Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Sapp's wife says marriage is 'irretrievably broken'

Jamiko Sapp files for divorce, seeking permanent shared parental responsibility of their two children and alimony.

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Jamiko Sapp, the wife of Bucs All-Pro defensive tackle Warren Sapp, filed for divorce in a Tampa court Monday citing that the marriage was "irretrievably broken."

Married Jan. 29, 1998, the Sapps have two children, daughter Mercedes, 5, and son Warren C. Sapp II, 3. Sapp and his wife are separated, the suit said.

Neither party could be reached for comment.

In her petition, filed in the Family Law Division of the Hillsborough County Circuit Court, Jamiko Sapp has asked to dissolve the marriage and to be awarded temporary and permanent shared parental responsibility of the children, along with alimony.

The suit also outlines a series of other specific demands.

Jamiko Sapp, 27, asked the court to award her "child support" that would require Sapp to "maintain a life insurance on his life as security for child support. Additionally, he should be required to pay for the children's medical and dental expenses not otherwise paid by medical insurance."

The suit also asked for an equitable distribution "of the assets and liabilities of the parties, after first setting aside to the parties his or her non marital assets and liabilities."

Jamiko Sapp also wants the temporary use of the couple's home, including its contents, located in Tampa's exclusive Avila neighborhood, until its sale.

Sapp, 30, is in the final year of a six-year deal that paid him $36-million. He will earn $6.6-million this season.

Jamiko Sapp, a member of the board of directors of the Tampa Children's Hospital, has asked the court to award "temporary, rehabilitative and lump sum alimony for support," "attorney fees and cost" and any further money the court "deems fair and just."

Sapp's marriage has had its challenges. On June 3, 1998, Angela D. Sanders filed a claim against Sapp asking for child support for son Jaelon Austin Sapp, born June 19, 1997.

In February this year, Sapp acknowledged that he is the father of a 2-year-old New Jersey girl named Autumn Jade Adkins Sapp. The child's mother, Chantel Adkins, filed a suit in Camdem State Superior Court asking for child support for her daughter.