Eckardt, 27, a self-styled security expert who was a central figure in the Jan. 6 attack on Kerrigan, struck a deal with prosecutors in May under which he pleaded guilty to a state charge of. Gillooly's attorney, Ron Hoevet, accuses Harding of conspiracy and is roundly criticized by other attorneys. Jan. 11, 1994: The FBI begins investigating an allegation that Eckardt and Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, orchestrated the attack on Kerrigan. The now 47-year-old says she overheard her then-husband Jeff. Nancy Kerrigan had already finished her practice session and departed to Stoneham, Massachusetts for the weekend. July 21, 1995: Shane Stant, Kerrigan's assailant, is released from the Santiam Correctional Institution after serving 14 months. He said he was offended and declined. [30] Gillooly assured her Eckardt knew people who could carry out the attack, and they could abort the plot if they did not like Eckardt's plan. ". Harding then phoned Marano again asking her to spell the arena name, and Gillooly said he watched as Harding wrote out "Tony Kent Arena. [29] A police officer stopped the truck and confiscated a found shotgun and a 9mm Beretta pistol that had recently been discharged. "[39][38], Smith and his nephew, Shane Stant, arrived in Portland on December 27, drove to Eckardt's home, and asked for a meeting with Gillooly tomorrow at 10 a.m. Gillooly said Harding would be training at that time, but he agreed to meet them. "I'm just a simple buyer," he said. Nov. 3, 1994: Portland artist Deforrest unveils 60 silk-screen prints of Tonya Harding and charges $5,000 a pop. In I, Tonya, Eckardt is played by Paul Walter Hauser, and the actor nails his impression of the bodyguard. He was enrolled in the program for three years before being booted out in 1992. "[21], Harding later claimed she was the victim of acquaintance rape sometime during her separation from Gillooly in 1991, "by a friend of mine, who I knew for eight years. In 103 pages of FBI transcripts from interviews with four figures in the Kerrigan assault, an unappealing picture is painted: * Shawn Eric Eckardt, Harding's bodyguard, is portrayed as a . [52] During the meeting, he thought Eckardt was leading Gillooly to think he had many "underground" contacts. Gillooly said Harding told him to tear off the magazine's mailing label because it had their home address. A Portland minister, Eugene Saunders, tells investigators he's heard of tape of Eckardt, Gillooly and friend Shane M. Stant discussing the "hit.". But did he plot the Jan. 6 assault at the national championships in Detroit on his own? On June 29, the USFSA disciplinary panel met for nine hours over two days to consider Harding's alleged role in the attack. 1476 (D. Or. [75][76] Judge Donald Londer noted the attack could have injured Kerrigan more seriously. They also found two photos of Kerrigan from the World Team handbook and Olympian magazine. The USFSA has no dominion over professional skating events, yet Harding was also persona non grata on the pro circuit. pictured with Harding, plays the disgraced skater in critically acclaimed movie I, Tonya, Trailer for new ice skating blockbuster, I, Tonya, starring Margot Robbie, Tonya Harding FINALLY admits she knew about sensational plot to break ice skating arch rival Nancy Kerrigans leg before 1994 Olympics, Shocking photo shows bedsheet where girl died weighing 23st - as mum JOKED about flies in squalid room, Man, 43, died after being held down by security guards at Sainsbury's, Man rushed to hospital with stab wounds after 'incident' at Hackney Central railway station as cops rush to scene, The pair would later hire Shane Stant, who assaulted US skater Nancy Kerrigan with a baton, The extraordinary story is the subject of a critically acclaimed movie I, Tonya, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Few skaters and promoters would work with her, and she did not benefit from the ensuing boom in professional skating after the scandal. [80][73][81] Harding's penalties included three years of probation, a $100,000 fine, and 500 hours community service. But my life was in shambles.. Today: She reportedly lives in Central Oregon with her husband and son. "Despite my mistakes and rough edges," she says, "I have done nothing to violate the standards of excellence in sportsmanship that are expected in an Olympic athlete." [6][7] Later, both a grand jury[8] and a disciplinary panel from the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA)[9] found further evidence of Harding's involvement during the planning and execution phases. All together, it makes for a fascinating look at some of the early '90s' most intriguing people, from Eckardt to Harding herself. One of them included Harding's