Kathy was a wild child, said friend and former coworker Tony Kiss. She was born on April 11, 1952, in Tyler to Cecil and Sue Scruggs. Kathy never quietly entered a room, she exploded into it.. The items present with the body were a television remote control, a sheet, a blanket and a comforter. All of the ethyl alcohol may have been produced by the postmortem decomposition process. a recently published nonfiction book about the 1996 bombing. Everyone who personally knew Kathy admired her greatly, to the point that Coram even based a character in his book Atlanta Heat on her. No foul play was ever suspected and the coroners reports suggested that Kathy Scruggs had passed away peacefully in her sleep. Heavy.com obtained the coroners report. After graduating from college, Kathy started her career as a reporter. Twitter/Getty Stop defending it", https://web.archive.org/web/20210917080903/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/dec/13/richard-jewell-kathy-scruggs-olivia-wilde-irresponsible, "Olivia Wilde Defends Her Richard Jewell Character: Dont Reduce Her to This One Thing", https://web.archive.org/web/20210722094246/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/olivia-wilde-defends-richard-jewell-character-kathy-scruggs-1203421696/, "Clint Eastwood only hurt himself with Richard Jewell's worst clich", https://web.archive.org/web/20210805232013/https://ew.com/movies/2019/12/16/richard-jewell-female-journalist-cliche-clint-eastwood/, https://web.archive.org/web/20210805235100/https://www.ajc.com/news/local/the-ballad-kathy-scruggs/Ua5vSJBTHzkQfC1Lvs6snK/, https://web.archive.org/web/20210927215449/https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/requiem-for-a-reporter-kathy-scruggs/, "Who Was Kathy Scruggs? A crowd gathers on July 30, 1996, in . Scruggs, on the other hand, refused to identify her source for reporting that Jewell was a suspect even in the face of a lawsuit. When it turned out that Jewell (played on screen by Paul Walter Hauser) was innocent, her reporting and that of the national media were criticized as a rush to judgment. She died very tragically. "Kathy was just luminous," Parke said. December 13, 2019 is the date of the US release of the film. Scruggs was wearing a gray short-sleeved tee shirt with the green inscription ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY' and a pair of panties. AJC Editor: Film tries to fix one reputation, attacks another, Richard Jewells ordeal detailed in new book on Olympic bombing, OPINION: AJC wronged Richard Jewell? Other reporters surrounded Jewell's home, and he lived under a cloud of suspicion for years - until the real bomber was found, after he was caught for another crime. [13][14][14][1][15][16] Those films portrayals of the role Scruggs love-life played in her reporting was a source of controversy. are goldfish crackers good for an upset stomach . Shed zoom to crime scenes in her Mazda Miata, sometimes arriving before authorities got there, and wouldnt leave until her notebook was full. She spent a lot of time talking to cops, attorneys, prosecutors, King said. My father wouldnt go over there because he wouldnt put up with her treating my mother that way.. AJC ace Kathy Scruggs broke the story that made Richard Jewell a household name. However, after her death, the Journal-Constitution was exonerated of any wrongdoing because the articles in their whole were substantially truthful at the time of publication. Her father also studied journalism at the University of Georgia. How Did She Die? Kathys father also studied journalism at the University of Georgia. toxicological testing of chest fluid revealed a potentially lethal level of morphine. [12] The real bomber, Eric Robert Rudolph, had been an anti-abortion kook, and protesting abortion had been his motive. I am Kathy Scruggs brother and only remaining member of our immediate family. When she died, she was facing possible jail time though eventually, the Journal-Constitution was cleared, with the Georgia Court of Appeals finding that the articles in their entirety were substantially true at the time they were published.. [12] However, Scruggs ran with a leak that the FBI's main suspect was Jewell, based on the theory he set up the bombing specifically so he would be regarded as a hero. Clint Eastwood 5710 Castle Highway. Kathy Scruggs cause of death is a sad one. When Scruggs started the media firestorm against Jewell in the 1990s, she was recognized for her solid reporting, close ties to local law enforcement, and her hard-partying habits. The other is out of focus and abstract. However, according to the report, she died of a drug overdose and apparently it was a suicide. Serial bomber Eric Robert Rudolph would eventually confess and draw four life sentences, but she didnt live to see it. After his acquittal, Jewell filed libel suits against all the media outlets involved, including the AJC. I guess that they knew that their false narrative would have been shot down by people that actually knew her best. Scruggs worked at two other publications before she spent most of her career at the The Atlanta Journal Constitution, on its Police beat.