Leland Chapman, who was Beth's stepson, still can’t believe she’s gone. He misses her as much as any other family member.
It's been less than one month since bounty hunting star Beth Chapman passed away and her family has had to go back to their daily lives. However, they can't stop thinking about their firebrand matriarch. Recently, her stepson Leland paid a touching tribute to her in an Instagram post.
The 42-year-old was injured after tearing his Achilles tendon in half in the first manhunt since Beth's passing, according to the Blast. Despite being in pain and having to go through surgery, he had her in his mind. The woman was very important to him and his wife Jamie. He also spoke at an interview that included Bonnie and Gary, Beth's biological children. He said that Beth ran a tight ship and nothing would be the same without her.
In the Instagram post, he reiterated her importance in his life. He said, "I still can’t believe she’s gone. She would have been thrilled to see this. Family, friends, fans all coming together to honor her legacy. I want to say thank you to everyone for your well wishes and prayers for my family. I want to say thank you to everyone who helped put on and put together her beautiful memorial. I also want to thank my family for coming together and helping my dad and each other through this time. I know she’s proud, so thank you again from the bottom of my heart."
He shared it with a photo that included the Chapman family, friends, fans, and a Leland on crutches, who was prepping for surgery on his Achilles, according to Yahoo News. He got injured during a manhunt with his father Duane "Dog" Chapman. They were chasing a fugitive Edward Morales in Adams County, Colorado.
He said that he already notices a difference since she passed away, in his earlier interview with Entertainment Tonight. If she were still here, she would be yelling "let's go already", he said, adding that she would be yelling at Duane for talking too much. However, the elder sibling to Gary and Bonnie believes that his family is a strong one.
"We'll pull through, we are a strong family. Our bond is strong. I believe that Beth ran such a tight ship it becomes natural. That's instilled in all of us," he said. He added further that Beth laid a solid foundation for everyone and took care of their needs before passing. For instance, she made sure that Gary, the baby of the family, would have a car for work and others in the family were equally comfortable.
The youngest daughter, Bonnie, added, "She left us a good foundation."
Beth passed away on June 26 in Hawaii and the family has been mourning their loss. Duane, who lost his partner, has been inconsolable but his family has been helping him cope with the grief. Duane has expressed that he doesn't want to go on for long without her.
“I cannot believe that she’s gone,” he said at her funeral. “This is not possible, I want to wake up from a dream," he said as his voice cracked with grief. Dressed in pink to honor his partner, he said, "In the ’70s, I did 18 months in the Texas penitentiary and I told God yesterday I’d do five years, ten years day to day just to kiss her again. I never felt like this."
References:
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/leland-chapman-pays-tribute-beth-181040607.html
https://theblast.com/c/dog-bounty-hunter-beth-chapman-leland-arrest-hospital-memorial
