SOUTHERN Charm alum Kathryn Dennis sees her children with ex Thomas Ravenel regularly despite losing custody and experiencing legal troubles as she has disappeared from the spotlight.
Kathryn, 33, lost custody of her children Kensie, 11, and Saint, 9, to her ex-boyfriend Thomas, 62, in February 2023 after multiple allegations against her, including drug use.
Kathryn was involved in a nasty custody battle with her ex-boyfriend Thomas Ravenel, who has full custody of the kids today[/caption]
Despite previously struggling to attend supervised visitations from 9 am to 4:30 pm every other Saturday and Sunday, a source exclusively told The U.S. Sun Kathryn has been improving when it comes to parenting.
“She sees them fairly regularly of late, although not as much as she’s allowed pursuant to the court order,” the insider claimed.
“Receiving more custody depends on her. She’s still oftentimes late, but if she gets it together Thomas would love nothing more.
“The kids are doing great.”
Kathryn would go months without seeing her children, The U.S. Sun reported in October 2023.
The insider alleged at the time, “She hasn’t paid for the supervisor. The last time she had a supervisor and picked them up was in April.”
Thomas allegedly paid for the supervisor in June 2023 to allow Kathryn to see the children before they went to a seven-week sleep-away camp.
The insider continued to claim, “When they returned from camp August, Thomas was in Charleston and let her see them for an hour. She hasn’t seen them since August.
“She FaceTimes twice a week for about 15 minutes. She wanted to do it every day, but the kids are busy with school, homework and extracurricular activities.”
Kathryn, who frequently shared photos and updates on social media, hasn’t posted on Instagram since June, as she captioned a selfie, “Inner Peace, Self Worth — it’s been my mantra since I was 21, still going strong. What’s yours?”
She also disabled her OnlyFans account, which was her source of income after she was fired from Southern Charm in 2023.
Kathryn was arrested earlier this year for a DUI[/caption]
LEGAL ISSUES
Kathryn’s disappearance from the spotlight comes after legal issues.
In October 2023, Kathryn was involved in a hit-and-run outside of a school.
A Public Information Officer claimed to The U.S. Sun in a statement at the time, “Two units were involved. Unit one was a pedestrian. The pedestrian did receive medical attention at the scene of the collision. Unit two was a 2022 Ford Utility vehicle.
“Unit one, the pedestrian, a school resource officer, was directing traffic in a working capacity in front of Whitesville Elementary School. Unit number two, the Ford Utility vehicle, was traveling south on Gaillard Road.”
The statement continued that the driver of the Ford struck the pedestrian and did not stop at the scene of the collision.
Police later found the registered owner of the car to be former Southern Charm star Kathryn Dennis.
Kathryn was never officially charged in the hit-and-run.
Then in May 2024, Kathryn was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after being involved in a three-car collision.
According to Goose Creek Municipal Court, she has outstanding fines in the amount of $1,199.50 for the driving under the influence charge and $257.50 for transporting alcohol in a motor vehicle with seal broken.
CUSTODY WAR
Kathryn and Thomas were involved in a bitter custody battle over their two children.
In October 2020, Thomas filed for sole custody of their children and requested Kathryn have supervised visitation.
The U.S. Sun broke the news of the Southern Charm star temporarily losing custody of their two children in February 2021, before a South Carolina judge made the ruling official in 2023.
A source confirmed to The U.S. Sun at the time of the ruling, as the court case had been sealed, “Thomas won the court case and was granted sole custody of the kids.”
The source claimed the custody ruling came after Kathryn “tested positive for three illegal drugs.”
The source also claimed Thomas’ legal team had evidence of neglect against the fired Southern Charm star.
The judge also allegedly decided to give the former politician sole custody because of the children’s progress while in his care full time.
The insider said, “Thomas’ legal team had affidavits from the speech therapists, an occupational therapist, physical therapist and play therapists that the children were making tremendous progress under his parenting.
“They were doing well in school, enjoying play dates and were happy. They love school and living in Aiken, South Carolina.”
A second source close to Kathryn confirmed to The U.S. Sun that she lost custody of the children.