[8]. Heavy.com obtained the coroners report, which reveals that Scruggs died of a drug overdose, specifically acute morphine toxicity. Contrary to some other news reports, the coroner could not determine whether it was an accidental one or suicide. Dont Miss:Raymond Santana Wiki,Facts About the Exonerated Central Park Five Member. If you recall this bit of history, Richard Jewell is the security guard who saved lives during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park bombing. With that in mind I asked for a Johnnie Walker Red Label, Scruggs regular order, on my way out of Manuels. Tipsters told authorities Jewell seemed to crave attention and was obsessed with the show Cops., Investigators also drew on an incident with seeming parallels. She, on the other hand, accused her of offering her sex in exchange for confidential information about the collapse of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Morphine higher than the highest calibrator of 0.6 mg/L She was so, so alive.. (Photo by Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images) Wilde plays Kathy Scruggs in Richard Jewell Biopic. Her soul was gone. An appellate court later sided with the newspaper, finding that Scruggs stories correctly reported what was known at the time that, at that time, Jewell was under FBI investigation in the attack. Her heart gave away. Her friends always believed stress over that story contributed to her failing health. My mother reacted as if it was her fault. Scruggs and colleague Ron Martz broke the story that the FBI were investigating Jewell as a suspect in a deadly bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. However, theres no evidence of Scruggs ever making illicit offers to get a story. The transaction felt peak 2019 yet timeless. Sources differ on the details of the overdose. Kathy Scruggs was born on September 26, 1958 and died September 2, 2001, age 42, in Cherokee County, Georgia. She would say, I will go to jail before I reveal my source. She never did, lifelong friend Lisa Griffin said. That article headlined FBI Suspects Hero Guard May Have Planted Bomb set off a media firestorm around Jewell from which he never really recovered, even after being cleared of the crime. . toxicological testing of chest fluid revealed a potentially lethal level of morphine. Reporter Kathy Scruggs, and actress Carla Gugino, portraying Scruggs. We bring to you daily trends in Ghana and all around the world. Kathy Scruggs (born 1958 in Atlanta, Georgia) was a journalist who worked in the United States. They included Crohns disease, anxiety, and depression. If shes being portrayed as some floozy, its just not true., To Deadline, the actress playing Scruggs, Olivia Wilde, defended the portrayal, saying, She was incredibly successful as a cop reporter. She wasnt on the line anymore.. Her father, Lewis "Bubber" Scruggs Sr., was a Gridiron Secret. Richard Jewell was indeed the lead suspect.. The real bad guy turned out to be someone else, caught 7 years after the bombing. It crushed her like a junebug on the sidewalk., Another friend told AJC: Her soul was gone. The cause of death was reported as acute morphine toxicity, but coroners couldnt determine if the overdose was accidental or intentional. The decedent was a 42 year old white female who, according to reports, was found dead at her residence in a state of decomposition, it reads. Manuels is still here, although its free, sumptuously large side parking lot is becoming the site of another mixed-used development. She lived hard, she played hard.. She worked as a full-time reporter for the Atlanta-Georgia Constitution as a young professional reporter. They had the right information, Salwen said. Coram, whos better known for his more recent biographies and a memoir, got to know Scruggs while researching police officers personalities over drinks and casual conversation. A guy at the bar with a beard and bowtie heard the odd request and handed over a business card, explaining that he represents the label. Argos daughter Marty Kemp is now Georgias first lady. Kathy Scruggs, a Queens College graduate, is widely remembered as and acknowledged to be a tough-talking police reporter of staunch journalistic integrity. Start where you are. Instead of following in her parents and brothers footsteps and enrolling at UGA, she chose Queens University (formerly Queens College) in Charlotte, North Carolina. Warner Bros and Olivia Wilde have defended the movie. By: Caroline John - Published: December 11, 2019 at 4:57 am, Olivia Wilde attends 2019 IFP Gotham Awards on December 2, 2019 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Richard Jewell, directed by Clint Eastwood, was the target of more criticism When is Jamb 2023/2024 Starting, Is JAMB Form Out For 2023? CBSs miniseries Manhunt: Deadly Games is the action-packed follow-up to its predecessor Manhunt: Unabomber. Of the allegations on screen, Tolley said, That is complete horse (expletive). However, Scruggs didnt live to see her name being cleared. Valerie Lego Leaving 13 On Your Side: Where Is the Health Reporter Going? A reporter who worked with her spoke about her network of police officers, fearlessness at crime scenes, and tendency to arrive at the scene even before the cops. But Kathy Scruggs initial story paved the way for a slew of other defamatory, accusatory, and wholly incorrect news reports about Jewell, who was ultimately exonerated after being a suspect for 3 months. Of the allegations on screen, Tolley said, That is complete horse (expletive). Share on facebook. 