Jennifer Eckhart, a former Fox News producer who sued network anchor Ed Henry for sexual assault in 2020, died by suicide on Saturday at her home in Hobe Sound, Florida. Authorities confirmed her death was ruled a suicide after her mother discovered her body in a bathtub with a knife nearby.
Eckhart, 36, had worked as an associate producer at Fox Business Network from 2013 to 2020. Her lawsuit alleged that Henry raped her during a 2017 encounter in a Manhattan hotel while she was employed by the network. Henry, who was fired by Fox News in July 2020 following an internal investigation, denied the allegations and maintained that their interactions were consensual.
Key developments in the case:
- Eckhart settled her claims against Henry out of court in June 2025, one day before the case was set to go to trial. Henry continued to deny wrongdoing.
- Her lawsuit against Fox News was dismissed in March 2025 after a federal judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to hold the network liable for Henry’s actions.
- An appeal of the dismissal was rejected by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in April 2025.
Eckhart’s death occurred amid ongoing public discussions about workplace accountability and the handling of sexual misconduct claims in media organizations. Her case had drawn attention to allegations against a prominent Fox News anchor and the network’s response to such complaints.
Timeline of legal proceedings:
- 2017: Eckhart alleges she was raped by Henry during a hotel encounter while employed at Fox Business Network.
- 2020: Eckhart files a civil lawsuit against Henry and Fox News, accusing the network of failing to protect her from harassment.
- July 2020: Fox News fires Henry following an internal investigation.
- March 2025: U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams dismisses Eckhart’s claims against Fox News, citing insufficient evidence that the network knew of Henry’s misconduct toward her.
- April 2025: Second Circuit Court of Appeals upholds the dismissal of Eckhart’s lawsuit against Fox News.
- June 2025: Eckhart settles her claims against Henry out of court, one day before trial.
- October 2025: Eckhart posts on Instagram that her legal team is appealing the dismissal of her case against Fox News.
- December 2025: Eckhart is found dead in her Florida home; authorities rule her death a suicide.
Henry, who now works as a head anchor for Newsmax, has not publicly addressed Eckhart’s death. His attorney has previously stated that Henry denies all allegations and that their interactions were consensual.
Eckhart’s family has not issued a public statement regarding her death. Her legal representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Fox News Media has not publicly commented on Eckhart’s death or her legal case since the dismissal of her lawsuit against the network.