Who was Jennifer Eckhart? What to know about the former Fox producer - Newsweek

Jennifer Eckhart, a former Fox Business associate producer and podcast host, was found dead Friday at her home in Martin County, Florida, according to local authorities.

Her death has drawn renewed attention to a media figure who became widely known after publicly accusing former Fox News anchor Ed Henry of sexual assault and later built a career around stories of resilience and recovery.

The developments are affecting colleagues, followers and survivors who connected with her advocacy work, while authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding her death.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office said Eckhart was 36 years old and appeared to have died by suicide. A spokesperson for the agency confirmed the finding but declined to provide further information.

Before her death, Eckhart had transitioned from television news production into podcasting, motivational speaking and nonprofit work focused on trauma survivors.

Newsweek has reached out to the Martin County Sheriff's Office, Fox News, and Eckhart's mother and brother for comment.

Eckhart began her media career in Florida before rising through the ranks of television journalism. Born and raised in Miami, she earned a bachelor's degree in telecommunications news from the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications.

Early in her career, she worked as an entertainment anchor for WUFT-TV, a PBS affiliate in Gainesville, and also served as a correspondent for ESPN Radio, where she hosted the 2011 ESPN College Football Awards.

Her highest-profile role came at Fox Business, where she worked as an associate producer. During her time at the network, she helped produce news segments and interviews featuring some of the most recognizable names in business and public life.

Her work put her in contact with major corporate leaders and newsmakers, helping establish her reputation within the television news industry.

After leaving Fox, Eckhart sought to reinvent her professional identity outside traditional broadcast media.

She described that transition as a "second act" on her website, focusing on long-form conversations, public speaking, and advocacy efforts rather than daily television production.

Eckhart became a nationally recognized figure in 2020 after filing a lawsuit against former Fox News anchor Ed Henry and Fox News.

The lawsuit alleged that Henry sexually assaulted and raped her and used his position and influence within the company to manipulate and control her.

Court filings alleged that Henry groomed Eckhart while she was a young employee and subjected her to abuse. The lawsuit further claimed he requested a coercive sexual relationship and threatened retaliation if she did not comply with his demands.

Henry denied the allegations through his attorney, maintaining that any relationship between the two was consensual.

Fox News terminated Henry in 2020 after an internal investigation into a complaint involving alleged sexual misconduct.

Eckhart later spoke publicly about her experience, including in a CBS News interview in which she said she had been "paralyzed by fear" while working at Fox.

Her comments resonated with some advocates who viewed her as part of a broader movement pushing for accountability and protections for employees reporting workplace misconduct.

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Gray R. Thomas