1476 (D. Or. [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. The group schedules a disciplinary hearing and gives Harding 30 days to respond to charges that she did something detrimental to the welfare of figure skating. March 13, 2002: Harding puts up her dukes against former presidential pal Paula Jones on Fox's "Celebrity Boxing." A grand jury continues to hear testimony. "[37] However, she was skeptical about Eckardt's ability to arrange it. [12] Shane Stant later testified that Harding was part of staging the death threat against herself. To some degree, his name faded away with more prominent figures. "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." A Portland minister, Eugene Saunders, tells investigators he's heard of tape of Eckardt, Gillooly and friend Shane M. Stant discussing the "hit.". Just six years later in Dec. 2007, Eckardt passed away in Portland, Oregon, at just 40 years old. Eckardt did not know where exactly Stant was and told Gillooly that Smith needed more money. 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. Eckardt instead wired the funds to Smith, who then traveled to join Stant in Detroit. "[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. [75][76] Judge Donald Londer noted the attack could have injured Kerrigan more seriously. Shawn Eckhardt Found 11 people in Pennsylvania, Virginia and 12 other states. 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. "But he kind of wanted to make more of himself then he was. [44] Eckardt claimed he had a contract to disable a female figure skater issued by her rival's husband, that it involved good money because one of the rival's sponsors was George Steinbrenner. There is no other person than Brian Griffith," following the bodyguard's passing. 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. Eckhardt contacted Smith, who hired his nephew Shane Stant as Kerrigan's hit man. The neighbours reported seeing Gillooly pick Harding up and place her in a truck, and feared Harding had been shot. On January 6, 1994, Nancy Kerrigan, an American figure skater, was struck on the lower right thigh with a telescopic baton by assailant Shane Stant as she walked down a corridor in Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Feb. 1998: Fox Broadcasting airs the first-ever face-to-face interview between figure skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan. Meanwhile, Harding has steadfastly denied knowing anything about the . [23] On October 2, at approximately 3 a.m., neighbours of the couple called the police when they heard them arguing outside and a single gunshot. 1940) and Albert Harding (1933-2009). Arrested for their roles in the attack were Derrick Smith and Stant, two men who liked to set booby-traps and play war together on property they shared in Corbett, Ore. And there were tales of Eckardt trying to entice a fellow student, Russell "Rusty" Rietz, to "kill someone" in Detroit for $65,000. 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. 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. [62] On January 15, Harding and Gillooly spoke with reporters, but declined to comment about the investigation. His grandmother, Mae Loomis, is cited for menacing after taking a few potshots at a KGW reporter who had gone to her Corbett home for an interview. Here, Kerrigan exclaimed the now-famous line, "Why? [38], On December 28, he and Stant were in Portland to discuss the attack plan. According to ESPN, Stant had moved to Southern California, where he embarked on a career in marketing. [23] In autumn 1991, Harding dated a Canadian banker. Barack Obama referenced the attack while giving a speech in 2007 in Iowa during his run in the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries, stating "Folks said there's no way Obama has a chance unless he goes and kneecaps the person ahead of us, does a Tonya Harding. "[23] Harding was granted another restraining order and filed for divorce. Death. The scandal received so much national attention that Eckardt was interviewed by Diane Sawyer before being released from prison. 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.. [49] He was the son of Derrick Smith's wife's sister. The whole thing created such a stir that it became a national sensation, and Eckardt was a key figure throughout the whole investation. This inspires Jeff Gillooly and Shawn Eckhardt (his friend, her "bodyguard") to plan their own attack. He said he was offended and declined. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). We've played chess together.". 