Ethan Couch’s father, Fred Couch, made his fortune in business. Specifically, in 1986, he founded Cleburne Metal Works, which installs metal roofing (via the Chicago Tribune). As of 2015, it employed 40 people and made an estimated $9.59 million in annual sales.
Years before the fatal wreck that made him a household name, it was already apparent that Ethan’s parents were interested in neither teaching their son to obey the law nor allowing him to face consequences when he broke it. For example, as WDAF reports, when he was 13, Ethan was driving himself to his tony private school, which was not and is not legal in Texas. When questioned about this by the school principal, Fred purportedly threatened to buy the school.
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Ethan Couch’s first real brush with the law would come a couple of years later when he was found passed out in a pickup truck with a naked, 14-year-old girl inside (per WDAF). He was sentenced to probation, alcohol awareness classes, and 12 hours of community service (via WAFF). Meanwhile, Ethan’s home life was quite toxic. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, Tonya Couch alleged that Fred was physically and emotionally abusive toward her, and the couple split in 2006.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
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