Five facts about Beth Chapman, Dog the Bounty Hunter’s wife

2013 CMT Music Awards - Red Carpet
Getty Images | Rick Diamond

Correction: An earlier version of this article mistakenly stated that Beth Chapman’s children were adopted.  In fact, Bonnie Joanne and Garry Chapman are her biological children. We regret the error.

Reality TV fans suffered a blow this week after “Dog the Bounty Hunter” star Beth Chapman died, days after being put in a medically-induced coma. She was 51.

Chapman was diagnosed with stage 2 throat cancer in 2017. After treatments, the cancer went into remission for a time. Sadly, it returned in 2018, this time as stage 4 lung cancer.

Duane “Dog” Chapman, her husband, announced the news on Twitter on Wednesday, saying she’d “hiked the stairway to heaven” in the early morning hours:

Though she was well-known for years on TV, Beth Chapman lived a full life off-camera. Here are a few things you perhaps didn’t know about the tough-as-nails queen of the bail bonds business.

Beth Chapman photo
Getty Images | Jason Merritt

1. She Was A Native Of Denver

Many episodes of “Dog the Bounty Hunter” and “Dog and Beth on the Hunt” were shot in the couple’s stunningly gorgeous adopted home of Hawaii. Here’s an image of their neighborhood, from Chapman’s Instagram account.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpvisslBiAP/

However, they both got their start in Denver, Colorado. The couple maintained a home in Colorado throughout their years together. According to her official biography, Chapman was the youngest person ever in the state of Colorado to receive her bail agent license. That is, she was until her stepdaughter, “Baby” Lyssa, got her license years later.

Beth chapman photo
Getty Images | Jason Merritt/TERM

2. Between The Two Of Them, Beth And Dog Had 12 Children

Dog and Beth teamed up as parents to their kids from previous relationships. The couple had two biological children, Bonnie Joanne and Garry Chapman, as well.

dog the bounty hunter photo
Getty Images | Jason Merritt/TERM

3. She Was An Animal Lover

Don’t let all that black leather and weaponry fool you. As noted in her official bio, Chapman had a huge heart for animals. She wasn’t shy about posting pictures of herself with them on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjQMp6mn0mc/

A quick glance through her Instagram reveals photos of different kinds of animals.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkl44BcHaOp/

She even posted a picture of a deer on a wintry day:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqF8O3shTz7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Maybe it’s not too surprising that she married a guy called Dog! She sure loves posing with her favorite furry friends.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcHolvcnb6Q/

4. She Was Still Interacting With Fans Just Days Before She Died

Her last tweet, dated June 22, was a funny jab at her husband. Apparently, he kept mowing the lawn last week and Beth wondered what was going on:

5. She Kept Up Her Glitzy Look Until The End

Chapman rarely let herself be seen without her signature big, blonde hairdo, full makeup and heels — even while tracking down bail jumpers.

Beth Chapman photo
Getty Images | Frederick M. Brown

She was also a fan of elaborate nail art, often rocking tiny gems and bold colors, as in this Instagram post:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bys5eKMBRct/

Her daughter Bonnie Joanne posted a touching Instagram image in the hours after Chapman’s death, showing her holding Chapman’s bedazzled hand on a hospital bed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzKSc2ZBvIA/

Condolences to her friends and family on the passing of this larger-than-life star!

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly reported that Bonnie Joanne and Garry Chapman were adopted. We regret the error. 

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About the Author
Kathleen St. John
Kathleen St. John is a freelance journalist. She lives in Denver with her husband, two kids and a fiercely protective Chihuahua.

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