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However, according to the report, she died of a drug overdose and apparently it was a suicide. I thought of stories Parke and Kiss each told me about what happened after Scruggs funeral. Toxicological testing of chest fluid Powered by WordPress.com VIP. I described the story Id just finished in broad strokes and parked the Johnnie Walker Red next to the bearded guys PBR. It also started her downward spiral. Updated Jan 16, 2023 at 6:02am. However, he was exonerated of all charges and hailed as a hero once more. Scruggs brother told AJC she was on medications for a variety of things, including Crohns disease. Inside City Hall: Atlanta mayor tries to ease training center protest Henry County, Red Cross partner on Locust Grover emergency shelter, Kings legacy depends on being a part of change, leaders say, Biden evokes MLKs legacy in sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta opening warming centers through Sunday morning, Stockbridge councilman hosting community service project Saturday, On King holiday, Atlantans can view birth of I have a dream speech, The AJC reporter depicted in Richard Jewell isnt alive to defend herself against floozy portrayal. The exhaustively researched book, which also was used as source material for the film, describes Scruggs' professional dedication as well as her troubles. She was a piece of crap (as are many journalists today), and karma got her in the end. What was Scruggs cause of death? They always trusted her to get the scoop because they knew it would be handled right. Scruggs refused, and appealed the jail term. She was so empty.. Scruggss friends and coworkers remember her salty language, short skirts and occasional antics. She described the feeling as like a vacuum. It was as if her soul had been ripped from her body. She was the real deal when it came to being a dedicated reporter, said attorney and family friend Edward Tolley. Similarly, there is no valid information regarding her past relationships. The book does note the time police responded at 3 a.m. when Scruggs refused to get out of a taxi outside a Buckhead hotel. Ethyl Alcohol 0.037 grams per 100 ML Her former colleagues, friends, and family praise her for being a dedicated reporter who did her job while staying within the legal and ethical boundaries of a journalist. It was like a vacuum, she said. Shame on Olivia Wilde and Clint Eastwood, way to lie about someone that isnt alive to defend herself. It was just hard living," her brother told the AJC. Earl's siblings, older brothers Junie and Horace and older sisters Eula Mae and Ruby, all played banjo and guitar. There were links formed between the FBI and Scruggs contacts. Similarly, Kathy used to wear shoes of6 inches. Meanwhile, she found herself gravitating more and more toward the world of media and journalism. She was depicted more vividly as Kitty OHara in Atlanta Heat, a 1997 novel by Robert Coram. But she was also under stress from financial problems as her medical bills mounted. She was the real deal when it came to being a dedicated reporter, said attorney and family friend Edward Tolley to AJC. Not to drink, I told the server, just to photograph. GettyRichard Jewell (C) his mother Barbara (L) and attorneys Watson Bryant (R) and Wayne Grant (far R) look on during a press conference 28 October in Atlanta, Ga. Jewell was cleared as a suspect in the July 27 bombing of Centennial Olympic Park. It was just hard living, her brother said. Ernest Hemingways words grace a wall in the Athens Academy writing center named in memory of Kathy Scruggs. "Kathy Scruggs (played by Olivia Wilde), who is based on a real-life, now-deceased Atlanta Journal-Constitution journalist; she, the film alleges, opened the floodgates to the merciless hounding of Jewell (who died in 2007) by (accurately) reporting that the FBI was considering Jewell a suspect in the bombing. There were no such things as social media sites at her young age. Kathy Scruggs died September 2, 2001, age 42, in Cherokee County, Georgia. On July 30, 1996, Kathy Scruggs broke the story that the hero security guard who found the bomb at Centennial Olympic Park, Richard Jewell, was the main suspect of the federal investigation into the bombing incident that injured 100 people and killed one. Lewis Scruggs and several of his sister's close friends and former colleagues shared their thoughts in "The Ballad of Kathy Scruggs," a recent AJC piece about the journalist who died in 2001. That was Eric