THE wife of the white cop charged with murder in the death of unarmed black American George Floyd has filed for divorce. Kellie Chauvin says she is “devastated by Mr Floyd’s death and her utmost sympathy lies with his family and with his loved ones”.
Who is Kellie Chauvin?
Kellie Chauvin has been thrown into the media spotlight after it was announced that she was to split from her cop husband, Derek Chauvin.
The 46-year-old was born in Laos in 1974. Her family fled to Thailand in 1977 following the war. She’s a former radiologist and beauty queen, who won the title of Mrs Minnesota in 2018. According to Twin Cities, Kellie entered the pageant at the urging of a pal. Kellie explained that she wanted to represent the Hmong community, as she had been bullied as a child for her heritage, appearance and refugee status. She has given financial help to several Hmong nonprofits and small businesses. The mum-of-two has also volunteered as a translator at local hospitals, along with making her home a “safe haven” for Hmong women going through difficult times. She said: “I help them find housing and jobs and provide resources they need to succeed. “It really just takes one person to make a difference.” Vantu News said that Kellie’s most recent job was selling homes for estate agent Re/Max. Her estranged husband, white police officer Derek Chauvin, has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. Floyd’s arrest was caught on camera, where he could be heard pleading “I can’t breathe” while Chauvin pressed his knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Two other officers applied pressure with their knees to the unarmed black man’s back, despite him begging to be let up. Chauvin has been fired from the Minneapolis police department, but the manner of Floyd’s death has lead to days of riots in the US and violence. All four officers involved in the arrest were fired.
Has she spoken about George Floyd’s death?
A distressed Kellie Chauvin released a statement via her Minneapolis lawyer, Sekula Law Offices.It says: “Kellie is devastated by Mr Floyd’s death and her utmost sympathy lies with his family, with his loved ones and with everyone who is grieving this tragedy. “She has filed for dissolution of her marriage to Derek Chauvin. “While Ms Chauvin has no children from her current marriage, she respectfully requests that her children, her elder parents, and her extended family be given safety and privacy during this difficult time.” Her comments attracted sympathy on Facebook, with the likes of Addison Steiner posting that “Kellie is a friend of mine. I knew her before she married Derek. “She is a kind, gentle and compassionate woman. Prayers for her.” Marilyn Sychra added: “I pray for peace and solace for this lady. She had nothing to do with the actions against Mr. Floyd.” Brandi Cross posted: “My prayers go out to you Kellie as well. “Your life changed in an instant and is over as you once knew it.”
Why are Derek and Kellie Chauvin divorcing?
Kellie Chauvin filed for divorce on May 28, three days after the horrific death of George Floyd. The former Mrs Minnesota said “irretrievable breakdown” of their relationship was to blame for ending their 10-year marriage. According to court papers obtained by The Sun, Kellie said in a court filing that she doesn’t want any money or financial help from her cop ex, despite being an unemployed estate agent. “[The] respondent is fully capable of supporting herself,” the filing states.
Both Kellie and her estranged hubby waived their rights to “temporary or permanent spousal maintenance,” from each other, according to the court papers.
When did they get married and do they have children?
Kellie married Derek Chauvin in 2010, after the pair met and fell in love while she was working as a radiologist at a hospital. The couple don’t have any children, but Kellie does have two kids from her previous relationship with ex-husband Kujay Xiong. Chauvin, 44, has become the focus of angry street protests and a federal investigation. He has not spoken publicly since Floyd’s death. Minneapolis City Council records show that Chauvin moonlighted as a bouncer at a downtown Latin nightclub. A much different side was portrayed in a 2018 newspaper profile of his now-estranged wife when Kellie spoke about being a Laotian refugee and becoming the first Hmong Mrs Minnesota. She told the St Paul Pioneer Press that they met when he dropped off a suspect at a Minneapolis hospital where she worked.