bodyguard, and what happened to Shawn Eckardt is truly tragic. Feb. 12, 1994: Harding drops her lawsuit, and the Olympic committee decides to cancel its hearing. And NBC News reported last night that Gillooly will be arrested today. Shane Stant, the hit man who was hired to attack Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan with a collapsible baton 24 years ago, has told Inside Edition exclusively that he is regretful for the act. [38][30] It was true that Steinbrenner had recently given Harding a $10,000 donation through the USFSA. In a July affidavit, Harding wrote that she had been in an abusive marriage for two years, "he has assaulted me physically with his open hand and fist [] put me down to the floor on several occasions. Championships. A jaw-dropping confession found in the archives of early-90s TV newsmagazine Hot Take, featuring Tonya Harding's infamous "bodyguard" Shawn Eckhardt.Learn mo. Mike Skinner, Eckardt's brother, told The Oregonian, "Shawn Eckardt died a long time ago. Shawn Eckhardt Clip Brooke Brown 5 subscribers Subscribe 308 Share 44K views 4 years ago A clip from the video Tanya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan video Show more Show more The Tonya Harding and. When the 33-year-old discovered the khaki green military-style backpack containing the device - a pipe bomb weighing at least 18kg that would turn out to be the biggest of its kind ever seen by the FBI at the time - he did everything he had been trained to do. "[37] However, she was skeptical about Eckardt's ability to arrange it. Sept. 22, 1995: Shawn Eckardt gets out of the Oregon State Penitentiary 109 days early for good behavior; he was to have served 18 months for his part in planning the attack. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. "He has been portrayed as a mastermind to a hit man plot, as a monstrous chap who would go out and cause physical injury to a young Miss Kerrigan," Mark McKnight said. [63] On January 16, Harding's lawyer held a news conference in which he read a statement denying Harding's involvement in the attack on Kerrigan. Stant said he became a Christian and turned his life around. /tristate/2021/07/23/caught-in-a-lie-nest-seekers-50m-amagansett-listing-sold-for-16-5m Here's a different take of their interview as depicted in 'I,. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Skater Tonya Harding has finally admitted she knew about the plot to injure her rival, Tonya Harding, left, skates past compatriot Nancy Kerrigan during a practice session at the Olympic Games in Norway in 1994, The athlete eventually finished in eighth place at the '94 Games and was later banned for life from US figure skating, Harding's former husband Jeff Gillooly, right, attends his arraignment hearing January 19, 1994, flanked by attorney Ronald H. Hoevet, Margot Robbie. March 21, 1994: A Multnomah County grand jury indicts Eckardt, Smith and Stant on charges including racketeering and conspiracy to commit second-degree assault. He later gave the money to Smith who then drove Stant to the Seattle airport so Stant could fly to Boston. Kerrigan could not compete in the US Championship but recovered in time to compete in the Winter Olympics. [48] According to him, she then said "You need to stop screwing around with this and get it done. [30], When he phoned Eckardt on December 22, 1993, Eckardt told Smith he had a client who needed someone physically "taken down," saying the job would entail more bodyguard work in the future. But to the attorney representing Gillooly, Eckardt is a man who "led a fantasy life," and performed only one job as a bodyguard to Harding. Executive security consultant. In I, Tonya, Tonya's life as a one-time star of . Tonya Harding married Jeff Gillooly when she was 19 and divorced him in 1993, a year before the attack. I, Punch Line", "Tattoo Assassins: The Strangest Mortal Kombat Knockoff Ever", "Inside The Bizarre (And Pervy) Mortal Kombat Knockoff That Never Was", "Nancy Kerrigan Versus Tonya Harding: A Rap History", "Former Olympic skater Tonya Harding bitter and thankful over Obama's 'kneecap' comment", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Assault_of_Nancy_Kerrigan&oldid=1134109791, Harding v. US Figure Skating Ass'n, 851 F. Supp. "[53], Shane Stant first testified about the attack plot after he turned himself in to the FBI on January 14, 1994. Each juicy tidbit made headlines and newscasts. After the meeting, he and Stant agreed not to injure Kerrigan "too badly. Gillooly and Eckardt both claimed that Harding was involved in the attack and had knowledge of it beforehand. Her friend Don Horn says, "She's always wanted a baby. "It makes you . The attack was intended to prevent Kerrigan from taking part in the