Marshawn Kneeland's Girlfriend Was Handcuffed Amid Search for Cowboys Star

Catalina Mancera, the pregnant girlfriend of Marshawn Kneeland, was briefly handcuffed and placed in a squad car after arriving at the scene of the late Dallas Cowboys star’s death, the Dallas Morning News reported on Tuesday, November 25.

At around 11:40 p.m. on November 5, believed to be shortly before Kneeland died by suicide at age 24, police stopped a white Buick SUV registered to the defensive end. Mancera, 22, was the driver. She had raced to the scene after Kneeland had told her he intended to “end it all.”

After police searched the vehicle, they released Mancera, but continued to monitor her, with the Dallas Morning News reporting that they later questioned her again. Footage revealed that, as previously reported, she told police that Kneeland was armed and had a history of mental illness.

Frisco Police declined to comment to the outlet on how many times she was stopped or questioned.

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Police first began looking for Kneeland after the Cowboys player refused to stop for state troopers. Following a brief police chase, he crashed his car and fled on foot, prompting an hours-long search. Authorities enlisted the help of police dogs and drones to survey the area before finding Kneeland’s body early the next morning.

Mancera, who was at the Cowboys’ first home game since Kneeland’s death on Sunday, November 23, has made several public remarks about her boyfriend. The two had been together since they were students at Western Michigan University.

“I’m grieving hard right now,” she told the Daily Mail on November 10. “It will be a long time before I’ll feel ready to talk at any length.”

It wasn’t until Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer addressed the media on November 12 that it was revealed that Mancera is pregnant with the couple’s first baby.

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“I’d like to take a few moments and offer my condolences to Marshawn’s family, Catalina, his girlfriend,” Schottenheimer, 52, said at the time. “We had an opportunity last night to celebrate Marshawn’s life, tell some stories. Share, laugh, cry. Marshawn loved the words ‘one love.’ So we talked a lot about love, as we grieve. I got a chance to share a couple of the things that I’ll miss the most about Marshawn.”

He also announced the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund, which will raise funds for Mancera and the baby.

“We want to make sure she’s taken care of and the baby is taken care of for the rest of their lives,” the coach said.

Mancera later took to Facebook to thank friends and fans for their support. She also asked for help gathering photos of Kneeland to remember him by.

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“As I continue honoring Marshawn’s memory, I’m trying to gather as many photos and memories of him as possible,” she posted on November 15. “If you have any pictures of Marshawn whether they’re recent, old, funny or meaningful. I would truly appreciate it if you could share them with me.”

She added that “every photo helps me hold onto a piece of him and the beautiful impact he had on all of us.”

“Thank you again for your kindness, your prayers and for keeping my sweet baby in your hearts,” Mancera concluded. “It brings me comfort knowing how deeply he was loved.”

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