Rudolph, who was later captured after a lengthy manhunt. View Kathy Scruggs results including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. When a crime took place, she would come back with the chatter. "The Suspect," a recently published nonfiction book about the 1996 bombing, is unsparing but not unfair. Whats the truest sentence about Kathy Scruggs? In addition to suffering from depression, she had a chronic back problem. After her death, the medical examiner was unable to determine whether the overdose of morphine was intentional or accidental. One person was killed and over a hundred injured when the bomb went off 13 minutes after the area had been evacuated. Kathys mother, Nancy Bentley Scruggs, was a charitable and social force in Athens before her death in 2015. : Everything About Christopher Judges Ex-wife. ), What is clear also, though, is that Scruggs was emotionally damaged from the controversies over her journalism (sadly, the controversies continue, with people who knew her slamming the movie for what they believe is a false portrayal of her.). On Sept. 4, 2001, the AJC ran Scruggs obituary. Born Kathleen Bentley Scruggs on September 26, 1958, she and her older brother by 10 years, Lewis Scruggs Jr., were the products of a prominent family in Athens, Georgia. She died in 2001, just shy of her 43rd birthday. Also present in the chest fluid were paroxetine, mirtazapine, and ethyl alcohol. Her choice of boyfriends was not great, he said. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Alfred Wallace and Doris Fillingim Waldrop. Those who knew her were interviewed by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to balance out the Eastwood film portrayal. The exhaustively researched book, which also was used as source material for the film, describes Scruggs' professional dedication as well as her troubles. The hunt for the real killer nagged at Scruggs until the end. Kathy may be gone, but she is still a vibrant part of our family and we love her very much. Heavy.com has reached out to Dyleski for additional comment. Kathy, Nancy, and Lewis Sr. are survived by Lewis Jr., who continues his fathers legacy in the insurance business, and his wife and kids. How Kathy Scruggs, the Reporter in Manhunt: Deadly Games on Netflix, Died, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Clint Eastwood directs the new Richard Jewell biopic, which has earned rave reviews for its depiction of the Olympic Park bombing. In the end, only her dog was at her side when she passed away. "Kathy was just luminous," Parke said. She was hospitalized and was briefly unable to move her legs. As a reader, we can see why she was attempting to succeed in her own world, and I think shes a well-rounded character.. Another old acquaintance of Kathys, writer Robert Coram knew Kathy from when she used to frequent Manuels Tavern, the homicide cop hangout in Atlanta where she usually chatted up and charmed the cops to get information for her articles. Kathy Scruggs Wiki: Kathleen "Kathy" Scruggs was a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution who broke the story that the FBI was investigating security guard Richard Jewell as a possible suspect in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics bombing. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the Clint Eastwood-directed film salaciously and falsely portrays former reporter Kathy Scruggs trading sex for FBI tips. Learn more about her cause of death. However, she accused her of giving sex in exchange for knowledge concerning the failure of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Salt Lake City, U.S.A.. Devlin Elliott Bio, Wiki, Age, Height, Family, Husband, Net Worth, Movies, What happened to Kathy Scruggs? She was never at peace or at rest with this story. She was never at peace or at rest with this story. When she died, she had been on medical leave from the AJC newspaper for approximately a year because of persistent health problems. She felt treated as a pariah in the newsroom and complained that she no longer had a desk., In her heyday, he added, Scruggs was a hard-drinking, tough-talking police reporter who wasnt afraid of anything.. Kathy Scruggs, the Atlanta newspaper reporter whose reporting on Richard Jewell was controversial, died tragically. Also, she was arrested twice in Buckhead on charges involving intoxication. The trial by media that followed took a toll on Jewells personal and public life. However, she accused her of giving sex in exchange for knowledge concerning the failure of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Salt Lake City, U.S.A.. But what I resented was this character being boiled down to one inferred scene and I dont hear anyone complaining about Jon Hamms character (the FBI agent) as being inferred that he also had a relationship with a reporter. As adults, his little sister leaned on him as a confidante. In her last days, Kathy was hospitalized and however was getting better. Our Kathy Scruggs wiki tells the story of this headstrong reporter who pursued a story against all odds.