Former Cowboys star Leighton Vander Esch’s father, Darwin Vander Esch, was arrested on 1 December 2024 for domestic violence-related charges.
Following the arrest, his parents are now splitting up. His mother, Sandra Vander Esch, filed for divorce on 2 December, just one day after the incident.
Sandra, also known as Sandy, accused her husband of attempting to strangle her during an incident at their home in Idaho County.
Highlights
- Leighton Vander Esch’s father was taken into police custody for domestic violence charges, including attempted strangulation and domestic battery.
- The incident took place at their home outside Riggins, Idaho, where Sandra/Sandy Vander Esch reported being assaulted by Darwin.
- While the athlete has not publicly commented on his father’s arrest, his mother, Sandra, filed for divorce.
Leighton retired from football mainly because of persistent neck problems. He faced neck injuries throughout his career.
He started as a walk-on at Boise State and later became Dallas’ first-round pick in the 2018 draft.
During his six-season career, Vander Esch made 469 tackles, 3.5 sacks, forced three fumbles, and got three interceptions.
As a rookie, he became a Pro Bowler in 2018 and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team the same year.
As reported by the NY Post, Leighton missed seven games in 2018 due to neck injuries and more games last season for the same reason.
While announcing his retirement, he said he loved football so much that his body wouldn’t cooperate.
“I cherished every moment of my NFL career, and it has been such a blessing to play the game for as long as I have played.”
Leighton Vander Esch
Leighton’s cousin, Caleb Vander Esch, also played football. Caleb played college football at South Dakota and pro football for the Arlington Renegades of the UFL last season.
Leighton Vander Esch’s Father Was Arrested For A Domestic Dispute
Former Cowboys star Leighton Vander Esch’s father, Darwin Vander Esch, was arrested and faces several domestic violence charges.
As reported by the NY Post, they include felony attempted strangulation, misdemeanor domestic battery, and intentional destruction of a telecommunication device.
Leighton Vander Esch's parents are splitting up following the arrest of the former Dallas Cowboys star's father. pic.twitter.com/bKWJuAs5yb
— Kevin Randy (@rowanisright) December 17, 2024
Idaho County Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened at their home outside Riggins, Idaho, after a domestic dispute.
In an interview with TMZ, Sandy Vander Esch said Darwin locked her out. When she broke in, he allegedly choked her for about 10-15 seconds.
The mother of the former football player also claimed that Darwin pushed her to the ground and took her phone when she tried to call for help.
Dispatch reportedly received a call at 12:16 a.m. on Sunday about a domestic battery at their home. Deputies responded to the scene and investigated.
Police reportedly saw visible red marks on Sandy’s throat, which led to Darwin’s arrest. He denied the physical assault but admitted to taking her phone.
Leighton Vander Esch, who retired from the NFL in March due to neck injuries, has not publicly commented on his father’s arrest.
Darwin and Sandy have been significant figures in Leighton’s football career. The proud parents have supported him throughout the 2018 NFL draft process.
Court records show Darwin pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges during an arraignment on Monday. A court official said his plea for the felony charge is still to be determined.
Moreover, the NY Post reported that online records show Darwin Vander Esch bonded out of custody.
Leighton Vander Esch’s Mother, Sandra Vander Esch, Filled For Divorce
The former athlete’s mother filed for divorce from his father just one day after the incident.
According to Industry Highlighter, court records confirm that Sandra filed for divorce on 2 December 2024.
Ex-NFL star Leighton Vander Esch's mother files for divorce from his father after arrest for strangling her https://t.co/zGgGa84sZz pic.twitter.com/knzsjBmvfT
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) December 17, 2024
Leighton Vander Esch’s parents, Darwin and Sandy, have been incredibly supportive throughout his football career.
Darwin and Sandy Vander Esch traveled to many of Leighton’s games. They often drove their family buggy decorated with Boise State and Cowboys colors.
When they couldn’t attend games in person, they watched them at the local Salmon River Inn, where the entire town of Riggins gathered to support Leighton.
Leighton’s parents and three sisters were always present at his games, cheering him on from the sidelines.
Their home in Riggins is filled with football memorabilia, including jerseys from draft night and the Pro Bowl.
They supported his decision to enter the 2018 NFL Draft and have been there for him throughout his career.
Additional Information
- Leighton Vander Esch’s net worth is around $8 million. He earned this fortune as a professional NFL linebacker, playing for the Dallas Cowboys his entire career.
- According to Spotrac, his total career earnings are $18,078,718.
- Vander Esch is married to Madalynn Vander Esch. The couple got married on 16 July 2019.
- Madalynn is a professional rodeo horse rider. The couple met in high school and have been together ever since.
- They welcomed their first child, a daughter named Navy Grace, on 8 January 2024.
