Influencer Michael Duarte’s widow speaks out after his police-shooting death

14 November 2025

Michael Duarte/Instagram

In the days following the tragic death of food influencer Michael Duarte known online under the name “FoodWithBearHands” his wife, Jessica Duarte, has publicly broken her silence to honour his memory and address the media after his fatal encounter with law enforcement in Texas.

Duarte, 39, was fatally shot by a deputy from the Medina County Sheriff’s Office in Castroville, Texas, on November 8, after responding officers said he was acting erratically with a knife and making threats, including allegedly saying “I’m going to kill you.” The shooting occurred following a 911 call reporting a disturbance involving a man with a knife. The deputy, after issuing multiple verbal commands to drop the knife, allegedly discharged her weapon twice, resulting in Duarte’s death at a nearby hospital.

In her tribute posted to his Instagram account, Jessica expressed her grief, pride and commitment to carrying forward her husband’s legacy for their daughter Oakley, age six. She wrote that the outpouring of love she has received from his followers and the BBQ and grilling community has given her strength in this very difficult time. “I feel so touched and proud to know so many people that he has inspired over his time here on earth,” she said. “I plan to keep his legacy going not only for him but his family.”

She acknowledged her current uncertainty about how to move forward without him yet voiced faith that his influence will guide the way. “He gave everyone every bit of him so it’s my turn to give it back,” she wrote. “I’m not quite sure what that looks like yet but hopefully he will lead me on that path.”

Along with personal grief, Jessica has urged the public and media to respect the fact that the incident is under active investigation by the Texas Rangers and that unverified information circulating online is “disheartening and disrespectful to the legacy of a wonderful man.” She specifically called attention to what she described as “false narratives” and asked for privacy as they make funeral arrangements and decisions about the future.

Michael Duarte’s career as a content creator was built around his passion for cooking and barbecue. He amassed a following of over 2 million across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook, and used his handle to celebrate food, community and resilience. He often reflected on his journey, including a period of mental-health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic, and described content creation as more than a hobby it became a mission.

For the online and BBQ-enthusiast community, his death has struck a chord not only because he was a vibrant presence, but because it raises questions about public figures, mental-health vulnerability, incident response and the way stories of creators conclude. The GoFundMe set up to support his family noted that the death came “without warning,” and that Jessica faced costs associated with returning his body to California and arranging funerals for a husband and father whose creative world touched so many.

In broader terms this episode underscores how influencer life, public visibility and personal crisis often collide. A creator with a large following found himself in a law-enforcement confrontation; the public, which views creation, inspiration and persona, must now reckon with raw loss, investigation and the aftermath. Jessica’s decision to speak out anchors the narrative in human terms: the husband, the father, the friend who built something meaningful and the family left to carry it.

As the investigation continues, the legacy of Michael Duarte remains alive through his work, his community and now through the words of his wife. Her promise to uphold his spirit and mission offers a sense of continuity even amid grief. And in the evolving landscape of social-media creators and their influence, this story remains a poignant reminder of the person behind the persona, and the fragility that lies beneath visibility.