Erin Marie Benavides, the former wife of NBA player Brent Barry, who became embroiled in the highly publicized cheating scandal involving Tony Parker and Eva Longoria, has died at age 54.
Benavides, previously known as Erin Barry, was found dead on October 14, 2026, at a home in Port Aransas, Texas. The Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office has ruled her death a suicide caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a November 3 report by Page Six. The full autopsy report was still pending at the time of publication.
Her death has brought renewed attention to a celebrity controversy that dominated entertainment headlines in 2010, when Longoria's marriage to Parker collapsed amid allegations of inappropriate text messages involving Benavides.
But beyond the scandal, Benavides had established a career as an attorney, prosecutor, and advocate for vulnerable children, including victims of human trafficking.
What happened to Erin Benavides?
According to the San Antonio Express-News, Benavides was discovered after police received a welfare-check request prompted by an alarming text message reportedly sent to a friend of her husband. Officers entered the Port Aransas residence and found her dead. Authorities initially reported that there were no indications of foul play, although the investigation remained active.
Benavides had worked as an assistant district attorney in Texas until August 2026, approximately two months before her death.
The circumstances surrounding her death have generated renewed interest in her past, particularly her connection to the breakup of Longoria and Parker's marriage. However, authorities have not established any connection between the 2010 controversy and her death.
Who was Erin Benavides, formerly Erin Barry?
Before becoming a familiar name in celebrity gossip, Benavides was married to Brent Barry, a former San Antonio Spurs player and teammate of Tony Parker.
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe couple shared two sons and were part of the wider Spurs community during Parker's marriage to Eva Longoria, the actress best known for her role in Desperate Housewives.
In November 2010, Benavides found herself at the center of widespread speculation when reports identified her as the woman allegedly exchanging inappropriate messages with Parker.
© WireImageAt the time, Benavides and Brent Barry were also separating. Their divorce was finalized on January 5, 2011, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Although the timing of the two marital breakups attracted considerable attention, Benavides consistently rejected claims that she had engaged in an affair with Parker or caused the breakdown of either marriage.
Erin Benavides and Tony Parker: What were the cheating allegations?
The controversy began in November 2010, when Longoria filed for divorce from Parker after three years of marriage. Reports at the time claimed the actress had discovered hundreds of inappropriate text messages on Parker's phone involving another woman.
© WireImageCBS News reported that television personality Mario Lopez, a friend of Longoria, confirmed that she had discovered the messages. Media reports subsequently identified the woman as Erin Barry. TMZ reported that sources connected to Parker acknowledged a sexting relationship but maintained that it had never become physical.
What did Erin Benavides say about the Tony Parker scandal?
Benavides addressed the allegations in a statement dated November 25, 2010, which TMZ published in full on December 2. Her response was emphatic. "I DID NOT HAVE AN AFFAIR WITH TONY PARKER, nor did I 'pursue' Tony Parker."
She acknowledged that she and Parker had been friends but rejected suggestions that their relationship was responsible for her divorce from Brent Barry: "My friendship with Tony Parker had nothing to do with the end of my marriage"
© Getty ImagesBenavides also described speculation about an affair as misguided and said she had decided to respond because her previous silence had been interpreted as an admission of guilt. In the statement, she emphasized her responsibilities as a mother, her advocacy for abused children and her law school studies.
She described herself as a mother first, a children's advocate second, and a law student third, making clear that her family and professional goals mattered more to her than celebrity gossip.
The statement concluded by encouraging readers to support organizations fighting child abuse and neglect.
What did Eva Longoria say about her divorce from Tony Parker?
Longoria publicly confirmed the end of her marriage on November 17, 2010, in a statement shared on Twitter: "It is with great sadness that after 7 years together, Tony and I have decided to divorce"
She added that they loved each other and wished each other happiness. Mario Lopez also discussed the breakup on Extra, explaining that Longoria was heartbroken by the infidelity rumors but remained strong.
© Getty ImagesIn May 2012, Longoria revisited the experience during an interview on The Conversation With Amanda de Cadenet. She acknowledged questioning her appearance and intelligence following the betrayal but said she eventually recognized that her husband's behavior did not determine her worth.
Longoria also explained that she had wanted to understand Parker's reasons for his actions rather than simply react with anger.
The actress described the infidelity as something that was not about her, revealing how she had worked through the emotional aftermath of the divorce.
What did Tony Parker and Brent Barry say?
Parker did not publicly confirm a physical affair with Benavides. In November 2010, TMZ cited sources close to the basketball player who maintained that the two had exchanged inappropriate messages but had never been physically involved.
Meanwhile, Brent Barry's father, NBA legend Rick Barry, expressed concern about his son's marriage. Speaking to TMZ at the time, Rick said: "I feel horrible for my son. I'm in shock"
Brent and Erin's marriage officially ended in January 2011.
