What did Chelsea O'Donnell do? Rosie O'Donnell speaks out after daughter's arrest in Wisconsin

Rosie O
Rosie O'Donnell and Chelsea O'Donnell (Image via Instagram and Oil London/X)

Rosie O'Donnell's adopted daughter, Chelsea O'Donnell, was arrested on October 11, 2024, in Wisconsin and charged with felony child neglect and drug possession. The former talk show host adopted Chelsea in 1997 as a baby with now former wife, Kelli Carpenter. Chelsea, now 27 years- old, is allegedly estranged from her adoptive parents.

According to the New York Post, the comedian’s eldest daughter Chelsea O’Donnell was first arrested in Marinette County on September 10, after her 11-month-old son, Atlas, was found in the home, teeming with garbage and drug paraphernalia, including meth pipes. Police made the discovery after Chelsea called 911 following a dispute with her boyfriend, Jacob Nelund.

According to People, at the time, Chelsea was charged with multiple felony counts, including "neglecting a child, possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a drug trafficking place, possession of THC, drug paraphernalia and illegally obtained prescription drugs and disorderly conduct." She was released from prison later that month after posting a $2,000 bond.

Chelsea was arrested again on October 11, 2024, after police pulled over her car and allegedly found a meth pipe and pills, including Oxycodone, Morphine Sulfate pills and Hydrocodone stuffed in her bra (via New York Post).

Chelsea O’Donnell was charged with meth possession, bail jumping, and possession of narcotics following the October 11 arrest.


Chelsea O’Donnell first ran away from Rosie O'Donnell's home in 2015

As news of Chelsea O'Donnell's arrest surfaced online, Rosie O'Donnell reacted to the incident on Instagram. The former talk show host shared a picture of her daughter and grandson with the caption, "from a better time," and added:

"Sadly this is not new for our family - Chelsea has struggled with drug addiction for a decade. We're all hopeful she will find her way out of this deadly disease."

The post was shared by Rosie O'Donnell on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Chelsea O’Donnell left her adoptive parents to live with her birth mom, Deanna Micolley, in 2015. Micolley had accused Rosie O'Donnell of “stealing” her daughter. Micolley claimed the comedian illegally adopted the baby in 1997.

Micolley, who admitted she was a drug addict, made the allegations after Rosie O’Donnell reported Chelsea missing from their New York home in August 2015 (via People). At the time, police found Chelsea O'Donnell at her then-boyfriend’s residence in New Jersey. The boyfriend, alleged heroin addict Steven Sheerer, was charged with child endangerment and communication of obscenity.

Shortly after Chelsea O'Donnell left home to live with her birth mom in Wisconsin and gave a lengthy Daily Mail interview in which she claimed that she never ran away from home but was kicked out by Rosie O’Donnell, she said:

“Rosie knew I was planning to leave, that’s why I think she kicked me out. She asked me to talk about what was going on and I didn’t want to. So she asked for my phone and my computer … I gave them to her. A few hours later, she told me to leave.” Chelsea added, “Rosie said that I was almost 18, and she got all this crap from work, and she didn’t want to have to deal with that at home too.”

Chelsea O'Donnell also detailed the fraught relationship with Rosie O'Donnell, alleging she struggled to connect with the comedian after she was sent away to boarding school. She said:

“I didn’t really see Rosie at all at that time. I never felt connected to her and I never really enjoyed being around her.”

At the time, Rosie O’Donnell said she was devastated by the interview.


Chelsea O'Donnell was married to a Long Island plumber, Nicholas Alliegro in 2016

Following the Daily Mail interview, the mother-daughter duo reconciled shortly after. However, in 2016, Daily Mail reported the duo weren't on speaking terms after the teen secretly married a 32-year-old Long Island plumber, Nicholas Alliegro. Rosie O'Donnell allegedly discovered her daughter was married after Chelsea was hospitalized when a neighbour called an ambulance after finding the teen disoriented on the street.

The outlet reported Chelsea O'Donnell secret marriage had put a strain on her relationship with Rosie O’Donnell. Shortly after, Chelsea decided to move back with her birth mother, Deanna Micolley, in Wisconsin.

comment icon
Comment
Edited by Anushree Madappa