Denise Richards Spotted for 1st Time Amid Aaron Phypers Divorce

Denise Richards has been spotted for the first time amid her divorce from Aaron Phypers.

Richards, 54, was seen having lunch at Cross Creek in Malibu with daughters Lola, 20, and Eloise, 14, on Sunday, July 20. (She shares Lola with ex-husband Charlie Sheen and welcomed Eloise via adoption in May 2011, with Phypers, 52, later becoming her adoptive father. Richards and Sheen’s eldest daughter, Sami, 21, did not appear to be present at the lunch outing.)

Richards dressed casually for the date with her daughters, sporting a black tank top with baggy cargo jeans and white sneakers. She completed the look with a small green crossbody bag, black sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. At one point, she carried a white chihuahua in her arms.

The outing came weeks after Phypers filed for divorce from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star after six years of marriage. In his July 7 filing, Phypers listed their date of separation as July 4 and cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly. He also asked the court to grant him spousal support.

Denise Richards and Estranged Husband Aaron Phypers' Relationship Timeline

On July 17, Richards accused Phypers of physical abuse throughout their marriage in a request for a restraining order against him, Us confirmed.

“Throughout our relationship, Aaron would frequently violently choke me, violently squeeze my head with both hands, tightly squeeze my arms, violently slap me in my face and head, aggressively slam my head into the bathroom towel rack, threaten to kill me, hold me down with his knee on my back to the point where I would have to plead with him to get off me so that he would not kill me and hack into my laptop and phone and download all of my text messages,” she claimed.

Phypers responded by sending a letter via text and email to their “family and close friends” on Sunday, July 20, Us confirmed.

Aaron Phypers and Denise Richards Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

“This is the hardest letter I’ve ever had to write. I just [got] some of my contacts back, after being without my cell phone since the 4th of July,” read the letter, which was first obtained by Page Six. “I’m reaching out today not in anger, but in heartbreak — as a man, a husband, a son, a brother, and a father who has spent years loving, supporting, and protecting his family.”

“I love my wife more than words can ever fully express. That has never changed. But the recent public accusations made against me are not only false — they are devastating,” the letter continued. “I have never, ever physically harmed my wife, and I did not give her a black eye. I have only ever stepped in to protect her or others — including separating her from physically attacking our daughter — always coming from a place of care and concern.”

Us reached out to a rep for Phypers for comment. Reps for Richards did not respond to calls for comment.

Denise Richards Returns to Instagram Amid Aaron Phypers Divorce

Sources exclusively told Us that Phypers also filed a police report against Richards at the Lost Hills station for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department on Sunday for alleged vandalism, theft and assault.

A rep for the Sheriff’s Department confirmed that Phypers filed the report but could not disclose the details of his allegations.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.