Behind the Divorce: How Kellie May Xiong Moved Fast to Protect Herself—and Assets—After George Floyd

In the swirl of global outrage following George Floyd’s death, most of the public focus was on Derek Chauvin’s legal culpability and trial. But behind that headline was a concurrent legal drama: his divorce from Kellie May Xiong (also known as Kellie Chauvin). What started mere days after Floyd’s killing appears, from court documents and reporting, to have been aimed not just at emotional separation—but at sharply dividing financial responsibilities and protecting assets before civil storms could hit.

Early Life & Marriage

Kellie May Xiong was born in Laos and arrived in the United States as a child refugee. Her family eventually settled in Wisconsin. Before meeting Derek Chauvin, she had been previously married and had children from that marriage. Kellie earned an associate degree in radiology, worked at the Hennepin County Medical Center, and later became a real estate agent, photographer, and cultural figure—she won Mrs. Minnesota in 2018, the first Hmong woman to hold that title. fashionuer.com+2The Independent+2

Derek and Kellie married in June 2010, a union that lasted just about ten years. The marriage appears to have been relatively stable in public view until 2020. CNN+1

Divorce Filing: Timing & Terms

Timing: On May 28, 2020, just three days after George Floyd’s death (May 25), Kellie separated from Derek. She filed for divorce on May 30, 2020 in Washington County District Court, citing an “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.” At that point, Derek had also been charged (or was about to be formally charged) for Floyd’s death. The Independent+2CNN+2
Requests in the filing: Kellie asked for several provisions:
1. Change of last name – She requested to drop the “Chauvin” surname and revert to her former surname(s) — Thao, Xiong. CNN+1
2. Ownership/titles to the two major properties: the house in Minnesota (Oakdale or Oakdale-/Oakdale area) and their vacation/secondary home in Windermere, Florida. She also wanted rights to and titles of other financial assets. CNN+2CONAN Daily+2

Judge’s Rejection: Signs of Possible Fraud

Shortly after the first divorce settlement proposal was submitted, the judge—Washington County District Judge Juanita Freeman—rejected it. Her concern: the proposal appeared to transfer “substantially all” of Derek Chauvin’s assets to Kellie—real estate equity, bank/investment accounts, and pension/retirement accounts. The judge flagged these as “badges of fraud.” Star Tribune+3Minnesota Lawyer+3980 CJME+3

The judge’s role in divorce cases is to ensure that agreements are fair and equitable, not just among the spouses but also in light of potential future claims (e.g. civil lawsuits). Because Derek Chauvin was facing lawsuits (from George Floyd’s family, among others) and criminal prosecutions, the asset transfer appeared to some observers as a possible maneuver to preemptively safeguard or shift assets. 980 CJME+2Star Tribune+2

Tax Issues & Additional Financial Disclosures

Parallel to the divorce, in July 2020, Derek Chauvin and Kellie were both charged with nine felony counts for supposedly failing to report joint income accurately to Minnesota, for nearly half a million dollars (≈ $464,433) over the years 2014 to 2019. That includes income Derek allegedly earned from off-duty security work (approx $95,000+). Kellie was also alleged to have income from her real estate business and photography work. Minnesota Lawyer+2AP News+2

That added financial exposure likely increased urgency for decisions about ownership, asset division, and possible shielding of assets before any civil litigation could make claims. AP News+2Star Tribune+2

Final Settlement & Terms (Redacted, But Some Numbers Known)

While many details remain sealed or redacted, a version of the settlement was eventually approved on February 2, 2021. Some public reporting gives us partial figures:

Kellie Chauvin was reported to receive about $703,717 in assets in one proposed settlement. Derek Chauvin would have about $420,768 in assets under that proposed version. KSL+5Fox News+5Daily Caller+5
Among those assets were their properties in Oakdale, Minnesota and Windermere, Florida, though both homes were reported to have suffered vandalism during the protests. KSL+3Fox News+3CONAN Daily+3
The publicly available documents are highly redacted, especially the first proposal which the judge rejected because it seemed to give Kellie almost everything and Derek almost nothing. The judge’s decision cited fairness and potential fraud, so these numbers reflect a later, more balanced settlement. Star Tribune+2Daily Caller+2

What This Reveals & What Remains Unknown

What we know:

Kellie acted very quickly—filed for divorce days after Floyd’s death, before many civil suits were fully underway.
She requested major assets (primary home, vacation property, bank accounts, title rights).
Derek Chauvin and Kellie had income and tax issues pending, increasing the stakes.
A first proposed settlement that heavily favored Kellie was rejected because it looked like possible asset protection rather than fair division.
Eventually, a less extreme settlement was approved, with Kellie getting more, but Derek retaining some assets.

What we do not know fully:

All details of how the redactions affect the settlement terms—what exactly was transferred, what assets were considered marital vs non-marital.
Whether any part of the divorce was designed specifically with civil suits in mind (though many legal experts speculated that).
The internal motivations—whether it was emotional, financial, or both.

Why It Caught Public Attention & Controversy

Timing: Filing divorce just days after Floyd’s death made many ask whether it was opportunistic. The public was already angry, media was intense, and civil litigation was almost certain.
Asset Division that looked skewed: The first proposed agreement seemed extremely one-sided: giving Kellie nearly full control over nearly all assets. Many saw that as unusual unless there was a strong justification.
Overlap with civil liability: Chauvin had or would have lawsuits filed against him (George Floyd’s family, etc.). If his assets were under someone else’s name or shifted, that could affect what plaintiffs might be able to collect. The judge seems to have picked up on that, given the fraud “badges” language.
Public interest & transparency: Given the high profile of the case, many people wanted to know how much of Chauvin’s wealth or assets remain, who owns what, and whether justice is served not just criminally, but financially.

Take-Away Lessons & Legal Implications

In divorce law, “uncontested settlement agreements” are common, but courts retain power to reject them if they believe the division is unfair or smells of fraud. The Chauvin case is a textbook example of that judicial oversight.
When someone is under civil or criminal exposure, financial decisions can carry much heavier consequences. Asset transfers and division may be scrutinized not just under family law, but under civil liability and public interest.
Secrecy/redaction in court proceedings—often for privacy or safety—makes it harder for public judgment but can also breed suspicion.
The intersection of personal, financial, criminal, and public reputational stakes can make seemingly private legal steps highly political.

Conclusion

The divorce between Derek Chauvin and Kellie May Xiong was not just a personal separation—it unfolded against a turbulent backdrop of legal charges, civil liability, public rage, and intense media scrutiny. Kellie’s swift move to request substantial property and asset division appeared, to many, as a strategy to protect herself in the coming storm. The judge’s intervention—refusing the first settlement for possibly transferring “substantially all” of Derek’s resources—underscored that even in private law, fairness and public accountability matter. While not every detail is public, the known fragments point to a legal chess game as much as a divorce, with millions of dollars, reputations, and accountability all in play.