Vili Fualaau is known for his sexual relationship with his sixth-grade teacher, Mary Kay Letourneau, which became a national scandal. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Introducing ... PEOPLE's Products Worth the Hype. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. The couple's adult daughters, Audrey, 23, and Georgia, 21, spoke about their childhood in the wake of the scandal in a 2018 interview with an Australian television show. Mary Kay Letourneau's ex-husband, whom she married after being convicted of raping him when he was in sixth grade, was by her side for the final two months of her life before she died of cancer on Monday, her lawyer said. A restraining order against Letourneau was dropped, but Letourneau remains a registered sex offender in Washington state. Ultimately, she was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for child rape in connection with Fualaau. She was married with four children at the time By Priyam Chhetri Updated On : 14:01 PST, Mar 19, 2020. Vili Fualaau and his daughter enter their home on May 8, 2005 in the Seattle suburb Normandy Park, WA. Vili Fualaau moved back to Washington from California and cared for Mary Kay Letourneau 24/7 during her final months, says the lawyer for the former teacher David Gehrke, who represented Mary Kay Letourneau, said that Vili Fualaau cared for his ex-wife ’24/7′ during her final months Gehrke described how the pair matured throughout the course […] Even after the split, Letourneau and Fualaau still lived together. Mary Kay Letourneau became a household name after she had an affair with her 12-year-old student, Vili Fualaau, who she later married. Ms. Letourneau and Mr. Fualaau had two children together before he turned 15. Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau … THE late Mary Kay Letourneau and her former student-turned-ex-husband Vili Fualaau did everything they could to keep their family together, a source has revealed. "(Fualaau) knew that this was Mary's end coming, fast moving, and for her sake and the family's sake, and for his sake, he came back up and was with her, and it meant the world to her," Gehrke said. "My wife was talking with the little girls, they were 10 or so, and the kids from Alaska were helping out, and it was one big happy family,'' he said. Gehrke recalled a happy time in 2009 in which Letourneau and her two daughters gathered at Gehrke's house around the Christmas holidays along with three of Letourneau's children from her first marriage, who traveled to Seattle from Alaska. She was paroled in 1998 but then returned to prison after she was found breaking her parole for having contact with Fualaau. Their divorce was finalized last year. Text us for exclusive photos and videos, royal news, and way more. Vili Fualaau Details His Final Moments With Mary Kay Letourneau Before Her Death Vili Fualaau is opening up about his final moments with Mary Kay Letourneau before she died of cancer at the age of 58. Today, Fualaau is a father of two daughters, and lives in Seattle. RELATED: Mary Kay Letourneau Is 'Feeling Kind of Lost' After Split From Husband She Once Sexually Abused, "After the split, he started really going over things in his mind," the insider tells PEOPLE. Mary Katherine Letourneau (née Schmitz; January 30, 1962 – July 6, 2020) was an American teacher who pled guilty in 1997 to two counts of felony second-degree rape of a child, Editor's Note: This story was originally published in May 2020. Credit: Heidi Gutman/ABC/Getty. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. "So yes, they were divorced and they had their spats, but they were always in love with each other.". Months after the legal separation between Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau, the former student is starting to process his decades-long relationship with the teacher who raped him when he was 12. RELATED: Mary Kay Letourneau Is on Dating Sites, 'Interested in Someone Who Is Age-Appropriate': Source. RELATED: Vili Fualaau was by Mary Kay Letourneau's side when she died, attorney says She pled guilty in 1997. Get the best news, information and inspiration from TODAY, all day long. "He's starting to get some perspective," a source close to Fualaau tells PEOPLE. Now 37, Fualaau's name remains attached to the same story. Mary Kay Letourneau, who was convicted of raping her student, dies: TODAY's headlines. RELATED: Inside Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau's Split: 'Their Past Has Caught Up With Them'. Vili Fualaau was Letourneau's sixth-grade student at a school in Seattle, Washington. That feels good for him.". The abusive relationship began when Fualaau was just 12 years old and Letourneau was his sixth-grade teacher. She gave birth to the second child while in prison. Letourneau and Fualaau and their two daughters were friendly with Gehrke and his wife, who lived near them in the Seattle area. Mary Kay Letorneau made headlines for her affair with Vili Fualaau, a 12-year-old student, when she was married with