The Traitors star Carolyn Wiger has been embroiled in a nasty custody battle with her ex boyfriend, Michael Boche, amid her attempts to stay in the game and conceal her identity as a traitor on the Peacock competition show.
The 38-year-old former Survivor finalist has been open about her past relationship and leaving her ex, who she claims is ‘abusive,’ on social media.
In an Instagram post from July 2024, she wrote, ‘Exactly one year ago I left the hell that I lived in when I left my abusive relationship.
‘I’ve spent the last year feeling every emotion that comes with it so I could truly heal. I’ve realized life doesn’t need to stop because of the struggle and now here I am just livin.’
A few months later, she shared a photo of a new tattoo she had gotten around her neck, which represents ‘healing and new beginnings.’
‘Because when you’re in an abusive relationship it’s like a constant chokehold. I’ve been free for eight months. Wrapped around my neck are my favorite flowers representing healing and new beginnings,’ she said.
The Traitors star Carolyn Wiger has been embroiled in a nasty custody battle with her ex boyfriend, Michael Boche, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal
Carolyn ‘left’ her alleged abusive relationship in July 2023 (pictured is her ex Michael and their son Luca, 11)
Carolyn revealed a new tattoo she had gotten in March 2024: ‘Wrapped around my neck are my favorite flowers representing healing and new beginnings’
‘Welcome to the continuous growth and healing era. You’re not alone.’
DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal that despite being physically ‘free’ from her ex Michael, who she never married, she is still in a custody dispute with him in a Minnesota court that has been going on since September 2023.
Michael, 37, filed a petition for custody of their 11-year-old son, Luca, which he filed two months after Carolyn ‘left,’ seeking temporary joint legal and joint physical custody with an equal parenting time schedule.
He requested Carolyn ‘undergo a psychological evaluation and a hair follicle test.’
Meanwhile, an Order of Protection was issued in August 2023 against Michael to protect Carolyn – but not their son – and is in effect for two years, meaning the reality star is protected until August 2025.
Carolyn, for her part, sought temporary sole legal and sole physical custody, supervised parenting time for Michael (or unsupervised subject to certain conditions) and child support, which were detailed in her response filing from January 2024.
In an order filed in March, the court granted Carolyn temporary sole legal and sole physical custody after they found that she has been Luca’s ‘primary caregiver throughout his life,’ with Michael being ‘an involved parent.’
Also in the March 2024 filing, Michael received temporary, unsupervised parenting time for three hours on a weekday evening and one day on the weekend – although this order, per the judge, could be amended two months later if he submitted a negative hair follicle test.
The Survivor finalist was granted temporary sole legal and sole physical custody of her son Luca in March 2024, but she’s still fighting her ex in court over custody issues
Carolyn posted a video on her Instagram in December 2023 about the ‘darkest time of her life.’ She wrote, ‘I stayed longer than i want to admit, but I’m proud as hell of myself for leaving because I’m breaking the cycle’
The documents, exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com, state, ‘While Respondent agrees that Petitioner is capable of being a good parent, she has expressed concerns regarding his mental health and anger issues.’
Carolyn has submitted affidavits with the court – many of which are sealed – that show instances of Michael’s ‘abusive and threatening language towards her’ and evidence of him destroying her property, including ‘breaking furniture and punching holes in the wall of the parties’ home.’
The court believes he ‘is in a better place,’ but has concerns regarding his ‘anger management and potential for harmful conduct.’
Carolyn posted some footage on Instagram of her wall being broken, a plant spilled all over the floor and her belongings spread out on the floor.
She captioned the December 2023 video, ‘I used to think it couldn’t happen to me. But even through the darkest time of my life, I’ve found hope.
‘Abuse can happen to anybody. You’re not alone. It is what you do to overcome it that is important.’
The court found that Carolyn did not have to undergo a psychological evaluation nor have to submit a hair follicle test since she has been sober for ‘several years’ – she celebrated 15 years last May – and has been employed for many years as a Chemical Abuse Counselor.
The court, however, noted that Carolyn left her job as a drug counselor, which she’s had since 2012, when she left to be a contestant on Survivor.
Carolyn shared a candid video of herself breaking down in tears back in 2023 over her alleged ‘abusive relationship’ with her ex
She shared footage of a wall in her home allegedly being punched by her ex, which was also brought up in court documents
‘She now does cameo video work related to her Survivor appearance and started a business as a life coach,’ the court documents state, while adding that her monthly income is estimated to be less than $7,000 – which were her earnings from 2023.
The docs also include, ‘Respondent received a one-time prize of $85,000 from Survivor, as well as an additional award of $100,000 from the singer, Sia, all of which was taxable.’
