- Deven Thompkins’s estranged wife accused him of having ‘beat me so bad’
- The Buccaneers waived the wideout with an injury designation on May 30
NFL player Deven Thompkins’ estranged wife has accused him of spousal abuse in multiple social media posts.
Maria Castilhos, Thompkins’ wife and mother of his two children, accused the wide receiver of abuse in a video on TikTok Monday – just days after he was surprisingly released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
She said in the clip that she is engaged in divorce and custody litigation with Thompkins. Court records show that the NFL free agent filed for divorce on February 27 in Lee County, Florida, however, they do not reference accusations of physical abuse.
‘I’m not going to be talking about mine and Deven’s divorce or child custody-related things, because we have an ongoing court case, so I can’t mention any of that,’ Castilhos said in the video. ‘[…] This is strictly going to be the abuse that I’ve had to endure all these years with proof, because I’m being called a liar.’
She went on to accuse the wideout of having ‘beat me really bad’ in the backseat of a car near Fort Myers, Florida, on Valentine’s Day 2023.
Castilhos shared photos showing injuries to her face and arm that she alleged she sustained during the incident.
Thompkins denied the allegations through his attorney, Brett R. Gallaway, who hit back with accusations of blackmail.
‘First and foremost, Deven categorically denies the allegations levied against him by his estranged wife, Maria Castilhos,’ Gallaway said in a statement, via the Tampa Bay Times.
‘Unfortunately, Deven and Maria have been going through a contentious divorce proceeding and child custody battle, and it appears that she thought it would help her case to release these false and defamatory videos.
‘What she fails to mention on TikTok and other social media posts are her written admissions of ‘blackmail’ in connection with demands that Deven pay her increased alimony and other payments. Clear and significant exculpatory evidence exists to show that Deven did not physically or in any other way abuse Maria.’
‘[…] We expect he will be fully exonerated after a review of the facts, background, and clear ulterior motive behind the release of these videos and fabricated assault allegations.’
Castilhos also detailed in depth her relationship with Thompkins, which began while they were in high school.
She said they got engaged when they were still just 17 and that she fell pregnant with their first child shortly before graduating high school. They later married at age 19.
WARNING – GRAPHIC CONTENT
She claimed that she caught Thompkins cheating on her multiple times throughout their relationship, while they lived together in Utah during his college career at Utah State.
Castilhos also claimed that she tried to leave but he wouldn’t let her and also referenced ‘many abusive episodes.’ She admitted that she did not have any proof of those incidents.
She alleged that Thompkins once beat her ‘so bad’ that she was forced to move in with his uncle in California.
She and Thompkins both had relationships with other people while separated before reconciling briefly before the alleged Valentine’s Day incident, according to Castilhos.
‘We’re back together, we end up coming to visit our family in Fort Myers,’ Castilhos said in the video. ‘Like, our family and friends, and we decide, like, we’re going to go to dinner with another couple. My best friend and her boyfriend. So we go to dinner, we have drinks, and that is when he beat me really bad.’
Castilhos’ allegations come after Thompkins was waived by the Bucs with an injury designation on May 30.
Tampa Bay indicated that he suffered a minor hamstring strain during voluntary offseason workouts but head coach Todd Bowles said the ‘door is open’ to his return when his is healthy.
However, Thompkins’ attorney appeared to suggest that his release stemmed from the allegations.
‘Deven would like to thank the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for allowing him the privilege to play for his hometown team,’ Gallaway said.
‘While he’s disappointed the club released him before more facts became available, Deven will comply with any forthcoming league investigation.’
Castilhos faced a complaint of misdemeanor battery, which stemmed from a Halloween party, in November 2022.
She was accused of walking up to a woman wearing a ski mask and punching her in the nose, according to Cape Coral Police Department. Castilhos told police the woman had begun making derogatory comments about her son having Down syndrome.
The case was dismissed in February, 2023.