Judge grants annulment of TV marriage

Angie Wagner

Wednesday, April 5, 2000 | 11:42 a.m.

A Las Vegas judge today annulled the quickie marriage of Darva Conger and millionaire Rick Rockwell after the TV bride testified she was not told about the groom's background before the wedding.

"He was not honest and did not represent those restraining orders," Conger, 34, told Family Court Judge Steven E. Jones.

Rockwell, 42, selected Conger from among 50 contestants on the Fox TV show "Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire." They married on the spot during the Feb. 15 show in Las Vegas.

Despite smash ratings, Fox canceled a rebroadcast of the show after it was disclosed that a former fiancee obtained a restraining order against Rockwell in 1991 after he allegedly hit and threatened her. He denies the allegations.

Rockwell did not appear in court today. He was not immediately available for comment.

Jones said he called the hearing because Conger entered into a "very legal wedding ceremony." He could have just granted the annulment based on Conger's March 7 written request.

Conger's attorney, John Hanover of Los Angeles, told the judge the marriage was a fraud and that Conger and Rockwell had signed an agreement before the television show that they could annul the marriage at any time.

"The court does find a sufficient legal basis to grant the annulment," Jones said after listening to Conger's testimony.

Conger thanked the judge and was followed out of the courtroom by a horde of television cameras and reporters.

"I have to learn from this and move on," she said, adding that she never plans to talk to Rockwell again.

Conger said she still was not used to all the attention from the media, but when a reporter asked her if she planned on marrying again, she quipped: "Is that a proposal?"