Nikki Garcia files for full custody of her and Artem Chigvintsev's 4-year-old son in divorce
Nikki Garcia is seeking full custody of her and Artem Chigvintsev's 4-year-old son Matteo in their divorce.
People reported Thursday that the former WWE star — who wrestled under the name Nikki Bella — had requested legal and physical custody of Mateo.
However, the outlet noted that Garcia, 40, is fine with allowing Chigvensev, 42, their only child, to visit the child.
“She continues to ask for privacy for herself and her family at this time,” her reps said; Page Six did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Garcia filed for divorce from Chigvintsev on Wednesday — less than two weeks after the “Dancing with the Stars” alum was arrested for domestic violence.
According to TMZ, Garcia began looking for a divorce lawyer the day after Chigvintsev attacked her at their Napa Valley, California home.
After the alleged incident, the athlete moved out of the family residence and stopped wearing her massive emerald engagement ring and wedding band, signaling the end of their two-year marriage.
On the morning of August 29, Chigvensev called 911 to request medical help for someone — only to be called back and have the request canceled.
However, the police still showed up.
“For domestic violence, if someone picks up the phone and says, 'You don't have to come,' we're still going to do the welfare check. We're not going to stop what we're doing,” a public information officer for the Napa County Sheriff's Office previously explained to Page Six.
“We were dispatched to go there, and our deputies went right there.”
After responding officers observed visible injuries to the victim, who asked for “complete privacy,” they cuffed Chigvensev and charged him with corporal injury to an intimate partner — a felony.
He was booked into the Napa County Jail and released hours later after posting $25,000 bail.
Although authorities have not released the victim's identity, audio of the call to police from the dispatcher indicates that Garcia was present during the alleged crime, as was Matteo.
“Initially, [the call] came to request treatment, but now he says he had an argument with his wife and his wife threw a shoe at RP. [reporting party]” the dispatcher was heard to say.
“A child is at the scene. Treatment on the way. … has an active 415 [disturbing the peace] responsible in the background.”
The circumstances surrounding the pair's split are apparently “shocking but not shocking” to those who know them well.
Sources close to the pair — who met in 2017 while competing together on “DWTS” Season 25 — claim to TMZ that their relationship has always been “volatile.”