Louisville 'SuperChef' Darnell Ferguson indicted on strangulation, burglary charges

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Celebrity "SuperChef" and former Louisville restaurant owner Darnell Ferguson was indicted Tuesday by a Jefferson County Grand Jury on several charges more than a month after police say he broke into a home and strangled the mother of three of his children.

In a hearing to determine if there was enough evidence for a criminal case against Ferguson to continue, St. Matthews Detective Mark Richardson testified police have pictures of the woman's injuries, blood on her clothing, her statements, a hole punched in the wall and statements from the man initially in the home. Richardson said Ferguson broke into the home of the mother of three of his children, got "upset" when he found a man in her bed and strangled her.

He was indicted Tuesday for first-degree burglary, first-degree strangulation, fourth-degree assault, third-degree terroristic threatening, menacing and criminal mischief.

An attorney for Ferguson, Krsna Tibbs, argued at Ferguson’s arraignment that the victim had recanted her allegation of strangulation and did not want to cooperate with investigators. But in his testimony before Jefferson District Court Judge Stephanie Burke, Richardson said the alleged victim has been cooperative and has already given a statement, saying that not only did Ferguson strangle her to unconsciousness, but later called and said if she told anyone what happened, he would kill himself.

Richardson said Ferguson tried to call the woman a few times that night because he needed to drop the kids off because of a family emergency. When she didn’t answer, Ferguson went to her home Jan. 2. Richardson said there was no sign of forced entry, but a window was open.

"I don't know if he was going (to the home) to commit crimes, however he did commit crimes," Richardson testified.

The woman, who is not being named by WDRB News because she is an alleged victim of sexual assault, woke up with Ferguson in her room. Another man in the room got up and left, without any altercation, Richardson testified.

"He didn’t have any argument or issue with him," Richardson said, arguing, however, he believed Ferguson got upset when he found the man in the home.

When the woman couldn't find a key Ferguson needed for another vehicle, he punched a hole in a closet wall, the officer testified.

The two argued and Ferguson "put both of his hands around her throat and started to strangle her," saying he said "I'm going to kill you," Richardson said. Ferguson also ripped her shorts off and said she was his and "no one else's."

Ferguson has pleaded not guilty Jan. 18 and was released on a $10,000 bond. He was present by Zoom for the hearing but did not speak. He's expected back in court at 3 p.m. Feb. 26.

He is known nationally from various TV shows, including as a host on Food Network's "SuperChef Grudge Match." He also competed on several of the network's other shows, including "Tournament of Champions."

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