The Shady Truth About Pauley Perrette's Ex-Husband

Pauley Perrette is an open book when it comes to her love life — especially when it refers to Adam. Of course, Adam is her imaginary boyfriend that exists only in Perrette's imagination, but he's more than real to those who follow her on Twitter. The TV star — who became a household name for playing the highly intelligent, spunky forensic scientist Abby Sciuto on the hit police procedural "NCIS" — first introduced Adam to the world in the summer of 2019. "So my boyfriend Adam (he only exist in my dreams) Not only is he a fire fighter and a member of clergy, but I found out he has a pet rescue owl named Cookie," Perrette wrote on Twitter.

Since then, Perrette sometimes updated her followers on the status of her relationship. For example, in August 2019, she shared that Adam adopted a beagle mix named Never to keep lil Cookie company. "I love him so much!!!" she raved on Twitter. At some point, Perrette even saw Adam in real life. "I met a REAL firefighter who looks like Adam and my heart FELL OUT OF MY CHEST!" she shared.

But before Perrette found happiness in her own imagination, she was married to Francis "Coyote" Shivers, a Canadian musician and producer. The marriage ended badly, with Perrette and Shivers's divorce finalized in 2006 after two contentious years of separation, Fox News reported. The divorce wasn't just complicated for the regular reasons. Perrette and other women accused Shivers of rather disturbing behavior.

While the actor was working toward becoming a fan-favorite on "NCIS," Pauley Perrette was living a nightmare in her marriage to Coyote Shivers. After being married for four years, Perrette was granted a permanent restraining order against Shivers in 2004, according to People. Perrette accused her then-estranged husband of wide-ranging abuse, including physical, sexual, and emotional, Fox News reported in 2006. Requesting legal protection was the only option she saw. "I could either have a restraining order or live there with him. Because of my fear of him, I left," Perrette told the cable news outlet. 

Perrette was living out her nightmare away from the public eye. "I didn't want to be attached to him in the press," she told Fox News. But after learning about Shivers's ex-wife, singer and model Bebe Buell, she felt she had to do something to break the cycle. Both women found the similarities in their relationship with Shivers chilling. 

In the case of Buell, her ex-husband used the legal system to taunt her, she contended to Fox News. When they divorced in 1999, Shivers requested a restraining order against Buell, even though she lived on the opposite coast. Shivers often began legal actions without ground, making that one of his main tactics to harass them, the women claimed. In 2008, the Los Angeles County Superior Court added Shivers to its vexatious litigant list, meaning he was barred from filing any actions without reviewal from a judge.

After Pauley Perrette and Bebe Buell came forward with their stories, a third woman accused Coyote Shivers of similar behavior, Fox News reported. In July 2006, Angela Garber filed a restraining order against Shivers, listing a host of terrifying accusations, including assault, battery, and emotional and sexual abuse. Out of desperation, Garber contacted Buell, who then introduced her to Perrette. In one another, the women found a support network. 

But despite the legal protections, Shivers allegedly continued to terrorize his exes. Speaking on CBS News' "48 Hours" in 2018 (via People), Perrette claimed Shivers had been stalking her ever since they separated. "I have a permanent restraining order, but those can only do so much," she said. In fact, it didn't stop him from breaking the law, she claimed. In 2012, Shivers violated the restraining order when he showed up at a Japanese restaurant where Perrette was dining, TMZ reported. He previously violated it in 2009, according to the New York Post.

Also, Shivers apparently used the internet to harass her. After realizing stalking laws haven't been updated to take internet advancements into accounts, Perrette decided to speak up. "That is just ridiculous because a lot of stalkers use the Internet, that's their main tool," Perrette said. Though she knows discussing her case could have dangerous consequences, Perrette wants to fight for others. "We have to get these laws changed. I'm here for other victims," she said on "CBS This Morning" in 2017.

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.