{"id":39325,"date":"2025-11-14T12:48:16","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T12:48:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/39325\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T12:48:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T12:48:16","slug":"michael-duarte-wife-jessica-duarte-breaks-silence-after-influencers-texas-police-shooting-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/39325\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael Duarte wife Jessica Duarte breaks silence after influencer’s Texas police shooting death"},"content":{"rendered":"

Food influencer Michael Duarte\u2019s wife shared a tribute to her husband while she rebuffed \u201cfalse narratives\u201d after police fatally shot the social media personality<\/a>, who allegedly threatened to \u201ckill everyone\u201d with a knife during an altercation.<\/p>\n

Jessica Duarte revealed Thursday night that she is struggling with the loss of her husband, nearly a week after the 36-year-old\u2019s death during a family trip to Texas.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve struggled with what to do since his passing so I\u2019m doing what feels right and that\u2019s sharing his stories. Whether they be about his content or Mike as my husband, daddy and friend to all,\u201d the grieving widow wrote on Duarte\u2019s Instagram \u201cFoodWithBearHands.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

Food influencer Michael Duarte with his wife, Jessica, and their daughter, Oakley, before his death on Nov. 8, 2025. Instagram\/jessicaleeduarte<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel so touched and proud to know so many people that he has inspired over his time here on earth. I plan to keep his legacy going not only for him but his family,\u201d she said. \u201cHe gave everyone every bit of him so it\u2019s my turn to give it back. I\u2019m not quite sure what that looks like yet but hopefully he will lead me on that path.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessica Duarte said she was strengthened by the \u201coutpouring love\u201d she received from her husband\u2019s BBQ community.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still struggling with the fact that he is no longer with us but l\u2019m starting to see his purpose was SO much bigger. I\u2019m starting to see God work in mysterious ways that l\u2019ve never experienced before and hoping that will bring our family some peace,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Duarte was killed by two shots from a Medina County sheriff\u2019s deputy\u2019s gun in Castroville around 11:30 a.m. Saturday, when officers responded to a 911 call about a \u201cmale subject with a knife acting erratically,\u201d police told The Post.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuarte was exhibiting erratic behavior and making threats to kill everyone,\u201d the Medina County Sheriff\u2019s Office said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Michael Duarte was known for his social media account \u201cFoodWithBearHands.\u201d @openfiremeatup’s profile picture foodwithbearhands’s profile picture foodwithbearhands\/Instagram<\/p>\n

Jessica Duarte said she was strengthened by the \u201coutpouring love\u201d she received from her husband\u2019s BBQ community. @foodwithbearhands\/Instagram<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was attempting to assault Fire and EMS personnel who had responded to the scene as the deputy pulled up,\u201d police added.<\/p>\n

Duarte refused commands from police to drop the knife he was holding and allegedly attempted to attack instead, telling officers, \u201cI\u2019m going to kill you,\u201d police said.<\/p>\n

An officer then opened fire and shot Duarte. He was pronounced dead at a San Antonio hospital.<\/p>\n

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Jessica Duarte blasted the \u201cfalse narratives\u201d surrounding her husband\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs for the media coverage surrounding his death, the false narratives are disheartening and disrespectful to the legacy of a wonderful man,\u201d she wrote. \u201cThis is an active investigation and I ask that all media and the public refrain from sharing unverified information.<\/p>\n

\u201cMike, I\u2019m proud to be your wife and I will carry that title with honor for the rest of my life. See you on the other side, Daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Duarte\u2019s death was first reported by TMZ, citing his family and talent agency who said the social media star died in a \u201chorrible accident.\u201d<\/p>\n

The California-based content creator was traveling in Texas with his family,\u00a0just three days after celebrating his ninth wedding anniversary. Instagram\/aloomamediagroup<\/p>\n

Duarte had been open about his past mental health struggles, telling followers on social media how he suffered a breakdown during the Covid-19 pandemic. Instagram\/jessicaleeduarte<\/p>\n

The California-based content creator was traveling in Texas with his family,\u00a0just three days after celebrating his ninth wedding anniversary.<\/p>\n

The chef commanded a following of 2 million across social media, where he posted videos showing off his creative and electric barbeque recipes and methods under his \u201cFoodWithBearHands\u201d handle.<\/p>\n

Duarte and his wife share a 6-year-old daughter, Oakley.<\/p>\n

The food influencer had been open about his past mental health struggles, telling followers on social media how he suffered a breakdown during the Covid-19 pandemic that forced him to seek psychiatric treatment.<\/p>\n

He began creating his videos after recovering from the breakdown, with his jokester personality and humor sending the mouthwatering videos viral.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking back, I know that breakdown came from feeling like I had failed at life. The shutdown hit me hard and took a big toll on my confidence,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n

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