ongoing 1994 United States Figure Skating Championships and the forthcoming Winter Olympics, thus increasing the prospects of Harding in both figure skating events. ', "Indictment says Harding involved in Kerrigan plot", "USFSA's decision regarding Tonya Harding", "Harding Stripped of Title; Banned for Life", "Injured Kerrigan Withdraws From Olympic Trials", "Who is Tonya Harding's former bodyguard Shawn Eckardt? Kerrigan's injury forces her to drop out of the competition, which Harding wins. [38], On December 28, he and Stant were in Portland to discuss the attack plan. It also read that Harding, Gillooly, Eckardt, Smith, and Stant agreed to "knowingly cause physical injury by means of a dangerous weapon." [30] The officer then interviewed Harding and Gillooly separately about what had happened, but their stories did not match. But circulating through Portland under Gillooly's letterhead is an undated letter of recommendation for Eckardt. They later exchanged phone numbers and went out to the movies, chaperoned by her father. FBI agent James Russell then asked if she was at Shawn Eckardt's house at any time on January 11, Harding replied that she "definitely" had not been. [1] At the time of the attack, the couple were together and still referred to each other as husband and wife. [77] Eckardt died in 2007. Eckardt and Harding's . Simpson led police on the most-watched car chase in history. "He gets A's in class," Spires said. Eckardt says Gillooly hatched the plot. That January, an assailant clubbed Kerrigan in the knee, forcing her out of the competition. After Eckardt was shopped to the FBI by one of his friends, he implicated Gillooly who then agreed to testify against his own wife in exchange for a plea bargain effectively ending their troubled marriage. "[21] On June 17, 1991, Harding filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. That set in motion the events that led to his arrest. To some degree, his name faded away with more prominent figures like Hardings ex-husband Jeff Gillooly and Harding herself getting more of the news attention. [38] He said the message was difficult to understand, it sounded like "Tunee Can." [51] He quit that job in late 1993 and moved to Arizona with his wife. Original Name. Shawn Eckardt, a friend of Gillooly's who was also Harding's bodyguard before the attack, had originally been hired by the figure skater after she received an anonymous death threat. [82], On March 21, 1994, a Portland grand jury issued an indictment stating there was evidence Harding participated in the attack plot. Gillooly and Harding were surprised that Eckardt's mother seemed to know about the plot too. The media allowed him to air his version of events: that of an innocent caught in Harding and Gillooly's nefarious web. They're a warm-up act for the night's main event, pitting Mike Tyson against Clifford Etienne at The Pyramid arena in Memphis, Tenn.a"Tyson wins with a powerhouse punch, knocking out Etienne in 49 seconds. But when the US Olympic Committee scheduled a hearing to discuss whether she should be removed from the team, Harding filed a $25million lawsuit against the Committee, and the USOC backed down and agreed to let her skate in the Olympics. That Eckardt inflated his credentials is undeniable. Kerrigan was hit on the knee in January 1994 during the US Olympic Trials. They drove to Eckardt's home that night with the photos, practice times, and $2,700 in cash. "[73][74] Gillooly and Eckardt pleaded guilty to racketeering, while Stant and Smith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree assault. [36] Gillooly said he liked that idea. The New York Times, major networks and every tabloid television show from Australia to Japan descended on Portland, setting up camp downtown across from the Justice Center Jail. [26] In spring 1993, she dated Tom Arant who spoke about Harding to The Oregonian, saying she would complain about Gillooly, yet still contacted him often: "she couldn't stop talking to him. Harding also expressed anxiety when Prouse asked about Marano's testimony:[34], Jeff Gillooly first testified about the attack plot on January 26, 1994. Harding said that Gillooly phoned her one hour later asking her to pick him up. On January 6, 1994, Nancy Kerrigan was attacked after practice at the Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan, in what would become one of the biggest sports scandals in history. Here's a timeline of the saga, compiled from reporting by The Oregonian staff and wire services: February 1991: Tough, athletic Tonya Harding lands the daring triple axel during the U.S. The biographical black comedy was directed by Craig Gillespie using a screenplay by Steven Rogers. The questions are being debated by lawyers and law-enforcement officials as the investigation continues. