Aaron Phypers is facing serious accusations after allegedly threatening his cousin, Kathleen McAllister, to keep her from speaking out about his alleged abuse of Denise Richards.
According to Us Weekly, prosecutors claim that Phypers “knowingly and maliciously” warned McAllister not to expose him through “implied threat of force and violence” in January 2022.
The businessman, 53, was arrested on Friday on two counts of injuring a spouse and two counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat. He was later released after posting a $200,000 bond.
In Richards’ restraining order request filed in July, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum described an incident from January 2022 at Phypers’ former holistic wellness center in Malibu, California.
The actress, 54, claimed her then-husband became paranoid that potted plants inside the space contained listening devices. The argument reportedly escalated until Phypers allegedly struck her.
Richards said Phypers “became enraged and slammed his palm into [her] eye,” leaving her with visible bruising.
She also claimed he instructed her to say she had accidentally hit her face on stored equipment.
During a court hearing on October 6 to make the restraining order permanent, McAllister testified that she witnessed the incident.
“I saw Aaron hit Denise and immediately she had a really bad black eye,” she told the court. “I’m literally in shock now to this day about it.”
McAllister, who worked at Phypers’ healing center from 2017 to 2022, backed Richards’ account, saying the night turned chaotic with “arguing that kept escalating” and “alcohol mixed in.”
She alleged that Phypers’ behaviour grew worse between January and May 2022, claiming he “threatened to kill” both her and Richards if they revealed the abuse.
Phypers, however, has denied all allegations. In response to the restraining order request in September, he stated, “I have not abused her and will not abuse her,” calling the accusations “harmful” and “baseless.”
He also alleged that Richards had been the aggressor in their relationship.
At the October 8 hearing, Phypers reiterated his denial, telling the court that his estranged wife “bruises easily” and that he didn’t remember her ever having a black eye.
Richards and Phypers married in 2018 but separated in July, citing “irreconcilable differences” in their divorce filing.
