Exclusive: David Archuleta's Painful Family Secret
Behind American Idol favorite David Archuleta's ever-present smile is the dark memory of a family feud that nearly destroyed his parents' marriage — and forced his father to refute a horrifying, false charge of sexual child abuse. After getting married, David's father Jeff Archuleta and his mom Lupe settled in the Salt Lake City suburb of Sandy, where their family grew to five young children. But the household also included a number of Lupe's family members — and tensions between Jeff and his in-laws were rising. According to Sandy Police Department documents obtained by Star, on April 7, 2002 — exactly a year before David won $100,000 as a 12-year-old singer on the CBS series Star Search — the police went to the Archuleta home after someone inside had tried to place a 911 call but was cut off. When police arrived, they found a "frantic" woman — one of Jeff's in-laws — and a young girl "crying hysterically," says the police report, which also stated that Jeff and his live-in in-laws had been feuding. A Sandy police source tells Star the in-law "later claimed that Jeff had been sexually abusing two children over a three month period." But Jeff was not arrested, and the local district attorney declined to take the case — and for good reason. "One of the alleged victims denied any abuse had taken place and said the in-law was lying," says the police source, who adds that it came out the in-law who had made the child abuse allegations "had promised Barbie dolls to the two alleged victims if they backed up the false claim." During his son's Idol success, Jeff has gained a reputation for being pushy and overbearing — and was reportedly banned from rehearsals after telling David to change the lyrics of "Stand By Me," the song he performed on May 6. But David, 17, has always praised his parents. "They've always been there to give me support and advice," he says. "They help remind me of what matters in life." Now, following Jeff's ouster, will he still get that support? Pick up the new issue of Star — on sale now — to see the court documents. Do you think David will be the big Idol winner? Tell us what you think.
Photo by FOX
READERS COMMENTS:
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he has girlfriend?!!!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOO -- camille
David I love you I don't care if you have a girlfiend I'm the one who love's you!!!
-- Emmy
OMG I get to see david in concert this summer AWSOME
-- Chelsie
h3LL0w daviD arCHuleTA im cAme fr0m pu3rt0 prinCEsA i Am shI3m pls inVIt3 m3 thIS iS my 3mail aDD shiem_dem@yahoo.com tnX I wiSH t0 y0u m0r3 pow3r and hav3 sUcess car3er and heaLTY '-'
-- shI3M
sTOPM lIEING
HE IS SEXY OWWW I WANNA BITE HIM -- hENRY tORESS
go david archuleta rocks
-- izzi
Hi David im 16 going on 17 and i am from Toledo,Oh.i wanted to say im soo sorry you lost american idol i dont like simon we was mean.anyway u should have won no matter wat your a handsome kid your girlfriend is lucky to have you.I wish i could meet you and give you a hug.by the way nice picture Love you Tiffany p.s.God Bless you
-- Tiffany Smorowski
Omg
-- Mrs.archuleta
DAVID COOK IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THIS LOZER NO OFFENCE ARCHIE YOUR SEXY TOO
-- JORDAN COOK
that's totally none of our business.
-- random |