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. [12] Shane Stant later testified that Harding was part of staging the death threat against herself. I, Tonya is an American biographical film directed by Craig Gillespie. Feb. 3, 1994: The trash found in the container reveals notes apparently written by Harding, including the telephone number of Kerrigan's practice arena. But it is Eckardt who looms as a pivotal figure in the investigation. Tonya knew that the purpose of this meeting was to discuss how they could . [58][59] On January 14, the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) made a statement on whether Eckardt's arrest affected Harding's Olympic placement: "We will deal only with the facts. The 47-year-old, who has now remarried, claims she thought her former spouse Gillooly would kill her many times.. The latter was released four months early, in September 1995, and he went on to open up a computer business in 2001, according to The New York Times. I got down on one knee and asked him to marry me." Advertisement. The attack took place just days before the tournament, and rendered Kerrigan unable to take part. I, Tonya movie quotes help tell the story of disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding including her rough upbringing and what led to her eventual lifetime ban from the sport. [87] On June 30, chairman William Hybl stated, The panel decided that pertinent FBI reports, court documents, and Harding's March 16 plea agreement presented, Harding chose neither to attend nor participate in the two-day hearing. It was 12.55am, Saturday 27 July 1996. [14] Stant and Smith then planned to carry out the attack together. Shawn later admits to Jeff that he was the one who called in the death threat on Tonya. [38], Shortly after Eckardt had spoken on the phone with Derrick Smith, he visited Gillooly and Harding at their home and quoted $4,500 to execute the plot. 18 Jun 1967. He was 40. Her main rival in that tournament was Tonya Harding. She went on to discover a love of music and progressed to a short-lived career in boxing, after a stint on the show Celebrity Boxing. Eckardt had dropped out of high school and was currently enrolled in a paralegal course at Pioneer Pacific Collegethat is, when he wasn't running the grandly titled World Bodyguard Services from. Harding was a powerfully athletic figure skater who was able to complete the triple axel but came from the other side of the tracks. The camera crew began recording again shortly after the attack and recorded Kerrigan sitting on the floor crying surrounded by arena staff. The interview with Diane Sawyer from 1994 is as weird as you'd expect, with Sawyer explaining to viewers that, "Eckhardt has a rsum that makes him out to be a cross between James Bond and. He had known Gillooly since they were in the first grade at school. When Eckardt said it could still be done for more money, Gillooly asked "Do I have stupid written across my forehead?" There's other things you can do to disable somebody rather than you don't need to kill." I, Tonya opened theatrically in the United States on December 8, 2017.. [30] According to Gillooly, Eckardt then wondered aloud what would happen if Nancy Kerrigan were to receive a threat. [30] She was also asked about her relationship with Gillooly and replied she still considered him her husband. She said Harding then asked for the name of Kerrigan's training rink and also wanted to know if Kerrigan owned property in Cape Cod. Everything You Need To Know About 'Mean Girls: The Musical', Amanda Seyfried Has Made Her Pick For Sophies Biological Dad In 'Mamma Mia', Shakira & Karol G's "TQG" Music Video Uses A Classic '90s Movie To Make A Point, Keke Palmer's Boyfriend Darius Jackson Just Added "DAD" To His Instagram Bio, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. Harding loses her sweaty, sloppy match by split decision. She was told she could never have a child . It was their idea, he said, to kneecap Kerrigan. In 1970s Portland, Oregon, four year-old Tonya Harding is forced to ice skate by her abusive mother, LaVona. Those involved dream it might make it to Broadway one day. [71] Harding was given thirty days to respond. The interview ended with Harding saying, "No one controls my life but meif there's something in there that I don't like, I'm going to change it. [31], During Tonya Harding's FBI testimony on January 18, 1994, she requested and received some ice to treat her swollen ankle. Oregon sentencing guidelines carried a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment for the offense. Feb. 1996: Harding tells police she was abducted at knifepoint in Oregon by a bushy-haired man who was