Kerrigan, who was attacked in Detroit after a training session, only suffered bruising and managed to win Silver at that years games in Norway. Figure Skating Association meets to discuss allegations against Harding. On June 29, the USFSA disciplinary panel met for nine hours over two days to consider Harding's alleged role in the attack. She said: I did, however, overhear them talking about stuff where, well, maybe we should take somebody out to make sure she gets on the team., "I go what the hell are you talking about?, The skater, from Portland, Oregan, calls herself a pawn who paid the ultimate price., She said: I'm always the bad person. "), Feb. 19, 2011: Harding gives birth to a baby boy. [94], The event is referenced in the songs "Strange Clouds" by B.o.B featuring Lil Wayne, "Tonya Harding" by Sufjan Stevens, and TONYA by Brockhampton.[95][96]. The neighbours reported seeing Gillooly pick Harding up and place her in a truck, and feared Harding had been shot. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Ads by BeenVerified. 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. She then angrily asked him why "this thing" (the plot) was not completed. [50][51] Smith then applied for a police officer job and was waiting for his interview to be scheduled before Eckardt told him about possible bodyguard work in Oregon. And NBC News reported last night that Gillooly will be arrested today. Controversy raged over whether Harding should be allowed to skate in the Olympics. 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. Why? Feb. 1996: Harding tells police she was abducted at knifepoint in Oregon by a bushy-haired man who was never caught. Simpson's girlfriend." "[53], Shane Stant first testified about the attack plot after he turned himself in to the FBI on January 14, 1994. Oregon sentencing guidelines carried a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment for the offense. She said she worked as a freelance writer and had written some figure skating articles about Harding, regularly trading phone calls with her. /tristate/2021/07/23/caught-in-a-lie-nest-seekers-50m-amagansett-listing-sold-for-16-5m Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Kerrigan could not compete in the US Championship but recovered in time to compete in the Winter Olympics. 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. [30] She was also asked about her relationship with Gillooly and replied she still considered him her husband. 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. Would love your thoughts, please comment. But the life beefy bodyguard Shawn Eric Eckardt portrayed in a resume filled with misspellings and apparent misstatements is vastly different from the facts. She's a redneck, but she's my redneck. But the life beefy bodyguard Shawn Eric Eckardt portrayed in a resume filled with misspellings and apparent misstatements is vastly different from the facts. In the Attack on Olympic Skater", "Gillooly Pleads Guilty, Says Harding Approved Plot", "Harding's ex-husband says she helped to plan attack Attorney: 'What Did Tonya Know And When? Death. Eckardt said Harding then skated up to him and commiserated about his ongoing back pain. Griffith was Harding's bodyguard when she competed for a spot on the United States Olympic figure skating team in 1994. "Eckardt just couldn't keep up with the training, and we terminated him," said Tom Duggan, the school's training manager. [30] He then worked in Milwaukie, Oregon as a group home coordinator for Developmental Systems Inc., a company that employed and trained mentally retarded adults to sort laundry hangers. It could not be confirmed if Gillooly wrote the letter, however. [17] Stant approached Kerrigan from behind, extended a telescopic baton, struck her lower right thigh and walked away. April 30, 1994: The NBC docudrama "Tonya and Nancy: The Inside Story" debuts to lukewarm ratings. [16] The attack severely bruised her knee and quadriceps tendon and forced her to withdraw from the U.S. In 2018, she said she had prior knowledge of Gillooly and Eckardt discussing "[taking] out" one of her competitors in late 1993. [57] On January 13, Eckardt and Smith were arrested. One of them included Harding's bodyguard, and what happened to Shawn Eckardt is truly tragic. 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. The USFSA also recommended that she face a disciplinary hearing. Gillooly said he felt "pretty good" about the meeting and thought Smith was competent. Near the center of the story is Eckardt, a man who portrays himself a security expert. Kerrigan (left) and Harding practice before the 1994 Olympic Games in Norway, where Kerrigan takes the silver. 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. and guess what? 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. [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. [30] Marano then called a USFSA contact to find the name of the rink and left a message on Harding and Gillooly's answering machine. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Brian Sean Griffith, the former bodyguard to Tonya Harding, has died. [1] At the time of the attack, the couple were together and still referred to each other as husband and wife. This inspires Jeff Gillooly and Shawn Eckhardt (his friend, her "bodyguard") to plan their own attack. Harding told him that Eckardt should return the money. 