LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The attorney representing Food Network star and Louisville native Darnell Ferguson, also known as "SuperChef," believes his client will be exonerated of charges following his arrest for allegedly strangling his estranged wife.
Attorney Krsna Tibbs released this statement Friday:
“Mr. Ferguson continues to maintain his complete innocence and is confident that when all the facts are made public, he will be exonerated. While [Thursday's] hearing was preliminary, a number of new details were introduced by the Louisville police that begin to paint a clear picture of the events of January 2, 2024.
Right now, Mr. Ferguson is 100% focused on the well-being and safety of his family and asks that his children’s privacy be maintained.”
RELATED: Food Network's Darnell 'SuperChef' Ferguson accused of strangling woman, threatening to kill her
New testimony this week suggested celebrity chef Ferguson had his three children with him the morning he allegedly choked his estranged wife in her home.
The popular Louisville chef turned Food Network star appeared in court again Thursday morning, more than a week after police arrested him in Jefferson County. Ferguson is facing several charges including burglary, strangulation and terroristic threatening.
Attorneys heard testimony from the lead detective on the case, St. Matthews Det. Mark Richardson, who responded to the home that Jan. 2 morning. 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, 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.
Richardson said "the victim and Mr. Ferguson got into a verbal argument" that quickly turned physical.
"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. "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 details the moments Ferguson allegedly grabbed his wife by her neck with both hands and began choking her. On Thursday, 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.
Police said before Ferguson left the victim's home, he stole her credit card, debit card, and ID.
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