Carolyn placed third on season 44 of Survivor, which premiered in March 2023. She walked away with $85,000 instead of the $1 million the winner, Yamil ‘Yam Yam’ Arocho, received.
In addition, Carolyn received $100,000 from the Australian singer Sia, which was something that became a tradition on the show from 2016 until 2024.
Carolyn was awarded temporary child support from Michael of $889 per month, but it was then reduced to $795 per month after the first two months the payment started (which would have been around June 2024).
The parties are now arguing in court about the involvement of an expert witness, as detailed in documents filed in November 2024.
Carolyn claimed that she should’ve been informed of an expert witness interview of Luca before the interview was scheduled and that it ‘should not have taken place without her prior consent.’
She is seeking a limitation on Michael’s ability to present expert testimony at the forthcoming trial as to the child’s preference regarding custody and parenting time.
Carolyn placed third in the 44th season of Survivor, walking away with $85,000
Carolyn and other Survivor finalists received additional money from the pop singer Sia
The court stated that Carolyn can’t ‘deny Petitioner the right to present evidence at trial on the child’s preference.’
Thus, the court is encouraging the exes to come to agreements on the admissibility of any expert testimony prior to trial.
The documents state, ‘It is unfortunate that Luca is being exposed to the litigation process as a result of the inability of the parties to come to a resolution of this matter.
‘However, [Michael] must be allowed to present his case. The court relies on the professionalism of [the expert witness] to prevent any undue exposure of Luca to the parties’ custody proceeding.’
The court is allowing a second interview ‘of reasonable length.’
The custody case is still ongoing with an upcoming motion hearing scheduled for later this month as well as a presumed three-day trial scheduled for May 2025.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Michael Boche and Carolyn Wiger’s attorneys for comment on this story.
Carolyn’s attorney told DailyMail.com in a statement, ‘Carolyn continues to prioritize what is truly in the best interests of her minor child. While Carolyn feels very strongly about advocating for women in similar situations, she must offer no comment at this time in the interest of the privacy of her minor child.
Carolyn has been chosen to be a traitor in season three of The Traitors, currently airing new episodes every Thursday on Peacock
Danielle Reyes, a well-known contestant from Big Brother, has also been named a traitor
‘Any allegations in this matter will be addressed through the appropriate legal channels. We are confident that the legal process will ultimately provide a fair and just outcome. Carolyn asks for privacy for her family as they work through this difficult time.’
Michael’s attorney told DailyMail.com in a statement, ‘Mr. Boche is in the process of litigating against Ms. Wiger’s false and defamatory allegations regarding domestic abuse.
‘Accordingly, Mr. Boche denies any allegations of abuse. We believe Ms. Wiger is using these allegations to bolster her own notoriety and fame.’
In a separate lawsuit, Michael filed a conciliation lawsuit in November 2023 to get the court to resolve his dispute with Carolyn over mortgage payments on their home, in addition to utility payments, HOA fees and personal properties.
Carolyn filed a counterclaim in February 2024 claiming that Michael had property of hers in the house that valued $2,475, including $800 kitchen table and chairs, a $300 entertainment center and a $100 orange couch.
She also claimed he failed to pay the mortgage of $2,316 and $439.79 for utility bills. She requested he either return the property or pay over $5,300 for the property’s value plus other costs.
Shortly after her counterclaim was filed, both Michael’s claims and Carolyn’s counterclaim were dismissed with prejudice.
The court found that there was no agreement between the parties regarding which party was responsible for making the mortgage payments, utility payments, and HOA dues when their relationship ended.
There are now 11 contestants remaining and competing for the prize of up to $250,000 after episode 7 aired on February 6
The court also found that there ‘was no meeting of the minds regarding the payment of these bills’ and that Michael ‘failed to meet his burden of proof.’
The court further stated that Carolyn entered the home ‘many times’ after she moved out and ‘she did not take the property’ she was requesting.
Amid this lawsuit, Carolyn took to Instagram to post a video of herself going furniture shopping with Kelly Clarkson’s song Stronger playing in the background.
She captioned the video, ‘When your abusive ex sells the rest of your furniture because you asked for it back, but they call the cops on you if you go on your own property to your house they claim you ‘abandoned’ but they refused to leave.’
After competing on Survivor, Carolyn joined the season 3 cast of The Traitors. The cast filmed in the summer of 2024 at Ardross Castle Scotland and the show premiered on January 9, 2025.
After episode 7, which aired on February 6, the contestants remaining include Traitors Carolyn and Danielle Reyes, and Faithfuls Sam Asghari, Dolores Catania, Dylan Efron, Britney Haynes, Ciara Miller, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Tom Sandoval, Chrishell Stause and Gabby Windey.
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