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. Movies. health (support- familywize) thank you to our united way supporters, sponsors and partners; campaign Simpson led police on the most-watched car chase in history. 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. [52] During the meeting, he thought Eckardt was leading Gillooly to think he had many "underground" contacts. A Portland minister, Eugene Saunders, tells investigators he's heard of tape of Eckardt, Gillooly and friend Shane M. Stant discussing the "hit.". 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. 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. That Eckardt inflated his credentials is undeniable. I knew something was up, confessed Harding, who still insists she had no role in the vicious attack. Mike Skinner, Eckardt's brother, told The Oregonian, "Shawn Eckardt died a long time ago. Jan. 18, 1994: Harding separates from Gillooly after meeting with investigators for more than 10 hours. Jan. 4, 1994: On the way to Detroit for the U.S. Gillooly's attorney, Ron Hoevet, accuses Harding of conspiracy and is roundly criticized by other attorneys. 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. Phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading people search directory for contact information and public records. TV Shows. O.J. [38], Gillooly testified that by January 1994, he and Harding were upset that the plot had apparently failed. . [30][38] Eckardt introduced Gillooly to Derrick Smith, using only his first name, Stant was introduced as Smith's "friend." The first deputy on the scene observed Harding holding a baseball bat after breaking the motorist's eyeglasses. He was interested in bodybuilding, martial arts, and helping Smith open his training camp someday. Ten days later, Harding's lawyer asked the restraining order to be lifted because the couple again wished to reconcile. Smith was waiting in a car outside and acted as a getaway driver. Oct. 7, 1994: The Tonya Harding Fan Club, which grew to nearly 2,000 members during this Olympic year, begins disbanding. [62] On January 15, Harding and Gillooly spoke with reporters, but declined to comment about the investigation. Jan. 15, 1994: Figure skating officials meet to decide whether Harding can compete in the Olympics in February. Tonya Harding's bodyguard Shawn Eckardt (Paul Walter Hauser) made international headlines when he sat down with Diane Sawyer. Gillooly and Harding were surprised that Eckardt's mother seemed to know about the plot too. [49] He was the son of Derrick Smith's wife's sister. Jan. 22, 1994: Investigators fly to Los Angeles to interview Kerrigan, who's filming a commercial there. Harding said that Gillooly phoned her one hour later asking her to pick him up. 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. Eckardt then offered more money than Gillooly stated and said more bodyguard work would follow. [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. Why? That man was Shane Stant. During Harding's youth, her father held various odd jobs (managed apartments, drove a truck, and worked at a bait & tackle store), yet was often underemployed due to poor health. Eckardt and Harding's . Shawn later admits to Jeff that he was the one who called in the death threat on Tonya. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He knew his nephew, Shane Stant, was currently unemployed so Smith told him about his conversation with Eckardt. Jan. 11, 1994: The FBI begins investigating an allegation that Eckardt and Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, orchestrated the attack on Kerrigan. [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. 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. [19] In 1988, the couple moved into a home together, and Harding claimed she began experiencing physical abuse from Gillooly. Jan. 10, 1994: Harding returns to Portland escorted by Shawn E. Eckardt, her bodyguard. He remembered Harding briefly talking to him and Eckardt saying Kerrigan's photo was "flattering." "[21][24], On March 10, 1992, Harding had a roadside physical altercation with a female motorist in Portland, Oregon. They also found two photos of Kerrigan from the World Team handbook and Olympian magazine. Stant said he would not cut anyone. There's other things you can do to disable somebody rather than you don't need to kill." Multnomah County authorities arrest Eckardt and Smith, charging them with conspiracy to commit second-degree assault. The hitman was Shane. Her friend Don Horn says, "She's always wanted a baby. The events -- and the ramshackle cast or characters behind them -- fascinated and disturbed Portlanders and the nation. Jan. 23, 1994: Investigators say they have enough evidence to arrest Harding but want to build an airtight case before going forward. Just six years later in Dec. 2007, Eckardt passed away in Portland, Oregon, at just 40 years old. View our online Press Pack. "[37] However, she was skeptical about Eckardt's ability to arrange it. The new Hollywood movie on the ice skating caper, the Fargo-esque and well-received I, Tonya is changing that. After the meeting, Gillooly left, returning that night to pay Eckardt in cash. Meanwhile, Harding has steadfastly denied knowing anything about the . The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. She's allowed to continue, but the magic is gone. And it was Eckardt's apparent remorse for the assault that led him to play a tape of the conversation for a local minister. Kerrigan's injury forces her to drop out of the competition, which Harding wins. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Tonya Harding prepared Monday for her first questioning by the district attorney amid reports that her ex-husband was about to be arrested and that funds from the U.S. She agreed to reimburse Multnomah County $10,000 in legal expenses, undergo a psychiatric examination, and volunteered to give $50,000 to the Special Olympics Oregon (SOOR) charity. A judge places her on probation for three years and orders her to pay $160,000 in fines and contributions. On January 1, 1994, she had a late-night skating session from 11:30 p.m to 1 a.m., and Gillooly asked Eckardt to meet them at the rink. March 21, 1994: A Multnomah County grand jury indicts Eckardt, Smith and Stant on charges including racketeering and conspiracy to commit second-degree assault. But . They settled on injuring Kerrigan's right leg. Why? Harding said she protested that she wanted to win fairly, and asked them what they were talking about. We pay forvideostoo. When I found out that the truth was finally going to come out., She continued: My skating was great. Russell then advised her that while concealing criminal knowledge did not violate Oregon law, lying to the FBI would violate federal law. She was raised in East Portland and began skating at age three, training with coach . Stant said no. In this Jan. 12, 1992, file photo, Tonya Harding, left, and Nancy Kerrigan appear at the U.S. Griffith died . Formerly Shawn Eckardt, Griffith had changed his name since the attack in an attempt to put it behind him. With no record of military service, Eckardt boasts that his skills include unconventional warfare, surveillance, psychological operations and something he calls the "Secret Service characteristics matrix for assassins." He claims to have worked as a counterintelligence specialist for a Swiss company 10 . [30][38] On December 27, Harding phoned her friend Vera Marano, a Pennsylvania figure skating writer, saying she and Gillooly had a "bet" about where Nancy Kerrigan trained. [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. He had known Gillooly since they were in the first grade at school. June 23, 2010: Harding, 39, marries, Joseph Jens Price, 42, in Clark County, Wash. (She later told Inside Edition it was she who proposed: "It was at his birthday party. On December 28, Harding finished her practice session at 10:30a.m., then Gillooly drove them to Eckardt's home. Feb. 1999: Harding says the way has been cleared for her return to skating, but United States Figure Skating Association officials say her status has not changed. According to him, she did phone the arena asking for Kerrigan's "patch and freestyle times," and phoned again for the address. All together, it makes for a fascinating look at some of the early '90s' most intriguing people, from Eckardt to Harding herself. "Eckardt is a very intelligent idiot," said Jerry Spires, a private investigator who was one of Eckardt's instructors at Pioneer Pacific College in nearby Wilsonville. In 2005, Stant asked a judge to clear his felony record so he could try to become a Navy Seal. Shane Stant, Smith's nephew, initially planned to carry out the attack by himself and had travelled to Kerrigan's home rink in Cape Cod in late December 1993, but was unable to locate her. During her first artistic performance, she stops when a skate shoelace breaks. "[38][42], He said the men would need another photo of Kerrigan and her "skating times." "[97], Cobo Arena, the site of the attack, pictured here in 2007, 1994 United States Figure Skating Championships, United States Figure Skating Championships, "Third Suspect Arrested by F.B.I. 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. Gillooly said Harding told him to tear off the magazine's mailing label because it had their home address. March 13, 2002: Harding puts up her dukes against former presidential pal Paula Jones on Fox's "Celebrity Boxing." [51] He quit that job in late 1993 and moved to Arizona with his wife. Read more about what happened to Jeff Gillooly after the Kerrigan attack here. The attack was planned by Jeff Gillooly, the ex-husband of fellow American figure skater Tonya Harding, and his co-conspirator Shawn Eckardt. But my life was in shambles.. Formerly Shawn Eckardt, Griffith served 14 months for his role in the 1994 attack on Harding's. As the Bleacher Report explains, Stants uncle, Derrick Smith, called Stant, who was 22 at the time, in 1993 and asked if Stant would hurt somebody for money. Stant told the FBI that Smith asked him if he would take down a skater. The Bleacher Report added, A man named Shawn Eckardt called and said it would involve slicing the skaters Achilles tendon. Eckardt set up a meeting with Derrick Smith and Shane . Her pickup won't start. The man was later found to have been hired by Harding's ex-husband Jeff Gillooly and his friend, Shawn Eckardt. 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. Allowed to continue, but the life beefy bodyguard Shawn Eric Eckardt portrayed in a resume filled with and... Interested in bodybuilding, martial arts, and helping Smith open his training camp someday: skating. Than you do n't need to kill. Portland, Oregon, just. Arrange it he quit that job in late 1993 and moved to Arizona with his wife and News... Died a long time ago youtubes privacy policy is available here and youtubes terms of is... 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