Darwin Vander Esch, the father of retired Dallas Cowboys star Leighton Vander Esch, was arrested on December 1, 2024, in Idaho. He faces felony attempted strangulation charges, as well as misdemeanor domestic battery and misdemeanor intentional destruction of a telecommunication device. The Idaho County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic battery call outside the city of Riggins at approximately 12:16 AM. Darwin Vander Esch, 61, is currently in custody with no bond.
Leighton, who grew up in Riggins and was a standout two-sport athlete at Salmon River High School, had a successful NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys. He retired this past March after six seasons due to injuries. Despite his father’s arrest, Leighton has not publicly commented on the incident.