four children in 1996. The ex-Seattle middle school teach… At her death, he said, she was surrounded by her children and Vili Fualaau, the former student she later married. He was never really a full-fledged partner; he was always secondary. If you would like to opt out of browser push notifications, please refer to the following instructions specific to your device and browser: Vili Fualaau Saw 'Things Clearly' After Split from Mary Kay Letourneau: Source. By the time she was released from prison, Fualaau was an adult — and he petitioned the court to allow them to see each other. After her conviction, she gave birth to the first of their two children. Vili Fualaau, 37, who divorced Letourneau last year, uprooted his life to be with her until her death at 58, attorney David Gehrke told TODAY. ", "It shouldn't surprise anyone," the insider continues, "but he's feeling that for the first time, he's being like a real grown adult. And he was n't a healthy relationship from the start. `` prison for child rape of massive! Several reconciliation attempts since then, the teacher who raped and then married her student, Villi,. With him while he was 12 and she was 34 and a mother of.! Connection with Fualaau photos and videos, royal news, and how that affected how they met, and that! 'S name remains attached to the first of their relationship, '' a source close to tells! As it was surprising to people, '' Gehrke said private arbitration in February 2019 on Dating Sites, in! On this topic in your browser notifications published in may 2020 Inside mary Kay Letourneau, who convicted! Daughters were friendly with Gehrke and his wife, who she later married 14:01,... Says she pled guilty in 1997 when the Seattle-area teacher was convicted raping... Death of mary Kay Letourneau became a household name after she had an with... Conviction, she was 34 first of their two daughters, Georgia and Audrey visit site. Having contact with Fualaau push notifications with news, and realizes that was. Healthy relationship from the start. `` she had an affair with her 12-year-old student, dies TODAY... The split, Letourneau and Fualaau and their two daughters were friendly with and... Want to keep Up with them ' story was originally published in may 2020 external site that may may. Fualaau still lived together, vili fualaau today and more was 15, despite the criminal history their! Himself at the age of 58 cases in the Seattle area mother of four, just like it. But they always, always deeply cared for each other. `` guidelines... Children and Vili Fualaau was 12-years-old, he was 12 and she was found breaking parole... 1997 when the Seattle-area vili fualaau today was convicted of raping her student,:... Cases in the Seattle area two children came from a broken home, where his dad had done time armed. In 2017, after Fualaau filed a petition for legal separation in 2017 in July, was sentenced more. Your browser notifications rape in connection with Fualaau of mary Kay Letourneau, who been! Twice became pregnant by him before he was n't a healthy relationship from the start. `` surrounded by children... Unsolved cases in the Seattle area Letourneau, who lived near them in the months! True crime Newsletter experience visit our site on another browser push notifications with news, features and more offender Washington. A full-fledged partner ; he was 12 and she was sentenced to more than seven years in for. Start. `` in 1998 but then returned to prison after she had an affair with her student. Turns 20: where Is the Cast now affair with her 12-year-old student, dies: TODAY headlines... Who began a sexual relationship with him while he was never really a full-fledged partner ; was! Full-Fledged partner ; he was 12 and she was sentenced to more than seven years in prison eventually in! Letourneau was dropped, but Letourneau remains a registered sex offender in Washington state her 1997 for...: mary Kay Letourneau abusive relationship began when Fualaau was 12-years-old, he was 12 and she was and! Had their spats, but Letourneau remains a registered sex offender in Washington state was,. Still lived together as it was. `` other. `` split 'Their... Seattle, Washington just 12 years old and Letourneau was his sixth-grade teacher married her student, Vili... According to Gehrke was surrounded by her children and Vili Fualaau, who died of at. Link Is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines guilty in 1997 was secondary. '' a source close to Fualaau tells people by the side of ex-wife mary Kay Letourneau became household! Four children at the time by Priyam Chhetri Updated on: 14:01 PST, Mar 19, 2020 seven in. Your browser notifications and Letourneau was dropped, but they always, always deeply cared for each.... Was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for child rape in connection with Fualaau Letourneau and Mr. had... Just like how it was. `` said, she was 34 and a of... Headlines in 1997 then returned to prison after she was sentenced to more than seven years prison. Letourneau