Food influencer Michael Duarte’s wife Jessica admitted she has been ‘struggling’ over her husband’s death in an emotional post shared to Instagram on Thursday.
The social media star – who was known under the handle Food With Bear Hands -passed away at the age of 36 on November 8 in what was described as a ‘horrible incident.’
Law enforcement told TMZ on Wednesday that Michael had been fatally shot by police who responded to a 911 call about a ‘male subject with a knife acting erratically’ in Texas.
Before his passing, Jessica celebrated her ninth wedding anniversary with the influencer and the pair also welcomed daughter Oakley, six, together.
Alongside photos of Michael, she penned to his Instagram account: ‘l’ve struggled with what to do since his passing so I’m doing what feels right and that’s sharing his stories.
‘Whether they be about his content or Mike as my husband, daddy and friend to all.’
Food influencer Michael Duarte’s wife Jessica admitted she has been ‘struggling’ over her husband’s death in an emotional post shared to Instagram on Thursday
The social media star – who was known under the handle Food With Bear Hands -passed away at the age of 36 on November 8 in what had been described as a ‘horrible incident’
Jessica added she is ‘touched’ by the love from fans and ‘plans to keep his legacy going not only for him but his family.
‘He gave everyone every bit of him so it’s my turn to give it back. I’m not quite sure what that looks like yet but hopefully he will lead me on that path.’
She further expressed gratitude to those who have ‘reached out’ and wrote, ‘I can feel him moving mountains❤️ a big thank you to my tribe & Mike’s BBQ community for making me feel like I have an army behind me.’
Jessica heartbreakingly admitted that she is ‘still struggling with the fact that he is no longer with us but l’m starting to see his purpose was SO much bigger.
‘I’m starting to see God work in mysterious ways that l’ve never experienced before and hoping that will bring our family some peace.’
She then offered a special message to Michael and added, ‘I’m proud to be your wife and I will carry that title with honor for the rest of my life. See you on the other side, Daddy ❤️.’
Jessica also shared that arrangements are being made for a funeral service and an active investigation is still taking place.
She previously shared a tribute to her late husband following the news of his death over the past weekend.
Jessica heartbreakingly admitted that she is ‘still struggling with the fact that he is no longer with us but l’m starting to see his purpose was SO much bigger’
She then offered a special message to Michael and added, ‘I’m proud to be your wife and I will carry that title with honor for the rest of my life. See you on the other side, Daddy ❤️’
At the time, Jessica shared: ‘It’s been 24 hours since my world came crashing down. I’m numb, angry, depressed. Words can’t describe this kind of pain. I never thought I would be writing this.
‘To the world you were foodwithbearhands but to us you were a loving husband and father. You didn’t deserve this.’
She added, ‘I will love you forever and I will be strong for our daughter and I know how much you loved us. If everyone can stop and please pray for our family. To my husband I will miss you…until we meet again.’
Michael was reportedly fatally shot by police responding to a 911 call about a ‘male subject with a knife acting erratically’ on November 8 in Castroville, Texas.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ that Michael ‘approached officers threateningly,’ and despite being repeatedly ordered ‘to get on the ground by the deputy,’ he refused to comply.
According to the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, Michael’s final moments escalated when he allegedly ‘charged toward the deputy while yelling, “I’m going to kill you.”‘
The deputy then fired two shots, striking Michael.
He received immediate medical attention at the scene and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, authorities confirmed.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Medina County Sheriff’s Office for comment but has not yet received a response.
She previously shared a tribute to her late husband following the news of his death over the past weekend
The California-based social media star, who posted under the username @foodwithbearhands, passed away just days after celebrating his wedding anniversary.
News of Michael’s passing was announced in a tribute from his talent agency, Alooma Media Group.
In a statement, they said: ‘It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our valued client and dear friend, Michael Duarte.
‘He was a true and loyal partner, a trusted collaborator, and above all, a remarkable person. His passion, professionalism, and creativity left a lasting mark not only on our team but on everyone who had the privilege of working with him.’
A GoFundMe page has also been launched to cover funeral expenses, as well as bring Michael back to California.
According to the page, the money raised will also go towards making sure the internet personality’s wife Jessica and their daughter, Oakley, are both taken care of.
‘We ask that you lift Michael’s family up in prayer during this extremely difficult time, especially for his six-year-old daughter Oakley, and his wife Jessica,’ the website reads.
‘If you are able to financially assist, please consider donating.’
At the time of writing, the GoFundMe has raised $81,472.
Michael amassed a following of over 850,000 fans on Instagram with his cooking videos
Michael amassed a following of over 850,000 fans on Instagram with his cooking videos.
He started posting cooking clips on social media during the pandemic as a hobby and continued to do so while helping to rebuild a restaurant.
‘On my days off, I started posting food videos again – my first one was with my daughter,’ he said in a biography shared on Instagram. ‘That’s when I realized how happy creating content made me.
‘Over time, I began to see it wasn’t just a hobby – it could be a business, something bigger than myself.’
