Jason Hitch and Cassia Tavares were one of the more volatile couples from “90 Day Fiancé” Season 2 — a relationship defined by a significant age gap, clashing priorities, and tension that never fully resolved. Their story didn’t end with a clean divorce and a fresh start. It ended with a death, and with both lives ultimately taking very different paths.
How They Met
Jason Hitch, then 38, and Cassia Tavares, then 23, met on Facebook — where Cassia had been dating Jason’s friend. Jason was a second lieutenant in the Illinois National Guard, ran an online business, and was taking journalism classes. Cassia was a Brazilian student who aspired to model. Their age gap of 15 years was immediately noted by viewers, and it was not the only thing working against them.
Despite their significant age gap, they married in 2014 and Cassia moved from Brazil to Jason’s hometown in Spring Hill, Florida.
What Made Their Season Difficult
The friction between Jason and Cassia on the show centered on two things: money and trust. Jason’s approach to money was significantly more conservative, which often led to disagreements with Cassia. Viewers labeled Cassia a gold digger for wanting a more comfortable lifestyle — a characterization that followed her long after the season ended and that she consistently pushed back against.
The cultural adjustment was real, the financial tension was real, and the compatibility questions the show raised never went away. A year into their marriage, things deteriorated significantly.
The Divorce
In early 2017, Jason was arrested for domestic battery against Cassia, though the charges were later dropped. The relationship did not recover. Jason filed for divorce in 2018 but withdrew the petition in an attempt to reconcile. The pair officially divorced in 2018.
At the time of their divorce, Cassia said: “You need to understand that even if with all my heart I wanted to give him a chance, I couldn’t, I can’t. Because all I see now is a mean man. He has destroyed everything I felt for him.”
Cassia remained in Florida for a time after the divorce, focusing on her education. She graduated from the University of South Florida in 2018.
Jason’s Death
In December 2021, Jason Hitch died from complications of COVID-19 at the age of 45. His father Ron shared the news with Jason’s Army Reserves Company on Facebook.
Cassia responded to online commentary following his death, saying that while it was his choice not to get vaccinated, she did not believe he deserved it. She called his death tragic and linked it to misinformation surrounding vaccines. Despite everything that had passed between them, she handled the news publicly with more grace than many would have expected.
Cassia’s Life After
Cassia’s post-show story is ultimately one of rebuilding — and by every measure, she rebuilt well.
After her split from Jason, Cassia found a new partner while living in Italy. She began dating Giuseppe Compagnone, a personal trainer, and made their relationship Instagram official in September 2019. The pair wed in an Italian courthouse in February 2021.
Cassia obtained Italian citizenship, making Italy her official home base. Her Instagram and TikTok document a life of travel, fitness, and the kind of European lifestyle that looks nothing like Spring Hill, Florida. She has spoken openly about going through a period of depression after the divorce and getting back to herself — getting back to her sisters, back to the gym, back to her own sense of who she was before the show.
The woman who was labeled a gold digger on national television at 23 graduated from an American university, built a new life in a third country, remarried, and became an Italian citizen. Whatever viewers thought about her during the show, the years after it told a different story.
90 Day Fiancé and its many spinoffs are streaming now on Max. New episodes air on TLC.
Read next:
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- Justin & Evelyn Halas From ’90 Day Fiancé’ Season 2: Their Journey & Where They Are Now
- Danny & Amy Frishmuth From ’90 Day Fiancé’ Season 2: Their Journey & Where They Are Now
Looking for more “90 Day Fiancé” stories? Browse additional relationship updates and cast coverage on our GO 90 Day Fiancé page.
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