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 . Hood Community College, shared an interest in espionage and survivalism, and had discussed opening a school together someday. 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. For those unfamiliar with the story, a brief recapping, pardon the pun. She was told she could never have a child . 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). 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. Olympic television ratings soar. Powered by. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Sept. 12, 1994: Gillooly enters the Oregon SUMMIT prison boot camp program. 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. Nike pledges $25,000 to help keep Harding in the Olympics. March 14, 1995: The former Jeff Gillooly, who since has changed his name to Jeff Stone, is released from Oregon SUMMIT prison boot camp program north of Coos Bay. "[53], Shane Stant first testified about the attack plot after he turned himself in to the FBI on January 14, 1994. [30] The officer then interviewed Harding and Gillooly separately about what had happened, but their stories did not match. He claims to have worked for the Blackstone Corp. as a contract operations specialist in Switzerland from 1984 to 1987. And there is no listing of a Blackstone Corp. in Switzerland. The attacker flees without being identified. [30] According to Gillooly, Eckardt then wondered aloud what would happen if Nancy Kerrigan were to receive a threat. In 2005, Stant asked a judge to clear his felony record so he could try to become a Navy Seal. Stant, who was 22 years old at the time, was hired by Shawn Eckhardt, a close friend of Tonya Harding's then-husband, Jeff Gillooly. Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. His forte: counterterrorism. . [10], Nancy Kerrigan is an American former figure skater who, in January 1994, was about to take part in the United States Figure Skating Championships in Detroit, Michigan. But the two men have known each other since attending grade school together. Would love your thoughts, please comment. [25], In both March and July 1993, police came to Harding and Gillooly's shared apartment after reported arguments. View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. The New York Times, which announced his death, called him Brian Sean Griffith, which Eckardt. Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Emmys STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Festival Awards Central Festival Central All Events He said he was offended and declined. The biographical black comedy was directed by Craig Gillespie using a screenplay by Steven Rogers. [83][84][85][73] It stated there was evidence Harding fraudulently used USFSA-provided skating monies to finance the assault. When Eckardt arrived, Gillooly agreed to pay more if Kerrigan could still be disabled before the Nationals competition. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. 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. health (support- familywize) thank you to our united way supporters, sponsors and partners; campaign 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. Who's in the audience on opening night? Jan. 10, 1994: Harding returns to Portland escorted by Shawn E. Eckardt, her bodyguard. As the new movie I, Tonya depicts, he and Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, became suspects for the crime, and they both pleaded guilty to racketeering in their attempts to harm Kerrigan. Near the center of the story is Eckardt, a man who portrays himself a security expert. Oregon sentencing guidelines carried a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment for the offense. Check places of employment, resumes and CV, photos and videos, public records, social media profiles, work history, skilled experts, arrest records and publications . July 21, 1995: Shane Stant, Kerrigan's assailant, is released from the Santiam Correctional Institution after serving 14 months. When I found out that the truth was finally going to come out., She continued: My skating was great. 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. After the meeting, Gillooly left, returning that night to pay Eckardt in cash. 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. Shawn Eckhardt in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. [38] He claimed that in mid-December, Gillooly approached him to ask if he knew anyone who could disable Kerrigan. [50] Smith later worked for the United States Army as an "intelligence analyst" for about 3 years until he was discharged. Feb. 25, 1994: Kerrigan wins the Olympic silver medal in Norway while Harding, still under investigation by Oregon authorities, finishes eighth. Certified parachutist. "Tonya and Jeff remembered almost nothing the same way," Rogers said. Feb. 1996: Harding tells police she was abducted at knifepoint in Oregon by a bushy-haired man who was never caught. When Eckardt said it could still be done for more money, Gillooly asked "Do I have stupid written across my forehead?" In I, Tonya, Eckardt is played by Paul Walter Hauser, and the actor nails his impression of the bodyguard. March 13, 2002: Harding puts up her dukes against former presidential pal Paula Jones on Fox's "Celebrity Boxing." 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. The events of the 1994 Winter Olympics which led to Tonya Harding's infamy introduced a colorful cast of characters to the world. [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. The events -- and the ramshackle cast or characters behind them -- fascinated and disturbed Portlanders and the nation. Read more about what happened to Jeff Gillooly after the Kerrigan attack here. We've played chess together.". The camera crew began recording again shortly after the attack and recorded Kerrigan sitting on the floor crying surrounded by arena staff. But both reportedly have been implicated by confessions made by Eckardt and Shane Stant, the alleged hit man. In October, she decided to reconcile with Gillooly and withdraw the divorce, saying they were still in love and seeking counseling: "I know he's changed. The story that emerged after her rival, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, was assaulted at the U.S. 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. Jan. 18, 1994: Harding separates from Gillooly after meeting with investigators for more than 10 hours. News cameras captured Kerrigan wailing in pain after the attack. [36] Gillooly said he liked that idea. [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. I, Tonya is an American biographical film directed by Craig Gillespie. "[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. Figure Skating Association. [38], Gillooly testified that by January 1994, he and Harding were upset that the plot had apparently failed. Harding's lawyer, Robert Weaver, then stated he wished to speak privately with his client. But the year began with headlines and newscasts, tabloids and talk shows blaring one name familiar to Oregonians: Tonya Harding -- good girl gone bad. [35] He said that in early December 1993, Harding phoned him after the 1993 NHK Trophy competition and was upset about her placement. ". Stant then followed Kerrigan to the Nationals in Detroit in early January 1994. We pay forvideostoo. That morning, Jeff met with Shawn Eckardt, Derrick Smith and Shane Stant in Eckardt's home. [50][30] The company claimed Smith was good at his work, remaining quiet and patient if a little anti-social. "[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. The Portlander is the first U.S. woman to do so. The scandal received so much national attention that Eckardt was interviewed by Diane Sawyer before being released from prison. View our online Press Pack. "[37] However, she was skeptical about Eckardt's ability to arrange it. Formerly Shawn Eckardt, Griffith served 14 months for his role in the 1994 attack on. "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." He claimed that he then phoned Eckardt to cancel the deal. 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. Looking for Shawn Eckhardt? [35], Shawn Eckardt first testified about parts of the attack plot on January 12, 1994. Eckardt replied that Smith was already driving to Portland and that he needed more information about Kerrigan a photograph and the location of the ice rink where she practiced. Rather than focus on the 1994 attack, I, Tonya instead focuses greatly on Harding's upbringing and the backstory that led up to the unbelievable pre-Olympics controversy. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. View Shawn Eckardt results including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. "[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. Eckhardt was sentenced to 18 months in prison for racketeering but was released four months early in September. Online records show that he still lived in California in 2017. It's an 18-mile Open Ocean Paddle and each paddler must raise or contribute a minimum of $1500 to participate. If Harding will skate in the Olympics. He then escaped from the arena by smashing through a locked glass door. The popularity rank for the name Shana was 3820 in the US in 2020, the Social Security Administration's data shows . "But the Shawn I know is someone, who, following his activities, immediately began to lay awake at night crying.". 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. She and her lawyer, Robert Weaver, negotiated a plea agreement ensuring no further prosecution. "It makes you . But circulating through Portland under Gillooly's letterhead is an undated letter of recommendation for Eckardt.