Olympic gold medallist wrestler Dave Schultz was shot dead by his billionaire coach and sponsor John Du Pont in January 1996. The killing, which took place at Du Pont's estate in Pennsylvania, sent shockwaves through the American sporting world.
The Foxcatcher connection
The story began in the 1980s when Dave's brother, Mark Schultz, was invited to join Du Pont's newly established wrestling academy, Team Foxcatcher, at the Du Pont family estate. The state-of-the-art facility, funded by the family's chemical fortune, attracted Olympic contenders seeking World Championship success.
Du Pont invested millions in the US wrestling squad, earning widespread public approval, according to All That's Interesting. Yet his upbringing was troubled. The Du Ponts bred thoroughbred horses on their 800-acre estate in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, where young Du Pont was largely left unattended, reports the Daily Star.
His father was seldom there and his siblings neglected him. The only friend he believed he had was his chauffeur's son. He later discovered his mother had paid the young man to fake the friendship.
A descent into paranoia
Du Pont obtained a doctorate in natural sciences and established the Delaware Museum of Natural History, but remained discontented and gravitated towards wrestling. He had explored other disciplines, even securing a place on the 1976 Olympic Pentathlon squad.
He had lost both testicles following a horse riding accident, and contact sports had been forbidden to him during his childhood. Many attribute his debilitating insecurity to this injury. Nevertheless, he refused to allow his condition to prevent him from participating in some capacity.
In 1985, he opened a 14,000-square-foot training facility on his family's estate, which he rechristened Foxcatcher Farms. His first acquisition was Olympian Mark Schultz, whom he paid $70,000 to train his squad. After much persuasion, Mark convinced his championship-winning brother, Dave, to join the venture.
"We were his newest trophies," Mark recalled. Dave would go on to become a seven-time World and Olympic medallist — Du Pont's most prized possession.
The killing
Then catastrophe struck, and Du Pont spiralled into madness. He became convinced he could see Disney characters lurking on his estate and trees tearing themselves from the ground. He opened fire on a flock of geese after persuading himself they were wielding dark magic against him, and stripped the gym of all its treadmills under the belief they were reversing time.
His paranoia deepened as he grew certain he was under surveillance. He was allegedly consuming large quantities of alcohol and cocaine. In a deeply disturbing turn, he expelled wrestler Kevin Jackson and two others, declaring that Foxcatcher had become a "KKK" organisation. He subsequently brandished a machine gun at Dan Chaid.
Dan recalled: "I was working out in the weight room. du Pont came in and pulled a gun on me and said 'Don't you **** with me, I want you off the farm' in a very aggressive way. I could tell he wasn't in the right state of mind. I cowered to him just enough to get him to back off. Then he left."
On 26th January 1996, at 2:00 PM, Du Pont seized a .44 magnum and told his security consultant Patrick Goodale to drive him to Dave's home. Dave's final words were "Hi boss!", accompanied by a wave towards his friend. His coach then aimed the weapon at his head and bellowed, "You got a problem with me?". He pulled the trigger, killing Dave instantly before fleeing the scene.
When the 9-1-1 operator enquired as to Du Pont's motive, Dave's wife Nancy simply replied: "Because he's insane!".
Aftermath and legacy
For two days, 70 police officers and a SWAT team attempted to negotiate with the man inside his mansion — ultimately cutting off the heating, which forced Du Pont outside. He was subsequently convicted of third-degree murder, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and passed away in prison in 2010.
While the true reasoning behind the killing was never fully established, Mark told LAist: "He admired us and at the same time was jealous of us, kind of hated us in a way, because we had what money couldn't buy."
A mere four years following Du Pont's death, Hollywood brought the story to the big screen, featuring a portrayal by Steve Carell in the role of the wealthy killer. Channing Tatum portrayed the younger Mark Schultz, while Mark Ruffalo delivered an Oscar-nominated turn as his ill-fated elder brother Dave. The film claimed prizes at Cannes and earned five Oscar nominations.
