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Melissa Rycroft is opening up about the difficult days following her recent arrest. The former Bachelor star, 42, addressed her current struggles less than a month after she was taken into custody in Southlake, Texas, on Sept. 23, for allegedly driving under the influence.
Rycroft, who rose to fame after appearing on season 13 of the ABC dating series, broke her silence on Oct. 6 in response to a supportive message left by a fan under one of her Instagram posts. The follower shared their own experience with a DUI, encouraging Rycroft to show herself grace and remember that "things happen" and "life goes on."
"Thank you," Rycroft replied. "Life really sucks right now and I'm struggling, but I'm trying to march forward. Thank you for the sweet words in what seems like a world of negativity."
According to the Southlake Police Department, officers responded to a single-vehicle crash just after noon on Sept. 23 and discovered a black Cadillac Escalade that had struck a tree. Witnesses claimed the SUV had been driving erratically before the accident. Rycroft was evaluated at the scene, given a sobriety test, and arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated.
Police confirmed that no other cars were involved and no injuries were reported. She was later booked into the Tarrant County Jail and released on a $1,000 bond the following day.
Her attorney, Bret Martin, urged the public to avoid jumping to conclusions. "Every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty," he said in a statement. "An arrest is no indication of guilt. We ask that the legal process be allowed to unfold fairly before any judgment is made."
Since the incident, Rycroft has returned to social media, posting a heartfelt message wishing her daughter luck at her first drill team performance. "Tonight is Sis' first game, so wish her luck!" she wrote, adding, "I'm not crying, you're crying."
Rycroft, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and winner of Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars, shares three children with her husband, Tye Strickland, whom she married in 2009.
