. ET
Gina Kirschenheiter's divorce from husband Matt is back on following his June 22 arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence — and RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned that she is going to fight for full custody of their three children.
On June 24, The Real Housewives of Orange County star was granted a temporary restraining order by an Orange County judge that states Matt, 35, is not permitted to come within 100 yards of her or their kids, Nicholas, 7, Sienna, 5, and Luca, 4.
In addition, the court gave Gina, 35, "legal and physical custody" of their kids until a July 17 hearing, at which time the order could be amended.
Now, she plans to file for full custody in the long term as part of their divorce.
"She does not want her kids to be scared, but she also knows that they know what is going on," said a source close to Gina, who claimed her husband needs "professional help" for his issues in her filing.
Now that she feels safe with the restraining order intact, Gina plans to move ahead with the divorce process.
"She just wants this divorce stat because it is clear to her that the bridge is beyond burnt," she said.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Gina claimed she feared for her life during a violent fight that erupted after the two attended a friend's birthday together.
While taking an Uber home together, Gina said that Matt "became irate" and exited the vehicle.
Several hours later, Gina claimed that Matt broke into her home after "ringing the doorbell" and "pounding on the door repeatedly."
“Respondent had somehow gotten into my house and was furious,” she wrote in the June 24 documents. "I told Respondent I did not hear him at the door. He immediately became enraged. He threw me on the couch and threw some of the furniture around. I was scared and tried to get up, but he threw me down on the couch again. He was so angry; he was profusely sweating from head to toe. I was terrified."
"Respondent was screaming in my face saying he was going to f**king kill me. He ripped my bra strap off, then took a pillow and hit me on the side of the head with it hard. My ears rang. I begged him to stop....to calm down....but he kept hitting me.”
She said he began choking her and hitting her “all over” her body, causing "marks, bruises, scratches and bleeding throughout her entire body."
Gina claimed in the document that it was not the first time that he acted violent while their children were present.
"There are other incidents that have scared me in the past. Too many to remember. At this
point, I have to protect me and our children,” Gina claimed.
As fans know, Gina and Matt were attempting to reconcile in recent months after she initially filed for divorce in April 2018 — right after she finished filming her first season on RHOC.
However, the union is broken beyond repair, the source said, and she's moving on.