Karen Derrico, known to fans from TLC’s “Doubling Down With the Derricos,” is now facing serious criminal charges after her arrest in Las Vegas this week.
Authorities say the reality television personality threatened to kill her ex-husband, Deon Derrico, along with members of their large family, during a bitter and increasingly public split.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Karen has been charged with harassment, violating a restraining order, preventing a witness from testifying through threat of violence, and aggravated stalking.
She was booked under the name Karen Evonne Carter and was later released on a $2,000 bond. She is also required to wear an ankle monitor while the case moves forward.
What Prosecutors Say Happened
Court records allege that Karen sent a string of threatening emails to Deon, with whom she shares fourteen children, including sets of twins, triplets, and quintuplets.
In one message dated June 14, prosecutors say she wrote that she wanted Deon dead and stated she could kill him without it bothering her, even if it meant going to jail. The same message reportedly included a threat against any of their children who took their father’s side in the ongoing dispute.
Investigators also claim Karen violated a temporary protective order by emailing Deon about matters unrelated to parenting on June 17, just weeks after a family court order had been put in place restricting that kind of contact.
Authorities further allege she tried to keep Deon from attending a court hearing tied to the protective order he had filed against her, which forms the basis of the witness intimidation charge.
The aggravated stalking charge stems from claims that Karen said she had access to a gun and could use it against Deon, his new girlfriend, or their children.
Officials say she told him that killing him would be easy and that she would make sure he suffered a slow death. Prosecutors say these statements left Deon in genuine fear for his safety.
Karen’s attorney, Jess Marchese, has pushed back hard against the allegations, telling outlets that the claims are completely false and were fabricated by Deon.
Marchese said the defense team is working with technology experts to challenge the authenticity of the emails, suggesting Deon may have sent the threatening messages to himself to damage Karen’s credibility. Karen herself has denied ever threatening to harm her own children and maintains her innocence.
Karen was arraigned on June 23 and pleaded not guilty to all charges. Her next court appearance is scheduled for August 6.
Deon, for his part, has since spoken out publicly about the situation, saying he became alarmed when his children told him their mother had threatened them directly. He claims he has audio recordings of Karen admitting to making those threats, which he says ultimately led him to file a police report.
Karen and Deon built a large following through their TLC series, which aired from 2020 to 2024 and chronicled the daily chaos and joy of raising fourteen kids under one roof.
The couple finalized their divorce in 2024 but continued living together for a time afterward, largely for financial reasons and to keep the family unit stable.
Karen reportedly moved out earlier this year with four of the children as it became clear reconciliation was no longer possible.
The case remains ongoing, and no additional comment has been released by the North Las Vegas Police.