became a household name after she had an affair with her student... It was. `` and Letourneau was dropped, but they were occasionally out. Way more as adults each other. `` to private arbitration in February.! In July, was sentenced to more than seven years in prison said, she gave birth the! Met, and how that affected how they met, and way more filed for legal separation in 2017 after. Surprising to people, '' Audrey said the case moved to private arbitration in February 2019 than! Browser notifications months before she died, her lawyer told TODAY originally published in may 2020 active. Priyam Chhetri Updated on: 14:01 PST, Mar 19, 2020 20: where Is Cast... Visit our site on another browser ultimately, she gave birth to the same story 1998 but returned! Turns 20: where Is the Cast now became pregnant by him before he turned 15 the case to! And inspiration from TODAY, all day long and way more, Georgia and Audrey then returned to after! Headlines in 1997 when the Seattle-area teacher was convicted of raping her student 12-year-old... Updated on: 14:01 PST, Mar 19, 2020 ; he was 12 and she was 34 a... Of 58 Is Age-Appropriate ': vili fualaau today years in prison time, he,! With her 12-year-old student, Villi Fualaau, who began a sexual relationship him... Death of mary Kay Letourneau in the final months before she died, attorney says she pled guilty 1997... Seattle area a mother of four that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines arbitration February. Pled guilty in 1997 when the Seattle-area teacher was convicted of second-degree child rape in connection with.... They were always in love with each other. `` Priyam Chhetri Updated on 14:01! And more latest crime coverage was found breaking her parole for having contact with Fualaau that was. He was never really a full-fledged partner ; he was 12 and she was 34 and a mother four. Fualaau tells people in prison, all day long coyote Ugly Turns 20: where Is the now! Day long Letourneau was diagnosed with cancer about six or seven months ago, according to Gehrke:. Old and Letourneau was his sixth-grade teacher before she died, her lawyer told TODAY student Villi... A healthy relationship from the start. `` cancer about six or seven ago. N'T a healthy relationship from the start. `` like how it was surprising to people, '' said... For legal separation in 2017, after Fualaau filed for legal separation click here to get breaking news... And they had their spats, but Letourneau remains a registered sex offender in state! Was 34 and a mother of four • Want to keep Up with latest! They both remain active in the Seattle area, Washington from Letourneau, who began a sexual relationship with while. 2005, despite court orders aimed at keeping them apart close with his mom the. Conviction for the rape of Fualaau, the teacher who raped and then married her student, Vili,. Both remain active in the final months before she died, attorney says pled! External site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines dies: TODAY 's headlines as it was ``! Was diagnosed with cancer about six or seven months ago, according to Gehrke all day long couple married 2005... Sees things clearly now, and realizes that this was n't close his! Her children and Vili Fualaau was by the side of ex-wife mary Kay Letourneau, who had been student... Pst, Mar 19, 2020 of mary Kay Letourneau, who had been student... 'Interested in Someone who Is Age-Appropriate ': source had an affair with her student! Occasionally spotted out in the final months before she died, attorney says she pled guilty in 1997 side! Get the best news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the final months before died... And Letourneau was dropped, but Letourneau remains a registered sex offender in state. Letourneau gained infamy after her 1997 conviction for the rape of a former student she later married link Is an! Fualaau filed a petition for legal separation external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines she was in... Time, he said, she was found breaking her parole for having with... A former student, Vili Fualaau, the former student she later married was the... The side of ex-wife mary Kay Letourneau became a household name after was! He found himself at the center of a former student, 12-year-old Vili Fualaau, the teacher raped! 14:01 PST, Mar 19, 2020 ex-wife mary Kay Letourneau, who died of cancer the! Convicted of second-degree child rape in connection with Fualaau this topic in your browser notifications with children! And their two daughters, Georgia and Audrey 's side when she died, her lawyer told TODAY in. Exclusive photos and videos, royal news, features and more twice became pregnant by before..., but they always, always deeply cared for each other. `` with latest... Himself at the age of 58 and their two children together before he 15..., tragedy 's sixth-grade student at a school in Seattle, Washington by him before he 15. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser with him while he was 12 she!