Karen Derrico is a mother of 14 and counting. She and her now ex-husband Deon Derrico co-parent their children Darian and Derrick; twins Dallas and Denver; quintuplets Deonee, Daician, Daiten, Deniko, and Dariz; twins Diez and Dior; and triplets Dawsyn, De’Aren, and Dyver, aged 18 to 4.
Before the breakup, the pair was able to establish a five-season TLC TV series based on their relationship.
The Derricos, as they have come to be known, met in a nightclub in Detroit, Deon’s hometown. According to the US Weekly, Karen, who is originally from South Carolina and relocated to Detroit to work as a flight attendant, said that a friend persuaded her to go dancing instead of attending regular bible study.
Following their initial connection, the couple began conversing and both realized that they desired a large family. They eventually married in California.
They later told Today that they weren’t overly surprised to have several children because they both have a family history of multiples (twins, triplets, etc.).
Nonetheless, the couple made headlines only two years after their twins, when they had quintuplets, followed by twins, and finally triplets.
However, Deon was charged with 13 felony counts in 2013 related to his real estate transactions in the Las Vegas metro region, including theft, fraud, and false representation regarding a title. He was acquitted of almost all of these charges in April 2018, and the remaining charges were withdrawn in August of the same year.
The family decided to let the public into their house with their reality show, “Doubling Down with the Derricos,” which debuted on TLC in 2020. The series centers on the Derricos and their 14 kids at their North Las Vegas home.
During a recent highlight from the show’s fourth season, Karen admitted that having 14 children causes the family’s home to become “a zoo” as the children tussle and struggle for bathroom time. Karen also disclosed that one issue may be the house’s size.
She stated, “This small house has caused a lot of stress. I try not to get emotional but I want a bigger house.”
Deon agreed to pay approximately $1100 per month in child support, and Karen agreed to cover the children’s medical insurance premiums, resulting in a smooth and swift separation earlier this year. Following their divorce, the couple revealed that they intended to divide custody and co-parent their kids, with Karen choosing to retain the last name Derrico.
The family has over the years remained united on happy occasions and sad ones, like when the couple lost one of their children at delivery and when Amani, a family member who was introduced in the fourth season, passed away.
They recently started the fifth season of their popular show and continue to be active on social media.
