Christina Ricci Says She Endured Physical Abuse at Hands of Estranged Husband in Request for Restraining Order
Photos showing Christina Ricci's bruised wrist, hand and arms were filed in court, injuries which the actress said are the result of domestic abuse she suffered at the hands of her estranged husband.
Christina Ricci has cited domestic violence as the reason she is seeking a temporary restraining order against her estranged husband, James Heerdegen.
Photos showing Ricci's bruised wrist, hand and arms were filed in court, injuries which the actress said are the result of domestic abuse she suffered at the hands of her estranged husband. She said her home situation grew worse due to the COVID-19 lockdown, when she "found herself trapped in a house with a violent abuser," according to court papers.
In her filing for a restraining order, Ricci said she was subjected to "severe physical and emotional abuse."
The "Addams Family" actress isn't alone. During the pandemic, claims of domestic violence cases have risen dramatically. Nearly one in four women say they are suffering from abuse.
"With people in the house under terrible stress, stress about their health, stress about the economy, we know that is a recipe for more volatility and more difficult situations at home," Ariel Zwang, the former CEO of Safe Horizon, the largest domestic violence services organization in the nation, told Inside Edition.
In a statement to Inside Edition, Heerdegen's attorney Larry Bakman said, in part, his client "unequivocally denies Ms. Ricci's allegations of abuse either in 2020 and/or since the inception of the couple's marriage." The lawyer also said his client will be filing to obtain a restraining order against Ricci, claiming she abused him. The actress's lawyer did not respond Inside Edition's request for comment.
RELATED STORIES
Trending on Inside Edition

'Borg Challenge' Craze Leads to 46 UMass Amherst Students Hospitalized, 28 Ambulances Called to Campus
Health
Double Amputee Speaks Out After Sports Star's Son Destroys Wheelchair
Sports
Letecia Stauch Murder Trial: She Says a Rapist Abducted Stepson; Cops Say She Killed the Boy and Hid His Body
Crime
4 Suspects Charged for the Murder of an 18-Year-Old Found Dead in a Mississippi National Forest
Crime
Where Is Arianna Fitts? Authorities Seek Public’s Help in Locating a Missing Girl 7 Years After She Vanished
Crime
Husband of Murdered Microsoft Exec's Ex-Wife Arrested After Allegedly Hiring Hitman to Carry Out Execution
Crime