On this day in 2007, Richard Jewell, once hailed as a hero for his actions during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, tragically passed away at 44 due to complications as a result of Type 2 Diabetes at his home in Georgia. Jewell’s life was marked by a series of dramatic and unfortunate events that followed his discovery of a bomb in Centennial Olympic Park during the Summer Games on July 27, 1996.
The park, designed as the central gathering spot for the Olympics, was bustling with spectators enjoying a late-night concert. Eric Robert Rudolph, a domestic terrorist later responsible for bombings at a lesbian nightclub and two abortion clinics, placed a green backpack containing a shrapnel-laden pipe bomb under a bench. Jewell, who was working as a temporary security guard for the event, noticed the suspicious package and alerted officers from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. His quick thinking led to the evacuation of many people from the area, potentially saving numerous lives. Just 13 minutes later, the bomb exploded, killing one person—Alice Hawthorne—and injuring more than 100 others. A cameraman also suffered a fatal heart attack while rushing to document the aftermath.
Initially, Jewell was celebrated as a hero for his role in preventing further casualties. However, his life took a drastic turn three days later when The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the FBI was treating him as a suspect, largely due to a “lone bomber” criminal profile. Despite the lack of concrete evidence against him, Jewell was subjected to relentless scrutiny by both law enforcement and the media. His home was searched twice, his background investigated thoroughly, and his every move was monitored. The media portrayed him as a failed law enforcement officer who might have planted the bomb to become a hero.
The intense pressure only began to ease after Jewell passed a polygraph test administered by an ex-FBI agent hired by his attorneys. In October 1996, the U.S. Attorney in Atlanta, Kent Alexander, officially cleared Jewell of any involvement in the bombing. However, the letter sent to Jewell did not include an apology, and the Justice Department’s accompanying statement expressed regret for the leak that led to Jewell’s public vilification. U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno later expressed personal regret for the leak, stating, “I think we owe him an apology.”
In the years that followed, Jewell filed libel lawsuits against several major media companies, reaching settlements with CNN, NBC, and others. Despite the legal victories, the damage to his reputation lingered. It wasn’t until 2003, when Eric Rudolph was captured and confessed to the bombing, that Jewell was fully exonerated in the public eye.
Jewell continued to work in law enforcement, serving as a sheriff’s deputy in Georgia. In 2006, during the 10th anniversary of the Atlanta Olympics, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue publicly commended Jewell for his heroic actions, stating that he “deserves to be remembered as a hero.”
Sadly, Jewell’s life was cut short by health issues. Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in February 2007, he struggled with kidney failure and other complications in the months leading up to his death. On August 29, 2007, his wife Dana found him unresponsive on the floor of their bedroom. An autopsy revealed that he had died from severe heart disease, with diabetes and related obesity complications contributing to his death.
Richard Jewell’s life story is a poignant reminder of the consequences of rushed judgments and the power of the media. Though he was ultimately vindicated, the ordeal he endured left an indelible mark on his life, overshadowing his heroic actions during one of America’s most memorable tragedies.
A movie was later made about Jewell. Its review by The OpsDesk can be viewed below:
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