Lyssa Chapman: Biography, Family, Marriage & Life After Dog the Bounty Hunter

Long before she was known to millions of TV viewers as “Baby Lyssa,” Lyssa Chapman was fighting to survive a childhood that few people would wish on anyone. She went from a chaotic upbringing and teenage motherhood to becoming one of the most recognisable faces on reality television, then walked away from the cameras entirely to build a quieter, more private life on her own terms. This is her full story — the struggles, the fame, the family, and where she is now.

Quick Facts: Lyssa Chapman

Early Life: The Ninth of Twelve Children

Lyssa Rae Chapman was born on June 10, 1987, in Denver, Colorado. She is the ninth of twelve children of bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman, born to his third wife, Lyssa Rae Brittain. Because her mother shared her name, the family nicknamed her “Baby Lyssa” — a nickname that stuck with fans for years after she appeared on television.

Her early years were far from stable. She has spoken openly about growing up around addiction in her household and being raised primarily by her father before moving to live with her mother in the small town of Anderson, Alaska, at around age 14. She has since described that period of her life, including the breakdown of her parents’ relationship and her mother’s struggles with alcohol, as one of the most difficult chapters of her childhood.

A Difficult Adolescence and Teen Motherhood

At just 14 years old, Lyssa became pregnant, and she gave birth to her first daughter, Abbie Mae Chapman, the day after turning 15. Left largely without support, she has said she took on adult responsibilities almost overnight — working to pay rent and care for her newborn while barely out of childhood herself. This period shaped much of the resilience she would later become known for on television and in her memoir.

Joining Dog the Bounty Hunter

Lyssa reconnected with her father as a teenager and eventually moved to Hawaii to be closer to him, discovering along the way that he had become the star of a hit A&E reality series. She joined Dog the Bounty Hunter starting in its second season, working alongside her father, stepmother Beth Chapman, and other family members to track down fugitives who had skipped bail.

At 18, she began working directly at the family’s bail bonds business, Da Kine Bail Bonds, and went on to become one of the youngest licensed bail bondspeople in the industry. Her sharp tongue, toughness, and willingness to speak candidly about her past made her a standout figure on the show, which ran from 2004 to 2012.

Marriage to Brahman Galanti

In February 2009, Lyssa married Brahman “Bo” Galanti in a ceremony at Lanikuhonua on Oahu, Hawaii. The couple had one daughter together, Madalynn Grace Galanti. The marriage was troubled, and Lyssa filed for divorce in February 2011, citing issues connected to Galanti’s addiction struggles. You can read the full account of what happened to him afterward in our complete Brahman Galanti biography.

Life After Reality TV: Writing Her Story

In 2013, Lyssa released her memoir, Walking on Eggshells: Discovering Strength and Courage Amid Chaos, published by Simon & Schuster. The book gave an unfiltered account of her turbulent upbringing, her relationship with her father and stepmother, and her path toward stability as an adult. Around this time, she also stepped back from bounty hunting to focus on running her own small business in Honolulu and raising her daughters.

Marriage to Leiana Evensen

Lyssa began a relationship with Leiana Evensen, a fitness instructor, in February 2016. The couple got engaged and eventually married in June 2022 in a private beachside ceremony in the Pacific Ocean off Hawaii. Unlike her first marriage, which played out partly under public scrutiny, Lyssa has kept this chapter of her life largely private, sharing only glimpses with fans on social media.

Family Relationships and the Chapman Family Dynamic

Lyssa’s relationship with her father and late stepmother, Beth Chapman, has been complicated and, at times, publicly strained — including a reported falling-out with Beth during Beth’s cancer battle. Despite the difficulties, Lyssa has described having a genuinely close bond with her father in adulthood. Beth Chapman passed away in 2019 after a battle with throat cancer, a loss that affected the entire extended Chapman family, Lyssa included.

Children and Personal Life Today

Lyssa is the mother of two daughters: Abbie Mae Chapman, born when Lyssa was a teenager, and Madalynn Grace Galanti, from her first marriage. She has spoken about wanting to give her own daughters a more stable upbringing than the one she experienced, and she has used parts of her platform to support other young mothers navigating similar circumstances.

Where Is Lyssa Chapman Now?

Lyssa Chapman lives in Hawaii with her wife, Leiana Evensen, largely away from the reality TV spotlight that first made her famous. She continues to run her own business ventures, stays active on social media, and occasionally speaks publicly about her journey from a difficult childhood to a more settled adult life.

FAQs About Lyssa Chapman

Who is Lyssa Chapman? Lyssa Chapman, also known as “Baby Lyssa,” is an American television personality and former bounty hunter best known for appearing on A&E’s Dog the Bounty Hunter alongside her father, Duane Chapman.

How old was Lyssa Chapman when she had her first child? She became pregnant at 14 and gave birth to her daughter Abbie Mae the day after her 15th birthday.

Who was Lyssa Chapman’s first husband? She was married to Brahman “Bo” Galanti from 2009 to 2011. They have one daughter together, Madalynn Grace Galanti.

Is Lyssa Chapman married now? Yes. She married Leiana Evensen in June 2022 in Hawaii.

Does Lyssa Chapman still work as a bounty hunter? No. She stepped away from bounty hunting after Dog the Bounty Hunter ended and now focuses on business ventures in Honolulu.

Did Lyssa Chapman write a book? Yes. Her memoir, Walking on Eggshells: Discovering Strength and Courage Amid Chaos, was published in 2013.

Related reading: Brahman Galanti — Lyssa Chapman’s Ex-Husband, Where Is He Now? · Mary Ryan Ravenel: Life Beyond the Spotlight · More Celebrity biographies on Vivid Magazine.