Remember that old saying, “truth is stranger than fiction?” Well, sometimes the truth is so shocking, so disturbing, that it leaves us shaking our heads. And while we’re shaking our heads, Hollywood steps in. Like with the story of billionaire John Du Pont, born into the upper echelons of society, only to die alone in prison, a convicted murderer. Hollywood’s Foxcatcher tells the tale of the murder of Olympic wrestler, Dave Schultz, at the hands of Du Pont. Here’s the story of the murder in Pennsylvania that shocked so many.
Heir to the Dupont family fortune, John Du Pont grew up on a sprawling 800-acre estate, called Foxcatcher, outside of Philadelphia. For much of his childhood, he lived alone with his mother, isolated from others his age.
Wikipedia Du Pont is pictured at the bottom left in the photo below.
Those who knew him told of Du Pont’s eccentricities - and paranoia - that only worsened when his mom died in 1988. Du Pont was 50 at the time.
Flickr/Tyler Sprague
Despite his eccentricities, Du Pont started - and ran - a training facility for Olympic wrestlers, including brothers Mark and Dave Schutlz, at Foxcatcher Estate.
Facebook/Dave Schultz Memorial Schultz is seen left in the above photo.
Then, Du Pont’s eccentricities - which some cited as mental illness - began to grow. He often carried a gun with him, threatening even those who so much as startled him, according to newspaper reports.
Facebook/Dave Schultz Memorial Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz is pictured above.
Mark Schutlz, unable to handle Du Pont’s behavior, left Foxcatcher in 1988. His brother, Dave, remained.
Flickr/David Holt
Newspapers tell of Du Pont doing drugs, and Dave Schultz encouraging him to seek help, all to no avail.
Flickr/Kai Sacco
Du Pont’s paranoia was so great, according to published reports, that he thought everyone from Nazis to Disney characters were spying on him.
Flickr/TV Squad Julia Steve Carell, above, portrayed Du Pont in Foxcatcher.
Then, on a bitter January day in 1996, Du Pont drove, gun in hand, to Dave Schutlz’s house. Reports say Schultz greeted him with a smile. Du Pont responded by shooting the wrestler dead.
Flickr/MJ
Du Pont spent his final years in prison, dying in 2010. Of course, the story of Du Pont, Schultz, and Foxcatcher Estate goes much deeper.
Flickr/Grant Nicholson
And, in 2004, Hollywood decided to tell the tale in the film Foxcatcher, starring Steve Carell (Du Pont), Mark Ruffalo (Dave Schultz), and Channing Tatum (Mark Schultz).
Flickr/Gage Skidmore Channing Tatum, above, played Mark Schultz while Mark Ruffalo portrayed Dave Schultz.
Did you know about this murder in Pennsylvania before the film came out? Join the conversation below! And, if you like watching movies that star Pennsylvania, here are 10 films to add to your watch list. Click here to read more.
Wikipedia
Du Pont is pictured at the bottom left in the photo below.
Flickr/Tyler Sprague
Facebook/Dave Schultz Memorial
Schultz is seen left in the above photo.
Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz is pictured above.
Flickr/David Holt
Flickr/Kai Sacco
Flickr/TV Squad Julia
Steve Carell, above, portrayed Du Pont in Foxcatcher.
Flickr/MJ
Flickr/Grant Nicholson
Flickr/Gage Skidmore
Channing Tatum, above, played Mark Schultz while Mark Ruffalo portrayed Dave Schultz.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
