Who was Richard Jewell? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Richard Allensworth Jewell

Died At Age: 44

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Dana Jewell

father: Robert Earl White

mother: Bobi, Bobi Jewell

Born Country: United States

American Men

Died on: August 29, 2007

place of death: Woodbury, Georgia

Diseases & Disabilities: Kidney Disease, Diabetes

Cause of Death: Heart Disease

U.S. State: Virginia

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1

What was Richard Jewell's role during the 1996 Summer Olympics bombing in Atlanta?

Richard Jewell was working as a security guard at Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Summer Olympics when he discovered a suspicious backpack containing the bomb.
2

Was Richard Jewell ever charged in connection with the 1996 Olympic bombing?

Richard Jewell was initially considered a suspect in the bombing, but he was later cleared of any involvement. The real perpetrator, Eric Robert Rudolph, was eventually convicted for the attack.
3

How did Richard Jewell's life change after being wrongly accused of the Olympic bombing?

After being wrongly accused of the bombing, Richard Jewell faced intense media scrutiny and public backlash. He struggled with the negative attention and its impact on his personal and professional life.
4

What legal actions did Richard Jewell take following his exoneration in the Olympic bombing case?

Richard Jewell filed defamation lawsuits against several media outlets that had falsely accused him of the bombing. He sought to hold them accountable for damaging his reputation and causing him emotional distress.
5

What was Richard Jewell's legacy following the 1996 Olympic bombing incident?

Richard Jewell is remembered as a victim of wrongful accusations and a symbol of the dangers of media sensationalism and rush to judgment. His case highlighted the importance of due process and the presumption of innocence.

Childhood & Family Life

Born Richard White on December 17, 1962, in Danville, Georgia, USA, Jewell was the son of Bobi and Robert Earl White.

His mother worked as an insurance claims co-ordinator, while his father was a Chevrolet employee. His parents separated when he was four years old. His mother then married an insurance executive named John Jewell, who adopted him and helped his mother in raising him.

Richard was married to a woman named Dana.

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Centennial Olympic Park Bombing

Richard Jewell had served as a security guard, jailer, and deputy sheriff before becoming a security guard for AT&T. On July 27, 1996, he was working as a security guard at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia, where thousands of people had come together for a late concert.

He found a backpack filled with three pipe bombs and notified the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Jewell and other security guards immediately started clearing the area.

The bomb exploded 13 minutes after the discovery, before all the spectators could be evacuated by Jewell and others. One person was killed and more than a hundred others were injured. A cameraman also passed away after having a heart attack while trying to film the incident.

Aftermath

Initially after the bombing, the media reports portrayed Richard Jewell as a hero. Three days later, ‘The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’ published an article in which it was reported that the FBI was considering him a possible suspect, as the agency believed that a “lone bomber” was responsible for the incident.

In the following weeks, the media’s opinion of him drastically changed, with many news outlets portraying him as the presumed culprit.

The media called him a “person of interest” in the case and scrutinized his past to find a connection between him and the FBI’s "lone bomber" profile, which had been leaked. According to them, he was a failed law enforcement officer who put the backpack in Centennial Olympic Park and then “discovered” it in order to portray himself as a hero.

While Jewell was never officially charged, a Justice Department investigation of the FBI’s conduct later revealed that the FBI had tried to convince Jewell that he should waive his constitutional rights by making him believe that he was participating in a training film about bomb detection. However, the report went on to declare that neither Jewell’s civil rights had been violated nor any criminal misconduct had occurred.

The FBI conducted two public searches on his home, interviewed people who knew him, looked into his background, and kept 24-hour surveillance on him. It was only after Jewell took a successful polygraph that the FBI stopped treating him as a possible suspect.

In October 1996, the investigating US Attorney, Kent Alexander, wrote Jewell a letter, in which he declared the other man to be innocent. This had rarely happened before.

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The real bomber, Eric Rudolph, was arrested in Murphy, North Carolina, on May 31, 2003. The motive for his actions, according to a statement he made in 2005, was political. Rudolph was subsequently convicted for the bombings and sentenced to two consecutive life terms.

Lawsuits

After Jewell was cleared of any wrongdoings, he filed lawsuits against several news outlets, including NBC, the New York Post, CNN, and Cox Enterprises (d.b.a. Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

CNN and the New York Post settled with Jewell for undisclosed amounts. NBC did not withdraw the story they published, but they made a $500,000 payment to Jewell. Jewell also sued Piedmont College, his former employer, who settled for an undisclosed amount as well.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the only news outlet that did not opt for a settlement with Jewell. The legal battle continued even after his death. The Georgia Court of Appeals ultimately dismissed the lawsuit.

Later Years & Death

After Rudolph’s 2005 confession, Jewell was fully exonerated. He served as a police officer in Pendergrass, Georgia. He was employed as a deputy sheriff in Meriwether County, Georgia, when he died. He was also regularly asked to deliver speeches at colleges.

Jewell had been diagnosed with heart diseases, kidney diseases, and diabetes. He passed away on August 29, 2007. In the upcoming Clint Eastwood film ‘Richard Jewell’, Paul Walter Hauser is set to portray the titular character.

Facts About Richard Jewell

Richard Jewell was known for his dedication to law enforcement and had dreamed of becoming a police officer since he was a child.

In his spare time, Richard enjoyed playing guitar and was known for his musical talents among his friends and colleagues.

Richard had a passion for helping others and often volunteered at local community events and charity organizations.

Despite the intense media scrutiny he faced, Richard remained resilient and maintained his innocence throughout the investigation into the Olympic bombing in Atlanta.

Richard's story inspired the film "Richard Jewell," directed by Clint Eastwood, which aimed to shed light on the hardships he endured and the impact of false accusations on an individual's life.

Richard Jewell Biography

You wanted to know

What was Richard Jewell's role during the 1996 Summer Olympics bombing in Atlanta?

Was Richard Jewell ever charged in connection with the 1996 Olympic bombing?

How did Richard Jewell's life change after being wrongly accused of the Olympic bombing?

What legal actions did Richard Jewell take following his exoneration in the Olympic bombing case?

What was Richard Jewell's legacy following the 1996 Olympic bombing incident?