Leah Still’s Mother Says Devon Still Hasn’t Paid Child Support Since August

The mother of Leah Still, Devon Still’s 4 year old daughter who’s battling cancer, says he hasn’t paid child support from the months of August – November.  Channing Smythe, whom Leah Still lives with in Delaware, has called upon her lawyer Gloria Allred to assist her in getting her owed child support payments.  This is such a tough predicament. On one hand, it’s Devon’s health insurance with the Bengals  that is covering his daughter’s cancer treatments. On the other hand, I’m sure caring for an ill child is very expensive and the mother shouldn’t be taking on all of that responsibility alone. 

According to Smythe she is unable to work because Leah’s treatment and care require full-time attention and had she not moved in with her mother’s friend, she would be homeless. Smythe also says that she had to accept food stamps from July through October in order to feed herself and Leah. Even worse, she doesn’t have a car and has to borrow vehicles to take Leah back and forth for treatment. “We are unable to take public transportation such as the train because of Leah’s low immune system and because of my desire not to expose her to others given her medical condition,” Smythe said.

Make no mistake, Channing Smythe is not using this outlet to bad mouth the father of her child. “I don’t consider him a deadbeat dad,” Smythe told the Daily News on Wednesday. “I know he loves and cares for his daughter and he is there for her. I just need him to help me financially.”

Smythe says she also has an outstanding EMS balance, among other things. She’s asking for Still, who’s expected to make $570,000 for the 2014 season,  to pay his outstanding balance and according to Smythe, his response is that he would not pay anything and see her in court. 

When the NY Daily News posted their interview with Smythe on their Twitter, Devon Still commented with a quote saying, “Truth allows you to live with integrity. Everything you do and say shows the world who you really are. Let it be the Truth.”

Allred  sent a letter to the NFL asking the league to look into whether Still’s alleged failure to pay child support is in violation of the personal conduct policy.

Devon Still is currently engaged to another woman and I’m hoping that the new woman in his life isn’t giving him ill advice.  There’s no reason for him to miss child support payments considering that he was given a second chance at a career. Caring for a child, especially a sick one, is much more than ‘doing it for the Gram’. I hope that these two can work out their situation and do what’s best for Leah.

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