350 million real Christmas trees are grown in the United States every year — and between 25 and 30 million of them are sold to families like yours.
The Dallas Cowboys have confirmed that Marshawn Kneeland’s girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, is pregnant.
The news was announced by the team’s head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, during a news conference on Nov. 12 — six days after the Cowboys defensive end died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Kneeland, who was playing in his second NFL season, was 24 years old at the time of his death.
His family and management team have since established the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund to support Mancera and the unborn baby.
“The Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund is dedicated to preserving Marshawn's legacy and extending his impact through direct support for his surviving partner and unborn heir,” the website reads.
In the news conference, Schottenheimer added that the team will “make sure she’s taken care of and the baby is taken care of for the rest of their lives.”
READ MORE: Allison Kuch expecting second baby with retired NFL player Isaac Rochell. ‘Definitely growing’
Catalina Mancera and Marshawn Kneeland have been dating since his sophomore year at Western Michigan University, per The Dallas Morning News.
She was reportedly one of the last people Kneeland spoke to leading up to his death.
“My sweet baby, words could never express how broken I feel, you’re my everything. I’ll love you forever my beautiful angel,” Mancera wrote in a Nov. 10 Facebook post, four days after his death.
Marshawn Kneeland’s girlfriend notified police of his intentions hours before death
At about 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 5, troopers attempted to stop Kneeland’s car for a traffic violation.
Kneeland reportedly refused to stop, resulting in a police chase that lasted less than 10 minutes before police lost sight of his vehicle, according to The Dallas Morning News.
READ MORE: Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia announces loss of baby girl one week after team wins World Series
One hour later, police later responded to a “welfare concern” at Kneeland’s apartment, but no one was home. It was around that time that Kneeland’s girlfriend spoke to police on the phone.
Mancera told officers that Kneeland had a history of mental illness and would “end it all.” She also warned them that he was armed at the time.
Several hours later, Kneeland’s vehicle was found abandoned roughly 10 miles from where the chase began. He had crashed into a pickup truck before exiting his vehicle.
Marshawn Kneeland’s death was confirmed by police at around 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 6 when his body was found in a portable restroom near the crash site.
His death came just three days after he scored his first NFL touchdown off a blocked punt recovery in the Cowboys’ 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 3.
ALSO ON MOD MOMS CLUB: Pregnant Cardi B and Stefon Diggs Prepare for New Baby, Reveal Its Sex
"Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family,” the team wrote in a statement.
