LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The estranged wife of Darnell "SuperChef" Ferguson said Tuesday the domestic violence allegations against her husband are false and blamed his arrest on law enforcement officers who wanted to "make a name" for themselves.
Tatahda Ferguson released a lengthy statement through her attorney's office nearly four months after Darnell's arrest on Jan. 2. He faces several charges, including burglary, strangulation and assault.
Tatahda is now saying none of it happened the way police and the prosecutor described it in open court and in court documents. She said she regrets the incident and reacted in the heat of the moment during an "intense argument," and called police for a matter that "really didn't warrant their involvement."
"I believe my words were twisted by certain law enforcement officials who are looking to make a name for themselves at the expense of my husband's celebrity status," Tatahda said in the statement. "Darnell is a good man! I have never felt unsafe or threatened by him and he has always been an incredible father to our children. It hurts my heart the way he's being vilified. I am coming forward to try and do what's right to clear his name and help our family heal."
Darnell has been featured on the Food Network.
She denied any burglary or trespassing occurred, saying she and Darnell were comfortable with the other visiting. She said she was never in any physical danger.
"The only time that Darnell put his hands on me was to push me away from him," Tatahda said. "There was no attempt at strangulation or any kind of assault by Darnell. I would have spoken sooner, but the officers and legal system manipulated the situation. I never had any authentic guidance or representation during this process and I'm seeing now that there is a different agenda aside from my safety and well-being."
Read the full statement below. Mobile users may need to click here.
Tatahda also said she never wished to take out a protective order against Darnell, but a detective "made" her. She asked for police to "put this matter to rest."
A Commonwealth's Attorney's Office spokesperson released a statement to WHAS11, saying in part:
We remain receptive and are sensitive to the thoughts, needs, wants, and desires of all involved parties in any ongoing criminal prosecution, including those of family members and victims on all sides. Although the decision whether to prosecute or not prosecute is ultimately up to the prosecuting attorney, the victim’s opinion is important, and the prosecuting attorney will take those wishes into account when making decisions regarding the case.
However, while we acknowledge the input of victims in the process, under our legal system all crimes are offenses against the public, not just individuals. Our dedication is to preserving public safety. Criminal complaints are prosecuted on behalf of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, not the individual who called the police or the person who may have been personally harmed by the defendant’s conduct. Requests to amend, dismiss, or “drop” charges must be approved by the assigned prosecutor.
St. Matthews police issued the following statement:
We will continue our investigation into this matter and are unable to provide further comment as it remains an open case. Our department is committed to working diligently with victims in this case and in all domestic violence cases.
Attorneys heard testimony in January from the lead detective on the case, St. Matthews police Det. Mark Richardson, who responded to the home Jan. 2. Richardson detailed evidence, including the circumstances of the alleged verbal dispute that led to the woman’s injuries.
"He put both of his hands around her throat and started to strangle her. As he did that, according to Mrs. Ferguson, he said 'I'm going to kill you,'" Richardson said under oath in front of a judge. "And the next thing she remembers, she was on the floor."
According to court documents, Darnell Ferguson illegally entered the woman's home and once inside, began yelling at her and punching the walls, damaging her home. The detective noted the couple is separated and going through a divorce.
Richardson said Ferguson called his wife multiple times the night prior to the incident and got no answer. The next morning, Ferguson allegedly drove to his wife's home, with their three children in the car, and entered the home without permission to find his wife and another man in bed together.
"He ripped her shorts off that she had on, asked her to spread her legs, and then pointed to her genitalia and said, 'That's mine and no one else's,'" Richardson said in January. "He calmed down a little bit and stated that he was sorry, then said, 'You need to get yourself together. The kids are here, they're going to be coming inside.'"
The arrest affidavit detailed the moments Darnell allegedly grabbed Tatahda by her neck with both hands and began choking her. Richardson added that Ferguson reportedly told the victim that if she told anyone what had happened, that he'd take his own life.
The woman told authorities she couldn't breathe and lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness, she said she was on the floor.
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