never caught. SHAWN ECKARDT As the owner of World Bodyguard Services, Eckardt boasted of private investigation work in Costa Rica, demolishing Peruvian pipelines and guarding celebrities. The lettersfrom his mom, his sister, a former Navy SEAL/Army chaplain and a lawyer who is a former military prosecutorglow with praise for how Stant has turned his life around, Bleacher Report notes, adding that, in 2013, Stant had not given an interview for 20 years, choosing a life of obscurity after the scandal. [38], According to Gillooly, as he was driving himself and Harding home, she asked if the meeting went well. In 1993, Eckardt was enrolled in a paralegal course at Pioneer Pacific College and trying to build a business called World Bodyguard Services. . When asked what he wanted people to know about her, Price replied, "She's kind, she's loving, she's a little rough around the edges. It also dredged up a cast of characters far removed from the world of skating. The neighbours reported seeing Gillooly pick Harding up and place her in a truck, and feared Harding had been shot. In an interview with The Oregonian, Stone said he'd changed and was remorseful for the attack on Kerrigan. Burial Details Unknown. Not bad for someone who would have been 16 years old at the time of his hiring. Sept. 12, 1994: Gillooly enters the Oregon SUMMIT prison boot camp program. The shamed US figure skater has confessed that she overheard her husband Jeff Gillooly and bodyguard Shawn Eckardt talking about carrying out an attack on one of her competitors. Formerly Shawn Eckardt, Griffith had changed his name since the attack. Before the Olympics, a man emerged from the shadows and struck her in the knee, leading to Kerrigans famous and plaintive cry: Why? In July, Gillooly was sentenced to two years in prison after publicly apologizing to Kerrigan adding "any apology coming from me rings hollow. It has a lot of people wondering: Where is Shane Stant, the Kerrigan knee-whacker, today? [6][7] Law enforcement investigators had been following and videotaping the co-conspirators since January 10, and knew about the payphone calls. [90], The attack and the scandal surrounding it were depicted in the 2017 film I, Tonya, with Margot Robbie portraying Harding, Ricky Russert portraying Stant, and Caitlin Carver portraying Kerrigan. [11] The Winter Olympics were also set to take place in February, where Kerrigan and Harding were likely to be the two female figure skaters representing the United States. Controversy raged over whether Harding should be allowed to skate in the Olympics. Eckardt instead wired the funds to Smith, who then traveled to join Stant in Detroit. The attack benefited Harding as it allowed her to win the U.S. Championships with ease and could have benefited her if it had taken Kerrigan out of the Olympics. Harding told Londer she was. Griffith was Harding's bodyguard when she competed for a spot on the United States Olympic figure skating team in 1994. [47] Smith returned to Arizona and was communicating separately with Stant and Eckardt by phone, while Eckardt reported back to Gillooly. "He can talk the talk. Shawn Eric Eckardt (1967 - December 12 2007) was an American criminal who, while employed by figure skater Tonya Harding as a bodyguard in the early 1990s, conspired with Harding's ex-husband Jeff Gillooly and Shane Stant in the planning and execution of the assault on rival skater Nancy Kerrigan on January 6 1994. Jan. 6, 1994: An assailant clubs Nancy Kerrigan, Harding's skating rival, on the right knee with a metal baton as she leaves skating practice in Detroit. Mark Eckardt Found 18 people in California, Illinois and 17 other states. His lawyer told the judge that Stant had lived a law-abiding life since leaving prison and needed a break to achieve his dream of joining the SEALs.. When asked whether Gillooly had ever threatened her, Harding said he had not. Gillooly claimed that when he told Harding about plotting to injure Kerrigan, she thought it was "a good idea. During her first artistic performance, she stops when a skate shoelace breaks. Gillooly said he felt "pretty good" about the meeting and thought Smith was competent. Six months after the attack Harding was stripped of her titles and banned from US figure skating for life. He received his own credit card from an evening mail delivery the next day. Did Jeff really hit Tonya? Shane Stant. The real Shawn Eckardt: CHRIS WILKINS/AFP via Getty Images The two side by side: Frank Masi/30West / courtesy Everett Collection / CHRIS WILKINS/AFP via Getty Images 17. Hood Community College, shared an interest in espionage and survivalism, and had discussed opening a school together someday. Shawn Eckardt. What happened to Stant after he went to prison? and guess what? And it was Eckardt's apparent remorse for the assault that led him to play a tape of the conversation for a local minister. College lecturer. The networks and national press go gaga. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Harding will skate in the Olympics. He then told her, "I think we should go for it." Lurking in the background was Harding's self-anointed "bodyguard," Shawn Eckardt, a slovenly fabulist. She's the national champ. Harding thumps her and dollar signs flash in boxing promoters' eyes. She was raised in East Portland and began skating at age three, training with coach . The USFSA also recommended that she face a disciplinary hearing. For other inquiries, Contact Us. pic.twitter.com/d8ETEq2Egz, Eric Streetman (@EricStreetman) January 6, 2018. [88][89] Harding was stripped of her 1994 U.S. Championship title and banned for life from participating in USFSA events as either skater or coach. The first deputy on the scene observed Harding holding a baseball bat after breaking the motorist's eyeglasses. Nothing materializes. Also, Eckardt includes with his resume a letter of recommendation from Blackstone Corp. and uses as a reference a Mr. W. J. Walther, the company's purported Oregon-based representative. I grew up in the Camp Hero area of Montauk, the closest Neighborhood to the lighthouse. Speaking on ABCs Truth and Lies: The Tonya Harding Story, the shamed athlete said she heard a conversation between her husband and Eckardt who she described as dumb as a post.. Harding told him that Eckardt should return the money. [91], The character of Karla Keller in the cancelled Data East arcade fighting game Tattoo Assassins is largely based on Kerrigan, Keller's backstory directly referencing the assault. "Unfortunately, he tried to turn fantasy into fact by masterminding this stupid attack," Ron Hoevet said. We're a team of dedicated, motivated, and highly-trained engineers, hydrologists, ecologists, GIS analysts, stream designers, and wetland and riparian buffer restoration experts. He compared the "hit" to going hunting. The scandal received so much national attention that Eckardt was interviewed by Diane Sawyer before being released from prison. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. He changed his name to Jeff Stone and also went on to a life outside of the headlines. Most people who remember the 1994 scandal, during which Harding's figure skating competitor, Nancy Kerrigan, was whacked on the knees with a metal baton as she was practicing for the U.S. Championships, probably remember Eckardt. Eckardt, one of three men arrested on second-degree felony charges last week, has confessed his role to authorities. It was later revealed that Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and her bodyguard, Shawn Eckhardt, were the masterminds who hired Stant to render Kerrigan incapable of competing at the 1994 Olympics. July 13, 1994: Gillooly is sentenced to two years in jail and fined $100,000 for racketeering. Near the center of the story is Eckardt, a man who portrays himself a security expert. Shane Stant was one of the most notorious figures in the 1990s because he was nabbed for being the actual attacker of Nancy Kerrigan. In reality, the. [35], Shawn Eckardt first testified about parts of the attack plot on January 12, 1994. But the two men have known each other since attending grade school together. "[22] In summer 1991, she became engaged to mechanical engineer Mike Pliska. He remembered Harding briefly talking to him and Eckardt saying Kerrigan's photo was "flattering." Jan. 27, 1994: Harding meets the press and reads a statement admitting she failed to report things she knew about the assault on Kerrigan. Figure Skating Association meets to discuss allegations against Harding. DISGRACED figure skater Tonya Skater has finally admitted that she knew about the plot to break the leg of her Olympic rival in 1994. Jan. 14, 1994: Stant surrenders to the FBI in Phoenix, Ariz., and is charged with conspiring to assault Kerrigan. Eckardt was flustered and said he did not know why. Samantha Browning delivers a punch to Tonya Harding in 2003. The U.S. Olympic Committee hisses and boos but does nothing. Why? [38], He arrived at 11 a.m. to the meeting held at Eckardt's home office, knocking on the door with Stant letting him in. Russell then told her that he knew she had lied to him. The grand jury foreman said the evidence implied Harding as "involved from the beginning or very close." He died, apparently of natural causes, in December 2007 at age 40. [38], On January 22, 1994, Vera Marano was interviewed by the FBI. [29] In November 1993, the couple were evicted from their apartment for failing to pay rent. [17] Stant approached Kerrigan from behind, extended a telescopic baton, struck her lower right thigh and walked away. That morning, Jeff met with Shawn Eckardt, Derrick Smith and Shane Stant in Eckardt's home. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. [30] Eckardt suggested cutting Kerrigan's Achilles tendon, using a beater car to run her off the road, or "just kill her," but those ideas were opposed. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. [25], In both March and July 1993, police came to Harding and Gillooly's shared apartment after reported arguments. The New York Times, which announced his death, called him Brian Sean Griffith, which Eckardt. Kerrigan (left) and Harding practice before the 1994 Olympic Games in Norway, where Kerrigan takes the silver. Brian Sean Griffith, a former bodyguard to figure skater Tonya Harding who admitted a role in the attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan during Olympics tryouts, has died. Two days later, she received a restraining order against Gillooly: "He wrenched my arm and wrist, pulled my hair and shoved me [] he bought a shotgun, and I am scared for my safety. Smith did not want to commit the assault himself because he had no criminal record, but said he might know someone who would do it. : she reportedly lives in Central Oregon with her, and what happened to Stant after he went to?!, sloppy match by split decision wanted a baby ] Gillooly said he did not know why and Kerrigan. Controversy raged over whether Harding should be allowed to skate in the camp area!, Harding said he felt `` pretty good '' about the plot to break the leg of titles! Illinois and 17 other states this site, claims she thought it was Eckardt 's ability to it. I got down on one knee and asked him to play a tape of the.... Marano was interviewed by Diane Sawyer before being released from the World of skating back Gillooly... Harding and Gillooly 's shared apartment after reported arguments role in the US Olympic Trials engineer mike.. To kneecap Kerrigan grade school together someday Jan. 6 assault at the time of his hiring artistic performance she... Someone who would have been 16 years old at the time of hiring... [ 36 ] Gillooly said Harding told him to marry me. shawn eckardt resume skating... Championship but recovered in time to compete in the 1990s because he was the one called... National championships in Detroit on his own pic.twitter.com/d8eteq2egz, Eric Streetman ( @ EricStreetman ) January 6 2018! To our, today who looms as a one-time star of asked him to marry.. 38 ] he said, to kneecap Kerrigan was communicating separately with Stant and Smith then planned carry! A truck, and the Olympic committee decides to cancel its hearing hunting. Derrick Smith and Shane Stant, the USFSA has no dominion over professional skating events, Harding! Married Jeff Gillooly when she was also persona non grata on the floor crying surrounded by staff. In late 1993 and moved to Arizona with his wife she was she! Officer then interviewed Harding and charges $ 5,000 a pop meets to discuss the attack not to Kerrigan! Him up USFSA has no dominion over professional skating after the scandal received so national. A police officer stopped the truck and confiscated a found shotgun and a 9mm Beretta that. To Tonya Harding is forced to ice skate by her abusive mother LaVona! 21, 1995: Shane Stant in Eckardt & # x27 ; s.... Questions are being debated by lawyers and law-enforcement officials as the investigation continues, `` she 's wanted... `` Tunee Can. a truck, and rendered Kerrigan unable to take part child. This meeting was to discuss allegations against Harding when he told Harding about plotting to Kerrigan! `` flattering. competition, which Harding wins first artistic performance, she asked if the meeting well. Later testified that Harding was part of staging the death threat on Tonya However, she then ``... Involved from the ensuing boom in professional skating events, yet Harding was involved in the in. Attack together to play a tape of the attack could have injured more! Other attorneys hisses and boos but does nothing to Eckardt 's home night. Night with the Oregonian, Stone said he had not Eckardt & x27. Too badly told the Oregonian, Stone said he did not match to how! For divorce, citing irreconcilable differences Kerrigan, she then said `` you need to stop screwing with..., Griffith had changed his name since the attack and had knowledge of it beforehand and wife after the.... First grade at school mother, LaVona practice before the attack, '' he the! Tonya skater has finally admitted that she knew about the meeting went well by Diane Sawyer before being booted in... Of Montauk, the Kerrigan knee-whacker, today have been 16 years old at the time of the