Kathryn’s lawyer told The U.S. Sun, “I am prohibited from speaking about this matter because the case is sealed.”
A rep for Kathryn did not respond to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment regarding the custody loss.
‘TERRIFYING’ CLAIMS
The U.S. Sun broke the news of Thomas’ request to change their custody agreement from joint to primary custody, as he cited Kathryn’s alleged drug abuse and neglect.
In South Carolina court records obtained by The U.S. Sun before the seal, Thomas claimed a mutual friend told him about a recent trip he took to North Carolina with Kathryn, the kids, and others.
Thomas claimed the friend said, “He informed me that he witnessed a lot of cocaine use during this trip and that Kathryn had left cocaine within the grasp of the children, which he thought was dangerous.”
Kathryn alleged in her court response, “I do not use cocaine so naturally I have not left any out for our children to access.”
She also agreed to take a drug test as long as Thomas pays for it and takes one as well.
Thomas went on to claim he hired a man to conduct surveillance on her.
The man allegedly witnessed the Southern Charm star leaving the children home alone unsupervised on multiple occasions, including overnight.
Thomas wrote in the court papers of one alleged instance, “During the time Kathryn was gone, Kensie and Saint are seen alone in front of the house. THIS IS TERRIFYING.”
He also mentioned how a neighbor called the police after allegedly finding Saint wandering around a busy road unsupervised.
Kathryn responded in her court filing that it is “untrue” that she left the children home alone.
She admitted her father fell asleep while watching the children and Saint wandered outside.
The reality star said her father has not watched their children since.
Thomas also claimed the children come to him from their mother’s home allegedly “filthy and unkempt,” according to the court documents.
He claimed, “When the children are picked up after their week with Kathryn, they are filthy, their hair is matted, they smell and they are unusually tired and irritable.”
Kathryn responded to the claim, “This is untrue. My children are always well dressed and clean when in my care and I am often complimented on how cute they look.”
Kathryn has generally denied Thomas’ claims of substance abuse in the past.
“Kathryn cannot be allowed to play Russian Roulette with our children’s lives.”
Thomas Ravenel
In court papers, he wrote he believes it is in the children’s best interests to move with them to his estate in Aiken, South Carolina, as he can maintain a “safe, stable and secure environment” for them.
The children currently live in an Aiken mansion with their dad, who is also father to a young son from a previous relationship.
Thomas claimed in the court papers, “I have been terrified for years that they continue to be put in harm’s way every time they are in her care.
“However, I could not and cannot ignore the accumulation of evidence that Kathryn continues to put our children in harm’s way.
“Kathryn cannot be allowed to play Russian Roulette with our children’s lives.
“Unless the Court intervenes to protect Kensie and Saint, it is not a matter of ‘if,’ it is a matter of ‘when’ until something devastating happens to them while under Kathryn’s care.”
PAST COURT BATTLE
Kathryn previously lost full custody of the children in 2016 and entered rehab after she tested positive for marijuana.
In 2018, she filed for primary custody of the kids after Thomas was arrested and charged with assault and battery in the second degree.
Thomas pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and battery charges. He received a 30-day suspended sentence and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.
In 2019, the exes agreed to share joint legal and physical custody of their children with Thomas “being the primary custodian.”
KATHRYN’S FIRING
The U.S. Sun reported in 2023 that Kathryn was fired from South Charm after eight seasons.
A source claimed, “Kathryn is not in a good place at the moment, regardless of what she shows on social media.
“She was so messed up on the last season, drinking too much and coming to work hungover.
“All these Bravo events are open bar, and they drink at every gathering on TV. She loves her dark liquor. She was showing up drunk sometimes too and continues to drink.”
The source continued to claim, “They often had to edit her out, and this is one of the reasons she was cut as a main cast member on the show.
“Friends and cast members are worried about her and think she should maybe get treatment, or go to rehab.
“It’s actually sad, she’s always had problems but her mom’s death hit her hard, and her mom did so much for her, she’s struggled to function alone at times.”
Kathryn has supervised visitation every other week with the children[/caption]
Kathryn was fired from Southern Charm in 2023 after eight seasons on the Bravo show[/caption]
