Duane “Dog” Chapman lost his wife Beth Chapman to throat cancer on June 26 and since then he’s been mourning the loss while surrounded by his huge family. First, they gave Beth an incredible Hawaiian funeral on the beach in Oahu on June 29. And on July 13, they will hold a second funeral in Colorado that will be live-streamed for Beth’s many fans on WGNAmerica.com. Dog is doing his best to stay strong, in spite of his deep sadness, and a source close to the star of Dog The Bounty Hunter tells HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY that his “entire family” has stepped in to help him get through this tough time.
“The whole family is closer than ever right now and really rallying around Dog, and each other,” says our source. “They’re all feeling so grateful and blessed that they have such a huge family to be able to lean on one another after such a tragedy. Many of them are still finding it hard to believe they lost Beth, and it hasn’t really hit home yet. She was the central figure in their family and it doesn’t feel real that she’s no longer here. Dog is doing his best to stay strong but of course at times, he still finds it challenging to cope with such an enormous loss. The all plan on attending the celebration of life this weekend to continue honoring Beth and her legacy.”
A second source close to the Chapman family tells HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY that in a way, Beth is closer than ever in spite of her death. “Beth is almost with the family more in death than she was in life,” says our source, “because she is that important and constantly thought about from all the love they received from her. Dog knows nothing better than what Beth gave him and he will continue to live her legacy in everything he does. Her presence is the most important thing in his life. Then, now and in the future. The funeral this weekend is going to be sad but also amazing in the love that will be shown throughout the family. It’s going to really start the healing if the loss.”
As devastated as Dog and his entire family are over Beth’s death, their bail bond business still has to go on. And unfortunately on July 9, Dog and Beth’s son Leland Chapman, 42, was hospitalized after tearing his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) during the family’s first manhunt following their matriarch’s death. With Beth’s second funeral only days away the injury could not come at a worse time.
