Ex-Buc Deven Thompkins sues estranged wife following abuse accusations
TAMPA — Former Bucs receiver Deven Thompkins has filed a complaint against his estranged wife in Lee County for malicious and defamatory statements she made in two posts on TikTok alleging domestic abuse.
Thompkins, released shortly before the accusations came to light, is seeking damages in excess of $50,000. The complaint indicates he had signed a one-year, $985,000 contract with the Bucs in February.
Maria Castilhos, Thompkins’ wife and the mother of his two children, posted a video earlier this month alleging that Thompkins had physically abused her, causing injuries to her face and arm. She also included photographs of injuries that she claimed she received when Thompkins attacked her in the backseat of a car during a date on Feb. 14, 2023.
The complaint alleges that Castilhos “blackmailed” Thompkins by threatening to “fraudulently portray him as a perpetrator of domestic violence unless (Thompkins) conceded to (Castilhos’) monetary demands.” The complaint also calls her accusations “fictitious statements, which have now been viewed more than three million times by members of the public.”
As of this filing, the TikTok posts have received approximately 2 million views in total.
Thompkins, who is seeking a jury trial, denied the accusations through his attorney, Brett R. Gallaway. The couple, who have two children including a son with Down syndrome, are engaged in a divorce and custody litigation.
“We believe the detailed and concerning allegations in this complaint speak for themselves and speak volumes,” Gallaway said in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times.
“While we respect and support all survivors of domestic violence to speak out, the facts in this matter represent a disturbing blackmail scheme wherein Ms. Castilhos threatened Deven with fabricated allegations of domestic violence unless he met her financial demands for additional alimony in a pending and contentious divorce proceeding.
“We look forward to litigating this case and bringing to light the truly fictitious nature of these claims so Deven can return to the football field.”
Thompkins, who served as the Bucs kick returner and as a receiver the past two seasons, was waived injured six days before his wife came forward with her allegations.
In the complaint, Thompkins says Castilhos was the aggressor and initiated the physical altercation Feb. 14, and that the injuries to her face and arm posted on social media were “inauthentic and had been altered using photo editing software.”
Additionally, the complaint states that three days after the altercation, Thompkins’ obliged Castilhos’ request to drive her to and from an elective plastic-surgery procedure, and that the medical staff at the surgery facility noticed no injuries to Castilhos’ face or elbow. It also states that video evidence exists — taken from inside Thompkins’ car as he was driving Castilhos home from the procedure — showing no visible injuries, lacerations or bruises to her face.
The complaint also alleges that in a September 2023 text exchange between the parties, Castilhos stated, “I’m done blackmailing you. You have my word.”
Castilhos said in the 8½-minute video that she regularly caught Thompkins cheating on her during the two years they lived together at Utah State. She said she tried to leave, but he wouldn’t let her. She also referenced “many abusive episodes.”
Thompkins’ complaint alleges that during a reconciliation attempt in or around 2023, Castilhos “made no true effort” to maintain her relationship with Thompkins, and instead took up employment at a strip club and began dating other men.
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