SISTER WIVES star Nathanael Richard has split from his two wives, Rebecca Richard and Christina Buning, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.
The Richards, a Christian polygamist family, shared their strict disciplines with the Browns and different ways of living on the hit TLC show in season 7.
Confirmation of their split comes after friend Kody revealed he separated from Meri and Janelle. (His breakup from Christine was announced a year ago, and he now only remains married to wife Robyn.)
Nathanael and first wife Rebecca of Springfield, Missouri, had been married for over 20 years before pulling the plug on their marriage.
According to court records exclusively obtained by The U.S. Sun, Rebecca, 39, initially filed for divorce in May 2022. She noted that they separated "from the marital bed" in August 2021.
The docs stated the reason for divorce: "There is no reasonable likelihood that the marriage between Petitioner and Respondent can be preserved, and therefore, the marriage is irretrievably broken."
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The case was transferred to another county in July. The former couple are still embroiled in their ongoing divorce case- they recently participated in mediation and have scheduled hearings for January 2023.
Nathanael's second wife Christina also left him, a source confirmed.
She moved and is now living in Florida.
A source told The U.S. Sun that Christina, 40, and Nathanael, 41, split "recently" and that "she didn't even publicly announce it to her friends yet."
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THE IDEA OF POLYGAMY
Sister Wives fans might remember the Richard family back when they were featured in a July 2014 episode.
It caused some backlash in the community when a spokesperson for Christian church James River Church criticized the show.
The Browns, who follow Mormon faith, take a road trip traveling over 1,500 miles to meet the Richards in Missouri, only to be left with more questions about their polygamous lifestyle.
The Richards had some "weird" traditions that made it "awkward" to watch, according to viewers- one being they all took the first bite of their meals at the same time.
They also shockingly revealed that both wives sleep in the same bed with Nathanael, something that the Brown's family patriarch disagreed about.
Another interesting fact about the Richards that the Browns questioned is how they could squeeze a family of 12 into a tiny-looking ranch style home. They now have 10 children total, with the youngest being 5 years old.
Nathanael also talked about why he had wanted a second wife, saying that he wanted "another Rebecca" that he could "snuggle" with on the couch while she was cooking in the kitchen.
He told the Browns: "I was at a point of crisis. I asked the Lord, ‘If there is anybody who is supposed to be my [second] wife, then show me in a dream.’ I went to sleep and shot up.
"I was like ‘Woah!' I just had a vision from God and it showed me Christina as my wife and I knew her.”
SIGNS OF TROUBLE
Rebecca, at the time, says she "felt completely betrayed." She said in the episode: “I felt like [Nathanael] wanted to cheat on me… I wondered, ‘what is it that I’m not doing that’s making you feel like you need this other person in your life?'”
In the same episode, Meri Brown expressed similar feelings about being the "first wife."
She divulged: "I’m happy on the good days and when Kody shows love and affection, but on a bad day, I question my importance to the family and if Kody still cares about me."
Meri revealed in Sister Wives One on One: Part 1 special, which aired on December 18, that Kody "made the decision" to leave her.
FAMILIES DIVIDED
The U.S. Sun previously reported that another polygamous family featured on the show, Nathan Collier and Christine Collier, have split. Nathan remains married to Vicki Collier and they reside together in Montana.
A source told The U.S. Sun: "All these polygamous families are falling apart, and the men are starting to see a pattern.
"To have these women mock and do what they did publicly to Kody, gave these other women the power and the courage to walk away as well. It's a big deal in the polygamy world right now.
"The truth of the matter is, there's a whole betrayal going on. Families are divided and broken up."
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The source added: "Sister Wives started as bringing positive awareness to polygamy, not ruin this generation."
The season 17 three-part tell all continues on January 1 when Sister Wives One on One: Part 2 airs on TLC at 10pm ET.
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