Michael Duarte's wife, Jessica, has spoken for the first time since he died following an alleged confrontation with the police. The food influencer, known as @foodwithbearhands, had over 2 million combined followers across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
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Jessica paid homage to her late husband via a recent Instagram post.
"He gave everyone every bit of him so it's my turn to give it back," She wrote. "I'm not quite sure what that looks like yet but hopefully he will lead me on that path," the post read. She also thanked people who have reached out to her, sharing that "the outpouring love has really given [her] strength...I'm still struggling with the fact that he is no longer with us but l'm starting to see his purpose was SO much bigger. I'm starting to see God work in mysterious ways that l've never experienced before and hoping that will bring our family some peace."
According to USA Today, a report was made of the Medina County Sheriff's Office on Nov. 8 regarding a "disturbance involving a male subject with a knife acting erratically." According to Sheriff Randy Brown, Duarte, who was reportedly making threats to those around him, encountered the deputy who responded to the call.
Duarte then allegedly charged at the deputy while continuing to make threats. The deputy fired their weapon twice.
Michael Duarte's Talent Agency Released a Statement
As news of Duarte's passing broke, his talent agency, Alooma Media Group, released a statement on its Instagram account.
"It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our valued client and dear friend, Michael Duarte," Alooma wrote. "Michael was so much more than a client to us at Alooma. He was a true & loyal partner, a trusted collaborator, and above all, a remarkable person. His passion, professionalism, and creativity left a lasting mark not only on our team but on everyone who had the privilege of working with him."
At the time of the post, Alooma had placed a GoFundMe link in their Instagram bio, but they have since removed it.
Duarte is survived by his wife Jessica and their six-year-old daughter, Oakley.
