Key Takeaways
- Rick Van Vactor of 90 Day Fiancé faces domestic violence allegations involving his girlfriend, with circulating footage appearing to show him choking and striking a woman near young children.
- A California custody record confirms that Douglas Van Vactor, Rick’s legal name, was released on bond on Oct. 27, but it does not disclose his charges or the circumstances of his detention.
- Van Vactor has not publicly addressed the allegations, which follow his televised breakup with Trisha Stiley on Before the 90 Days.
90 Day Fiancé star Rick Van Vactor has been arrested following an alleged domestic violence incident involving his current girlfriend, and the accusations are considerably more serious than another reality television relationship dispute. Disturbing footage circulating online appears to show the Before the 90 Days alum choking and slapping a woman while young children watch from inside the home.
The allegations surfaced alongside reports that an argument between Van Vactor and his girlfriend began over his alleged activity on fellow 90 Day Fiancé personality Emma Perry's Instagram account, which eventually turned physical. Perry, who previously appeared in the franchise, is currently featured on 90 Day: Hunt for Love.
The longtime franchise-focused Instagram account Kiki & Kibbitz reported that Van Vactor was arrested following the alleged confrontation, claiming that his girlfriend became upset after he apparently liked photographs posted by Perry.
The account also released previously withheld material, including screenshots of purported private messages and footage allegedly documenting an earlier incident involving Van Vactor and his girlfriend.
The video appears to show a man identified as Van Vactor placing his hands around the woman's neck and striking her. Young children are visible nearby during the apparent confrontation.
A California VINE custody record lists 53-year-old Douglas Van Vactor as out of custody after bonding out, with a status update dated Oct. 27 at 3:47 p.m. Pacific time.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is listed as the reporting agency, but the publicly available record does not identify the charges or circumstances surrounding his detention.
Van Vactor, whose legal name is Douglas Van Vactor, appeared on the hit TLC show as “Rick.”
For viewers familiar with Van Vactor's 90 Day Fiancé storyline, the allegations represent a troubling development following an already contentious romantic history.
Rick appeared on 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days alongside Trisha Stiley, a midwife from Madagascar who was nearly three decades younger than him.
Their relationship drew attention because of the age difference and their conflicting expectations about starting a family.
Rick, a divorced father of five who claimed to operate a hair and wig business in Los Angeles, had expressed reluctance about having additional children. Trisha, meanwhile, wanted to become a mother.
But their most significant problems involved another woman.
During a period when Trisha stopped communicating with him, Rick traveled to Colombia to visit a former girlfriend. He subsequently acknowledged having sex with her, despite his ongoing relationship with Trisha.
The revelation became a major source of conflict, and Trisha eventually ended the relationship and blocked him.
Their breakup continued to generate discussion during the season's Tell-All, after which Rick was linked romantically to Mari Spradlin.
Van Vactor also experienced a devastating family tragedy long before appearing on reality television.
In November 2013, Bakersfield station KBAK/KBFX interviewed Douglas "Rick" Van Vactor following the death of his two-year-old son, Pharaoh.
According to investigators, Pharaoh died from blunt-force trauma while in the care of Mathew Berry, the live-in boyfriend of Van Vactor's former wife, Adriana Brown.
Berry was arrested in connection with the child's death.
"The coroner called me today and told me my son was beaten, beaten to death," Van Vactor told the station.
Van Vactor has not publicly addressed the latest domestic violence allegations.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, confidential assistance is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233). You can also text START to 88788 or visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
