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What Happened to Caleb From ‘1000-Lb. Sisters’? Details on Tammy Slaton’s Husband
Tammy Slaton fell in love and married Caleb Willingham during season 4 of 1000-Lb. Sisters. The couple — who wed in November 2022 — were separated less than two months later after Tammy was approved to go home from the rehab weight loss facility, where they had initially crossed paths. While Tammy was conflicted with the decision to leave her husband behind after hitting her health goals, fans are curious about what happened to her relationship with Caleb after her departure.
What Happened to Caleb From ‘1000-Lb. Sisters’?
Caleb died at 40 years old on June 30, 2023. His cause of death was “complications of super morbid obesity,” according to a report from the Sandusky County Coroner released on February 9, 2024, and obtained by In Touch. The coroner concluded that the TLC star died of natural causes.
Tammy was in her home state of Kentucky when she learned of Caleb’s passing.
“I was sitting in the fetal position,” Tammy recalled in a December 2023 interview with People. “I got a text message from his friend up there and the text said, ‘Caleb’s not doing good. They’re in there working on him.’ Twenty minutes later he texted me back and said he was gone.”
Although his autopsy has not been released publicly, “All indications showed to be a natural death caused by a medical issue,” according to a police report obtained by Radar Online. After no signs of criminal activity and foul play were found, the investigation was “concluded” by authorities.
Like Tammy, Caleb had struggled with obesity his entire life. Reports stated that first responders were present when Caleb lost consciousness and performed CPR at the scene, but were unable to save his life.
What Happened After Tammy Left the Rehab Facility?
After the YouTube star was discharged from the rehab center, rumors began swirling in February 2023 that there was trouble in their relationship after Tammy changed the name on her TikTok account back to her maiden name.
In a teaser for season 5, Caleb admitted life had been “rough” since Tammy moved back home. “My emotional eating is spiraling out of control,” he told producers in a private confessional.
Caleb and Tammy were reportedly estranged at the time of his death. Three days after the news of Caleb’s death spread on social media, the Kentucky native took to TikTok to reveal she and her husband “were having problems” ahead of his sudden passing.
“I’m having stages of grief. Yeah, we were having problems, but I loved that man. I still do,” she said in the video clip posted on July 2, 2024. “I miss him like crazy, but I wanted to thank everybody for your comments. I appreciate them, I really do. We’re not going to get into details of what happened. I think that, no offense, but that’s really personal.”
Tammy’s Memorial Service Was Filmed for 1000-Lb. Sisters
Caleb’s memorial service was filmed for 1000-Lb. Sisters, as seen in a clip posted by TLC ahead the February 6, 2024, episode.
As he drove her to the service, Tammy’s brother, Chris Combs, is shown asking Tammy how she was coping. “I’m having my ups and downs I guess. It hurt when Grandma died, but this is a different kind of hurt,” she replied.
“Tammy’s numb right know, she don’t know how to feel, she don’t know how to process grief like a normal human being,” her sister Amy Slaton told cameras in the clip. “We were told to push our feelings down, not to embrace them. So she’s just trying to manage the way she can.”
Billy, the family friend who officiated Tammy and Caleb’s marriage before Caleb’s death, reflected on his passing less than a year after the wedding.
“It’s really hard to put into words how to go from one extreme of officiating a wedding, and just watching Tammy in the most happiest moments in her life, just to turn around and in less than a year, have to witness her in the most tragic time in her life,” he told producers.
Tammy opened up about the details surrounding her husband’s death later in the episode, telling cameras that she wasn’t “sure exactly” what he passed away from but was initially told he was believed to have died from a heart attack.
“Because he wasn’t working out,” the Kentucky native continued. “But everything is up in the air until I get the autopsy back.”
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