Last weekend, the funeral for Dog The Bounty Hunter star and wife of Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman, Beth Chapman, was held in Aurora, Colorado. The Chapman family was present, including Dog and Beth’s son, Leland Chapman. Leland posted on Instagram the day of the funeral, speaking publicly for the first time since his mother’s passing.
Beth Chapman passed away on June 26th.
She had been placed in a medically-induced coma a few days earlier due to complications from late-stage cancer. Beth was initially diagnosed with cancer in 2017, but after two years, she was informed that her cancer had come back.
Earlier in the year, Beth had made the decision not to continue her chemotherapy treatments.
Citing it as “not my bag,” Beth forwent chemotherapy as she felt that her cancer was “the ultimate test of faith.”
On June 26th, Dog confirmed that Beth had passed away.
In a heartbreaking tweet, Dog announced that Beth had “hiked the stairway to heaven.” He added, “We all love you, Beth. See you on the other side.”
Most of the Chapman family has been vocal since her passing.
Her daughter Bonnie shared a photoset of Beth with the caption, “So thankful to call you my mother. Rest In Peace, mom. I love you so much.”
Beth’s daughter in law, Jamie, shared this bible verse on Instagram.
Her caption read, “The Lord will do right by Beth. I will always love you and miss you,” and included a broken heart.
However, Beth and Dog’s son Leland remained silent on social media.
Leland had shared a series of photographs of Beth and various members of the Chapman family on his Instagram shortly before news of her passing was announced, but otherwise had not yet commented publicly.
Last week, it was reported that Leland had been hospitalized.
Leland was injured during the first manhunt his team embarked on since Beth’s passing along with his father. The Chapmans were reportedly tracking down a bail jumper accused of domestic violence.
The team reportedly had to pounce on the criminal to prevent his getaway.
Sources told The Blast that Leland was one of the first on the scene, and tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the ensuing scuffle.
A representative for Leland confirmed the injury.
The spokesperson also confirmed that Leland would require surgery for his injury, and noted that Leland would be out of action for six weeks.
The entire event was caught on camera.
The manhunt and the injury were being filmed for Dog’s Most Wanted , the Chapman’s newest reality TV venture set to start airing on WGN at some point this year.
Breaking his social media silence, Leland shared this photograph of his family at Beth’s funeral this weekend.
Still recovering from his injury, Leland can be seen with a crutch and a boot on his injured leg. He shared an emotional message along with the photo.
“I still can’t believe she’s gone.”
He wrote, “She would have been thrilled to see this. Family, friends, fans all coming together to honor her legacy. I want to say thank you to everyone for your well wishes and prayers for my family.”
“I want to say thank you to everyone who helped put on and put together her beautiful memorial.”
He finished his caption with, “I also want to thank my family for coming together and helping my dad and each other through this time. I know she’s proud, so thank you again from the bottom of my heart.”
Leland recently gave an interview where he discussed the hunt and how different it feels without Beth.
He told ET , “I’ve already noticed the difference. We’ve only been out for one day. And you know I was thinking to myself, man, if Beth was here, she would be yelling, ‘Come on, let’s go already.'”
Beth was known for her tough-as-nails attitude on the show.
Leland continued, saying Beth would be, “telling my dad, ‘Shut up, you talk too much.’ Let’s go.’ You know what I mean? There’s definitely a different aspect around.”
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“But you know, I think we’ll pull through,” Leland said.
“We’re a strong family and it’s terrible that we had to go through that, but like I said, I know our bond is strong and we work together, which makes it even stronger.”
Leland highlighted the influence Beth had on them.
“And I believe that Beth ran such a tight ship and that it just became — when you do something over and over and over again and it’s just rhetorical, it just becomes natural, you know?”
“I think that it’s already instilled in all of us.”
“That’s why it works so well, is because of all the years of grinding on us. You know what I mean? Do this. Do that. You know? And now, you know, you got the finished product.”
Dog has been public with the struggle he’s faced since Beth’s passing.
In an emotional interview , he admitted to not being able to eat since Beth’s passing and having lost 17lbs in two weeks.
During the funeral on Saturday, which was live-streamed, Dog and many other family members spoke.
Dog announced that, “I told God yesterday I’d do five years, 10 years day to day just to kiss her again. I never felt like this,” in an emotional moment.
Dog told the story of how he and Beth had met.
To the audience’s laughter, Dog recalled how he had posted Beth’s bond for “stealing a lemon.” He said that as soon as she walked in, he thought, “Oh, yes, she will be mine.”
Near the end of his speech, Dog introduced the pastor who had officiated their wedding.
Dog detailed how Beth had had them remove “til death do us part” from their vows, because, in Beth’s words, “You’re not off the hook.”
Their daughter, Bonnie Jo Chapman, has confirmed this sentiment on her Instagram.
While doing a Q&A session on her Instagram, Bonnie Jo was asked if she thought her father would ever remarry, and Bonnie Jo’s answer was simple.
“Nope, he found his soulmate.”
“No one can ever replace her in his heart,” she wrote candidly, “Their love was one of a kind, it made me believe love truly exists.”
