Aaron Phypers is accused of threatening his cousin Kathleen McAllister to raise the alarm over allegations of abuse against Denise Richards.
Prosecutors allege that the businessman, who was arrested Friday on two counts of injuring a spouse and two counts of dissuading a witness by force or intimidation, “deliberately and maliciously” warned McAllister in January 2022 not to speak out through “implicit threats of force and violence,” Us Weekly reported Wednesday.
Representatives for Richards and Fipers, who were released from jail on $200,000 bail, did not immediately respond to Page Six for comment.
In Richards’ July application for a restraining order against Phypers, 53, she recalled that an unnamed family member was present during the alleged January 2022 incident at her estranged husband’s former holistic wellness center in Malibu, California.
The 54-year-old Bravolebrity claimed that Phypers brought potted plants to work and “became paranoid that they contained listening devices.”
Fipers became enraged and slammed the palm of his hand into Richards’ eye, causing a bruise, according to the filing.
The Denise Richards & Her Wild Things alum, who was granted a temporary restraining order, claimed Ms Phypers told her to slam her face into stored equipment.
On October 6, McAllister recalled an incident that occurred during a hearing to make Richards’ restraining order permanent.
“I saw Aaron hit Denise, and immediately her black eye got really bad,” she testified. “I’m still literally in shock about it.”
Mr. McAllister, who worked at the treatment center from 2017 to 2022, echoed Richards’ assertion that Mr. Phypers believed his estranged wife had placed a listening device in his office.
She also claimed it was a chaotic night and the argument continued to escalate, adding that “alcohol was mixed in.”
In his testimony, Mr McAllister claimed there was a “period of escalating abuse” between Mr Fayers and Mr Richards between January 2022 and May 2022.
She claimed that Phypers “threatened to kill” her and the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum if she told anyone about the abuse.
Phypers has previously denied Richards’ claims, saying in September when Richards sought a restraining order: “I have not abused her and I will never abuse her.”
At the time, Phypers also claimed that the TV personality was the aggressor in their relationship, slamming the allegations against him as “toxic” and “baseless.”
Fipers also dismissed the abuse claims at a restraining order hearing on October 8, saying Richards “bruises easily” and claiming he doesn’t remember her having a black eye.
The couple, who married in 2018, ended their marriage in July, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their breakup.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