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], He arrived at 11 a.m. to the meeting held at Eckardt's home office, knocking on the door with Stant letting him in. Jan. 22, 1994: Investigators fly to Los Angeles to interview Kerrigan, who's filming a commercial there. The camera crew began recording again shortly after the attack and recorded Kerrigan sitting on the floor crying surrounded by arena staff. Harding speaks to the media after "Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera" in 2008. The now 47-year-old says she overheard her then-husband Jeff. When Eckardt arrived, Gillooly agreed to pay more if Kerrigan could still be disabled before the Nationals competition. [38] On December 25, Gillooly had an answering machine message from Smith asking for more details about the plan. Each juicy tidbit made headlines and newscasts. The questions are being debated by lawyers and law-enforcement officials as the investigation continues. His resume says he worked in New Zealand and has been schooled at an elite executive protection academy in Aspen, Colo. From 1984 until 1988, the resume says Eckardt worked as a "contract specialists officer" for The Blackstone Corp in Laussane, Switzerland. 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. Eckardt is dead. During her first artistic performance, she stops when a skate shoelace breaks. Nancy Kerrigan had already finished her practice session and departed to Stoneham, Massachusetts for the weekend. As you can tell, each relationship featured I, Tonya, is fraught with built-up animosity. "[73][74] Gillooly and Eckardt pleaded guilty to racketeering, while Stant and Smith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree assault. His forte: counterterrorism. Harding was a powerfully athletic figure skater who was able to complete the triple axel but came from the other side of the tracks. In July, Gillooly was sentenced to two years in prison after publicly apologizing to Kerrigan adding "any apology coming from me rings hollow. Figure Skating Championships in Orlando, Fla. Nothing materializes. The U.S. Olympic Committee hisses and boos but does nothing. Shawn later admits to Jeff that he was the one who called in the death threat on Tonya. Who's in the audience on opening night? TV Shows. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, call 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1 (800) 799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org. At the time, many saw Harding's meltdown as karma: She was competing at the Olympics despite having maybe, possibly helped her ex-husband (Jeff Gillooly) and bodyguard (Shawn Eckhardt) plan an. GettyUS figure skaters Tonya Harding (L) and Nancy Kerrigan avoid each other during a training session 17 February in Hamar, Norway, during the Winter Olympics. Jan. 15, 1994: Figure skating officials meet to decide whether Harding can compete in the Olympics in February. [35], Shawn Eckardt first testified about parts of the attack plot on January 12, 1994. Hoevet added that Eckardt was paid $3,500 by the Harding camp to provide security as the skater arrived at Portland International Airport, and accompany her on a planned trip to last week's pre-Olympic skating exhibition in Fairfax, Va. "[27] That summer, a man from Harding's gym claimed to The Oregonian that Harding offered to pay him to "take care" of Gillooly, "slap him around a little." She and her lawyer, Robert Weaver, negotiated a plea agreement ensuring no further prosecution. Weaver said the decision disappointed her but was not a surprise, and that she had not decided on an appeal. [12] Shane Stant later testified that Harding was part of staging the death threat against herself. Tonya & Nancy: The Inside Story (TV Movie 1994) Dan Schneider as Shawn Eckhardt. Gillooly and Eckardt both claimed that Harding was involved in the attack and had knowledge of it beforehand. Harding then admitted that she had fired the gun and was worried about the publicity. Former Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding is opening up up about her relationship with her mother, her notorious past and her reaction to the new film about her life, I, Tonya, in a interview with. 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 claims to have worked for the Blackstone Corp. as a contract operations specialist in Switzerland from 1984 to 1987. A Resume Filled With. When Kerrigan hosted Saturday Night Live in 1994 after the Winter Olympics in which the figure skater ended up winning the silver medal Chris Farley and Rob Schneider parodied Eckardt and Gillooly, respectively. Before the Olympics, a man emerged from the shadows and struck her in the knee, leading to Kerrigans famous and plaintive cry: Why? Harding's mother, LaVona, said she opposed the marriage: "I knew Jeff had a violent streak [] he tried to break down the door because he thought [Tonya] had gone out with another boy. [80][73][81] Harding's penalties included three years of probation, a $100,000 fine, and 500 hours community service. Smith and Stant plead guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree assault and are led away in handcuffs to begin their 18-month prison sentences. [70] The panel examined evidence including the testimonies of Stant and Smith, Harding and Gillooly's telephone records, and notes found in a Portland saloon trash bin on January 30. [28][24], On August 28, 1993, Harding and Gillooly were granted a divorce. