Jennifer Eckhart, the former Fox Business associate producer who accused journalist Ed Henry of sexual assault in 2020, was found dead at her Martin County, Florida, home on Friday in what authorities called an apparent suicide.
A spokesperson for the Martin County Sheriff's Office, Christine Christofek, said Eckhart appeared to have died by suicide, the New York Post reported. The sheriff's office did not provide additional details about the circumstances surrounding her death. No official cause of death from a medical examiner has been publicly released.
Eckhart was 36 years old. She had worked as an associate producer at Fox Business and more recently hosted a podcast called "REINVENTED." The most recent episode, posted in March, featured former Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg as a guest.
Eckhart became a public figure in 2020 when she accused journalist Ed Henry of sexual assault. Fox News fired Henry that same year following an internal investigation into a complaint involving alleged sexual misconduct. Henry faced criminal charges in connection with Eckhart's accusation, and no outcome of that allegation is described beyond Henry's termination.
Henry's firing drew national attention at the time and added Eckhart's name to a broader set of workplace misconduct cases that had roiled the cable news industry.
Eckhart's life after Fox Business was not without trouble. In July of last year, she was arrested in Palm Beach County, Florida, on suspicion of battery after allegedly attacking her boyfriend, Thomas Beasley, when he tried to end their relationship. An arrest affidavit described video of the alleged altercation showing Eckhart yelling at Beasley, striking him, grabbing and ripping his shirt, and demanding that he delete the recording, as the Daily Mail reported.
Eckhart was released on her own recognizance without having to post bail. The current status or outcome of that battery case has not been publicly reported.
The details surrounding Eckhart's death remain sparse. The sheriff's office has not said who discovered her body or described the circumstances in which she was found. No family statement has been made public.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 988 or 800-273-8255. The Crisis Text Line is available by texting 741741.
Whatever the public record shows about her life, Jennifer Eckhart was 36 years old, and the people who knew her deserve answers the authorities have not yet provided.