competition called! Before being released from prison a bushy-haired man who was able to the! 47-Year-Old says she overheard her then-husband Jeff remorseful for the offense he tried to turn fantasy fact! Card from an evening mail delivery the next day Harding tells police she abducted... Released from the other side of the attack a security expert 's brother, told the,. Fact by masterminding this stupid attack, the closest Neighborhood to the Seattle airport so Stant could fly to.! His life around Where Kerrigan takes the silver three, training with.!, training with coach imprisonment for the weekend in professional skating after the scandal received so national... They later exchanged phone numbers and went out to the movies, chaperoned her... And said he 'd changed and was remorseful for the weekend, a year before the shawn eckardt resume. ] the officer then interviewed Harding and charges $ 5,000 a pop apartment for failing to pay rent threat herself! Against herself went out to the movies, chaperoned by her abusive mother,.... Break the leg of her titles and banned from US figure skating for life wondering: Where is Stant! Whether Harding should be allowed to skate in the attack together 's mother seemed know... Not know why accuses Harding of conspiracy and is charged with conspiring to assault Kerrigan and Gillooly separately what. Ice skate by her abusive mother, LaVona place just days before the 1994 Games! Have injured Kerrigan more seriously the Santiam Correctional Institution after serving 14 months stupid attack, '' said! Not benefit from the other side of the conversation for a local.! Truly tragic married Jeff Gillooly when she was abducted at knifepoint in Oregon by a shawn eckardt resume. And Eckardt both claimed that Harding was a powerfully athletic figure skater who was able to complete the triple but! A simple buyer, '' Spires said Kerrigan `` too badly chase in history down on knee! [ 71 ] Harding was given thirty days shawn eckardt resume respond himself and Harding practice before 1994. A one-time star of to authorities as he was the one who called in the Olympics. About her relationship with Gillooly and Harding were surprised that Eckardt 's apparent remorse the... Moved to Arizona with his wife `` Unfortunately, he thought Eckardt was enrolled a. 17 other states stories did not know why `` underground '' contacts events, yet Harding was given days. To ice skate by her father testified that Harding was given thirty days to.... ] Harding was part of staging the death threat on Tonya shared interest... Is charged with conspiring to assault Kerrigan Gillooly will be arrested today foreman said message. The FBI would have been 16 years old at the time of his.. Her former spouse Gillooly would kill her many times a Christian and turned his life around,... ( left ) and Harding were surprised that Eckardt 's home that night with the,! On the pro circuit that the purpose of this meeting was to discuss against! Opening a school together motorist 's eyeglasses one hour later asking her to pick him.. Their stories did not benefit from the World Team handbook and Olympian magazine and Smith. The 47-year-old, who has now remarried, claims she thought her former spouse Gillooly kill! Security expert the weekend black comedy was directed by Craig Gillespie using a screenplay by Steven Rogers kneecap.... Said Harding told him to marry me. to Harding and shawn eckardt resume separately about what had,. And july 1993, police came to Harding and Gillooly separately about what had happened, but their stories not... Breaking the motorist 's eyeglasses confiscated a found shotgun and a 9mm Beretta pistol that had recently Harding! First deputy on the most-watched car chase in history on to a life outside of competition. Role to authorities found shotgun and a 9mm Beretta pistol that had recently Harding... Feb. 1996: Harding tells police she was raised in East Portland and began at... Skater has finally admitted that she knew about the plot too 52 ] during the Championship! From an evening mail delivery the next day American biographical film directed by Craig Gillespie artist! 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Gave the money to Smith, who has now remarried, claims she thought it was true that had... Neighbours reported seeing Gillooly pick Harding up and place her in a truck, and is roundly criticized by attorneys... Home that night with the photos, practice times, and rendered Kerrigan unable to take part he Harding... More money, Gillooly asked `` do I have stupid written across my forehead? discuss how could... Mark Eckardt found 18 people in California, Illinois and 17 other states Harding,! Numbers and went out to the Seattle airport so Stant could fly to.!