Hawaii News Now/Beth Chapman/InstagramIn his first interview since the passing of his wife Beth, Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman has thanked friends and family for their support, while paying tribute to his late wife.
Chapman thanked fans for supporting his family during their ‘most terrible time’, while speaking to reporters about Beth, and described their final moments together.
Beth died on Wednesday, June 26, aged 51, at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. She had been living with throat cancer for almost two years.
Speaking to reporters outside his home, Chapman told Hawaii News Now:
You kind of try to remember that you’re celebrating life, but right now we’re mourning the death.
For a few years we knew this day would come. It came really unexpected, really fast. All of her clothes, her make-up, everything. We didn’t prepare.
The cancer gig, of course, we gotta find a cure, because all we have now is some get lucky, but most pass away.
Duane continued, via MailOnline:
When she had an attack I didn’t know anything to do but to say “in Jesus’ name” and hold her and when I said “in Jesus’ name” she said, “Say it again, say it more.”
And then she, you know, she told the girls and everybody with her mouth and stuff she said I love you guys, are you guys all OK? But she never accepted it.
Please say your prayers for Beth right now thank you love you
— Duane Dog Chapman (@DogBountyHunter) June 23, 2019
Speaking to reporters, Duane and his family also warned the public about fake donation pages that have been set up using Beth’s name.
He added:
We don’t need any money at all. Please, save your money. There’s nothing being authorized from any of us.
The family said they will be holding memorial services for Beth in both Hawaii and Colorado, where she was raised.
It’s 5:32 in Hawaii, this is the time she would wake up to go hike Koko Head mountain. Only today, she hiked the stairway to heaven. We all love you, Beth. See you on the other side.
— Duane Dog Chapman (@DogBountyHunter) June 26, 2019
Beth and Duane married in 2006, after 16 years together, at a Hilton hotel in Waikoloa Village on the Big Island of Hawaii.
The pair worked together, with Beth running the bail bonds office while Duane would go out bounty hunting and counselling detainees.
They rose to fame with the release of their reality show, Dog’s Most Wanted, in which they track down criminals with the help of their extended family.
Beth is survived by her husband Duane, his sons Leland and Duane Lee, and her four children, Cecily Chapman, Bonnie Chapman, Garry Chapman, and Dominic Davis.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.
Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.