25 Facts About Duane Chapman

Duane Chapman's father was a welder but changed careers later in life, becoming a bail bondsman after Chapman became one.

At the age of 15, Duane Chapman joined the Devils Diciples, an outlaw motorcycle club, and ran away from home.

Duane Chapman attempted to evade officers by leaving through the back door of his home but was caught and taken to the jail in Gray County.

Duane Chapman served 18 months at the Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas before being paroled.

On June 18,2003, Duane Chapman made international news by capturing Max Factor cosmetics heir Andrew Luster, who had fled the United States in the middle of his trial on charges of drugging and raping a number of women.

Duane Chapman was assisted by his hunt team, which consisted of his son, Leland, and an associate, Tim Duane Chapman.

The next day, September 15,2006, Duane Chapman appeared in a packed Honolulu courtroom with his ankles shackled.

Duane Chapman's lead attorney, Brook Hart, reportedly planned to argue that although the charge Duane Chapman faced is a misdemeanor in Mexico, when translated into English, the charge of kidnapping became a felony under American law.

Mexican authorities dismissed Hart's claim and insisted that Duane Chapman had, in fact, been charged with a felony.

Duane Chapman has speculated that his arrest was due in part to a possible prisoner exchange agreement between the Mexican and American authorities.

Subsequently, on October 20,2006, lawyers for Duane Chapman stated the Mexican federal court had granted them an order halting the criminal case against the bounty hunter until further evidence and witness testimony was gathered.

On September 29,2006, Duane Chapman received permission to have the electronic monitoring device removed temporarily so that he could travel to the East Coast for previously planned appearances.

In early October 2007, Duane Chapman gained negative public attention after a private phone conversation between him and his son, Tucker, was sold to the National Enquirer.

In September 2021, Duane Chapman became involved in the manhunt for Brian Laundrie following the killing of Gabby Petito.

In 2007, Duane Chapman released his autobiography, You Can Run But You Can't Hide.

In 2024, Duane Chapman released Nine Lives and Counting: A Bounty Hunter's Journey to Faith, Hope, and Redemption.

Duane Chapman remarried Jim Darnell and had two daughters, Hannah and Britney, with him.

Duane Chapman had been diagnosed with the disease in 2017.

In 2021, their daughter Bonnie accused Duane Chapman of having been unfaithful to Beth throughout their marriage.

Debbie kept her pregnancy from Duane Chapman and died of suicide in 1978, leading the boy to be adopted by Keith and Gloria Hecht.

Duane Chapman spoke out against changes to bail laws in New Jersey and Colorado at various times between 2017 and 2021, arguing such changes endangered the public by allowing release of violent criminals and harmed victims of crime.

In 2021, Duane Chapman opposed Senate Bill 62, introduced in the Colorado General Assembly.

Duane Chapman addressed the controversy in 2007, saying that while he knew he should not have used a racial slur, that no black person had ever told him they were offended by his use of the word.

On October 8,2021, The New York Times reported that Duane Chapman was being sued for US$1.3 million for breach of contract regarding his conduct while filming a television series that would've been titled Dog Unleashed.

In September 2022, at an Evangelical Christian conference in Council Bluffs, Iowa called "Opening the Heavens," Duane Chapman gave a speech on stage in which he referred to USPresident Joe Biden as "little Hitler" and alleged that voter fraud was responsible for Donald Trump failing to win his re-election campaign.