Report: Devon Still allegedly hasn't paid child support in months
An attorney who represents the mother of Devon Still's cancer-stricken daughter Leah wrote a letter to the NFL requesting an investigation into the possibility that Still has violated the league's personal conduct policy by not paying child support, according to a report from the New York Daily News.
Channing Smythe told the paper that she is in danger of becoming homeless because Still has not paid child support in four months. Smythe said that she knows Still "loves and cares for his daughter" but that she needs him to "help me financially."
Still issued a statement in which he called the claims in the Daily News article "untruthful."
Still and Leah have drawn national attention during her battle with stage-4 pediatric cancer. Still reportedly travels to Delaware each week to spend time with her.
The letter from the attorney, Gloria Allred, says Still has previously paid "some" child support but that Smythe's family law attorney demanded that he pay his oustanding support immediately, according to the report. Still, who is no longer with Smythe, is alleged to have called her and refused to pay any more, the report says.
From the report:
“I have an outstanding medical bill for Leah for an ambulance for her,” Smythe said in her declaration. “I have been unable to pay the ambulance bill, and it is not covered under insurance. If I were receiving child support for Leah I would be able to pay this bill, but since Leah’s father is refusing to provide child support I am unable to pay the bill for the ambulance.” [...]
“I am happy that Devon visits Leah in the hospital and cares about her,” Smythe said. “I have always encouraged Devon to be involved in her life. I know that he is a good parent to her and that he loves her, but she needs and deserves both love and child support.
“Every parent owes that to their child.”
The Cincinnati Bengals cut Still prior to the beginning of the regular season but signed him to their practice squad so he could pay for treatment for his daughter. He was signed to the active roster on Sept. 10.
Earlier this month, Still had the 11th highest-selling jersey in the NFL, with a reported $1.25 million in proceeds going to pediatric cancer research.
Still tweeted this picture with his daughter on Tuesday.