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Check social media profiles, resumes and CV, places of employment, photos and videos, news, public records, publications, skilled experts and arrest records . . But did he plot the Jan. 6 assault at the national championships in Detroit on his own? [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. Ten days later, Harding's lawyer asked the restraining order to be lifted because the couple again wished to reconcile. He died,. After the meeting, he and Stant agreed not to injure Kerrigan "too badly. Eckardt and Harding's . Her plea admissions were knowing of the assault plot after the fact, settling on a cover story with Gillooly and Eckardt on January 10, witnessing payphone calls to Smith affirming the story on January 10 and 11, and lying to FBI. All Information about Shawn Eckhardt Shane Stant Today: Where Is the Nancy Kerrigan Attacker Now? health (support- familywize) thank you to our united way supporters, sponsors and partners; campaign Gillooly was told his money would be returned if the deed was not completed. [92][93], The attack was mentioned in Weird Al Yankovic's song "Headline News", a parody of the Crash Test Dummies hit "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm". As Tonya grows up, her parents take her out of school to focus on her skating career, and she trains under coach . Mark Eckardt Found 18 people in California, Illinois and 17 other states. Eckardt said Harding then skated up to him and commiserated about his ongoing back pain. Other networks decide to pass on producing more made-for-television films on the subject. "He can talk the talk. Had social media been born back then, Portland would have been the center of the Twitterverse. "[30], When Derrick Smith was first interviewed by FBI on January 12, 1994, he held to the cover story that had been agreed upon with his co-conspirators until later in the day when he confessed to his part in the plot. Harding also expressed anxiety when Prouse asked about Marano's testimony:[34], Jeff Gillooly first testified about the attack plot on January 26, 1994. [51] He quit that job in late 1993 and moved to Arizona with his wife. Shawn Eckardt was the bodyguard of figure skater Tonya Harding and was involved in the planning of the 1994 attack on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan at Cobo Arena in Detroit. When he told her about their "money-back guarantee," Harding laughed out loud. Director Craig Gillepsie and screenwriter Steven Rogers put a unique, satirical, mockumentary twist on the ice skating sports story that defined the . The extraordinary story is the subject of a critically acclaimed movie I, Tonya which stars Wolf of Wall Street actress Margot Robbie as Harding. Anyone who has seen the raucous biopic "I, Tonya" knows that one of the film's highlights is Shawn Eckhardt, Jeff Gillooly's aloof best friend and "bodyguard" to Tonya Harding . [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. "Unfortunately, he tried to turn fantasy into fact by masterminding this stupid attack," Ron Hoevet said. [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. 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. Jan. 10, 1994: Harding returns to Portland escorted by Shawn E. Eckardt, her bodyguard. Read more about what happened to Jeff Gillooly after the Kerrigan attack here. Feb. 1, 1994: Gillooly pleads guilty to racketeering in exchange for a 24-month sentence. Shawn Eckardt, 'I, Tonya' Image via NEON. [38], According to Gillooly, as he was driving himself and Harding home, she asked if the meeting went well. [49] He had met Eckardt when they were students at Mt. "I know Eric. As if Gillooly's and Harding's contradicting stories aren't enough to keep up with, I, Tonya also focuses on a third central character, Harding's mom, LaVona Fay, aka "Sandy" Golden. Eckardt hid the tape recorder on his desk under a paper towel. March 16, 1994: In Portland, Harding pleads guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution. It's been nearly 20 years since Kerrigan was clubbed after practice in Detroit by a member of a bumbling goon squad hired by Harding's ex-husband with the hope of eliminating his former wife's top competition for the U.S. Olympic team. 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. 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. In I, Tonya, Tonya's life as a one-time star of . Kerrigan was hit on the knee in January 1994 during the US Olympic Trials. 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