Teen Mom star Jenelle Evans files to SEPARATE from husband David Eason over 'substance abuse' and his 'refusal to work' while 'excessively' spending her money

The former Teen Mom 2 star Jenelle Evans is separating from her husband David Eason.

The controversial 32-year-old reality star filed in court for a legal separation from Eason, The Sun reported on Monday.

The move comes days after Jenelle was reported to have kicked Eason out of the family house.

In her documents, Evans attributed the separation to Eason's recent 'erratic behavior,' while also claiming he suffered from 'substance abuse.'

The filing was entered into court on January 23, and the former MTV fixture said the two had officially separated on February 16, and they intended that 'the separation be permanent.'

The former Teen Mom 2 star Jenelle Evans, 32, filed in court for a legal separation from husband David Eason, The Sun reported on Monday

In her documents, Evans attributed the separation to Eason's recent 'erratic behavior,' 'substance abuse' and 'refusal to work'

In the filing, Evans claimed Eason was refusing to work to help support their family while excessively spending her money.

She also says that he had 'criminal conversation' via text messages with his ex-wife. 

Evans' filing reportedly references Eason's alleged assault of her son Jace, 14.

Eason was charged with misdemeanor child abuse and felony strangulation after Jace told doctors that his stepfather had abused him after he attempted to run away.

The alleged assault reportedly happened at an acquaintance's home, and it was allegedly captured on video from a Ring doorbell camera. 

A CPS investigation into the couple was also launched in the wake of the alleged abuse, though Jenelle has said that it was closed. 

 Eason's killing of the couple's French Bulldog Nugget in 2019.

After Evans initially called the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office to report that her husband had shot and killed their dog, she subsequently claimed that she had not seen the shooting or seen any evidence that the dog was actually dead.

That got police to end the investigation into the killing, only for Eason to admit months later that he had shot and killed the tiny dog, which he claimed had bitten their daughter Ensley Jolie, who was two at the time. 

Evans also writes that Eason has been excessively spending her money, and she accused him of having 'criminal conversations' via text message with his ex-wife; seen in 2017 in Inglewood, Calif.

Evans claimed that her estranged husband had to move onto their boat due to a no-contact order with her son Jace, whom he allegedly assaulted. She claimed he had been spending his days drinking at a bar since then; seen in 2019 in NYC

'Throughout the duration of the marriage of the parties, the defendant has exhibited concerning and at times disturbing behavior towards the plaintiff,' Evans writes.

'In May of 2019, Defendant shot and killed the family's pet French Bulldog Nugget in front of the minor child,' she said, referring to Ensley, who is seven now.

She added that, as a result of the shooting, 'the Columbus County Department of Child Services, DSS instituted proceedings against the parties and took into custody the aforementioned minor children.'

She claimed that Eason's daughter Maryssa was also taken into custody by DSS after the shooting. 

Evans continued by referencing Eason's alleged assault of her son Jace. 

'On or about September 28 of 2023, a report was made to medical professionals by plaintiff's oldest minor child,' she wrote.

She added that her estranged husband was 'subsequently charged with misdemeanor child abuse and felony assault by strangulation' after police investigated. 

Despite the pending criminal charges, she said DSS had filed a 'notice of involuntary dismissal in Columbus County.'

Despite the end of that investigation, Eason is not allowed to be near her son Jace while his charges remain unresolved.

'Despite the voluntary dismissal of the underlying DSS proceedings, the defendant's criminal case is still pending and the defendant is subject to several no-contact provisions in the aforementioned criminal case,' she continued.

'Since the DSS case was voluntarily dismissed, and primary physical custody of [Jace] reverted back to plaintiff, defendant left the former marital residence at the behest of plaintiff so that [Jace] could return home with plaintiff and his siblings,' Evans said.

Prior to being reunited with his mother, Evans' son Jace had been staying with her mother Barbara. 

The reality star claimed that Eason had neither contacted her to see how she was doing nor checked in on his daughter Ensley while he moved onto her boat, which is docked at a nearby marina.

Despite his no-contact order, Eason allegedly visited their home on February 22. She claimed he took her vehicle without permission and 'told her to kill herself'

She further accused Eason of drinking and driving and wasting her money on alcohol, rather than on spending it on their children; seen in 2019 in NYC

'Plaintiff has been spending his days drinking liquor at a bar near the marina,' she alleged.

Evans also claimed that her estranged husband refused to give her the key to their home's mail box, while prevented her from picking up medication for Jace that was shipped to the home, 'leaving the minor child at risk for adverse health effects.' 

Despite earlier reports that she had also kicked out Eason's daughter Maryssa, 16, she blasted him for leaving his daughter with her.

She alleged that he 'developed no plan for ensuring both of his biological minor children were cared for and offered plaintiff zero support and assistance with any of the minor children during this time,' and she claimed that Maryssa needed to leave the household so that she could focus her care on her son Jace after he was allegedly assaulted by Eason.

Despite his no-contact order, Eason allegedly visited their home on February 22, the day before the filing was entered in court.

'For the purpose of harassing or annoying plaintiff, defendant took plaintiff's vehicle without her permission and told her to kill herself among other vile insults, which plaintiff filmed the interaction for her safety,' she claimed.

Her son Jace 'was home, but not present during defendant's show,' she added.

The Sun notes that couples must be separated for a year before they can file for a divorce.

She urged a judge overseeing the case to make the separation permanent because Eason's allegedly 'excessive use of alcohol was burdensome and rendered plaintiff's life intolerable.'

'Defendant would regularly drink and drive and spend excess money on alcohol - money which he does not earn and which could otherwise go toward the financial well-being of the minor children,' she claimed.

Evans described an allegedly verbally abusive environment in which her estranged husband insulted and degraded her in front of their children and others.

Several of the incidents the reality star referenced happened or began multiple years ago, but she alleged that Eason's actions had degraded her public reputation considerably.

'Plaintiff has been a faithful and dutiful spouse to the defendant and has stuck by the defendant's side through the criticism of millions of people across the world on social media, who voiced concern regarding the defendant's behaviors,' she wrote. 'Defendant's conduct has caused plaintiff employment compensation and degraded her public image.'

She is seeking primarily physical custody of their daughter Ensley, as well as child support payments from her unemployed estranged husband.

Evans requested an 'unequal distribution' of the property, seemingly referencing the fact that she is the sole employed member of the family.

That desired distribution would include her keeping the family home. 

Eason appeared to contest that request, as she claimed that 'Defendant has made several statements that plaintiff cannot keep him from "his" home.'

The Sun previously reported the day of Evans' filing that Eason plans to divorce Evans over her decision to kick him out of the house in favor of keeping her son Jace there.

A source claimed that she told Maryssa to leave as well. 

A source previously told The Sun that Eason planned to file for divorce. They added that Janelle told his daughter Maryssa, 16, that she had to leave the house immediately because her son Jace was now her 'priority'

'Jenelle started texting Maryssa that since her father was no longer at the house, she could no longer live there, either,' they said. 

The insider further claimed that Evans had sent a message to the 16-year-old which read: 'I've raised you since you were little, but I have custody of Jace now, and he is my priority.' 

'Tuesday night at 9 p.m., Jenelle knocked on Maryssa's bedroom door, and said to her in person, "I really need you to find somewhere else to go, you need to leave your room key and go in the morning,'" the source continued. 

The following day, after the MTV star had continued to text her about leaving, Maryssa packed up her belongings and is currently staying with a friend.