'Doubling Down With the Derricos' Star Deon Derrico Felt Like 'Someone Died' After Estranged Ex-Wife Karen's Arrest
Deon and Karen Derrico divorced in 2024.
Aug. 6 2026, Published 3:35 p.m. ET
Deon Derrico wrestled with some difficult emotions after his estranged ex-wife, Karen, was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill him and their children, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
In a sit-down with Oxygen, the Doubling Down With the Derricos alum, 54, said the situation made him feel like "someone died" and their family had been "torn in two."
Inside Karen Derrico's Arrest
Deon Derrico accused Karen of threatening to kill him and their kids.
On July 17, Karen, 46, was taken into police custody in Las Vegas on several charges, including misdemeanor harassment, violation of a temporary order for protection against domestic violence, preventing or dissuading a witness from testifying or producing evidence with immediate threat or use of physical force, and aggravated stalking constituting domestic violence.
According to court documents, Karen allegedly told Deon "I want you dead" in a shocking email.
"I could kill you, and it won't even bother me to go to jail," she allegedly wrote at the time, per legal documents. "I'll kill any of my kids if they take your side."
She also allegedly said that she had a "gun" and made "threats" to "kill him and/or his new girlfriend and/or his children and/or telling him there are lots of cousins and killing him would be easy and/or she will see to it that he dies a slow death."
The mother-of-14 was not released until June 21, two days before her June 23 arraignment. She pleaded not guilty to all charges.
'I'll Never Trust Her Again'
Deon Derrico said he watched his ex-wife's emotional state 'deteriorate' after divorce.
"Something that I loved died, and that was us as a unit," Deon told Oxygen True Crime in July. "What has died was the way we once were, and we'll never be that way again."
The TLC star also claimed that he lost all confidence in his ex to keep their shared children safe.
"I'll never trust her again. I will never ever feel... I could trust her again," he continued. "And so that has died."
Following their 2024 divorce, Deon alleged that he watched Karen "deteriorate" from an "emotional or anger position."
Deon Derrico Calls Email Fabrication Claims 'Absolutely Absurd'
Deon Derrico is a father to 14 children.
Earlier this year, Karen's legal team called the allegations against her "total nonsense and fabricated."
"This has everything to do with him (Deon) being spiteful and malicious and nothing to do with him being frightened or harassed," the statement read.
However, Deon firmly denied the implication that he had somehow falsified the alleged threatening messages.
"I think it's absolutely egregious," he insisted. "It's absolutely absurd and preposterous. I have no ability or no way of hacking her email. Neither do any of my children."
'They Need Both Parents'
Never Miss an
Daily updates from the heart of Hollywood, right to your inbox
By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Deon Derrico said he couldn't 'trust' his ex with the children.
As for what's to come in the future for them as co-parents, Deon suggested he would want his ex-wife to attend parenting classes and go to therapy.
"We have to co-parent," he said. "They need both parents."
"The issue for me is she really don't even understand what she's done," the reality star explained. "That's what's most problematic for me."
Karen is reportedly expected back in court on August 6.
