Du Pont Gets 13 to 30 Years in Shooting Death of Wrestler

Multimillionaire murderer John E. du Pont was sentenced Tuesday to 13 to 30 years in confinement for the shooting death last year of Olympic wrestler David Schultz.

Before he was sentenced, du Pont, speaking publicly for the first time since the slaying, said he was “very sorry for what happened.” He said he “was ill” at the time of the shooting and wished to apologize to the wrestler’s wife, Nancy Schultz, and her children.

Delaware County Court Judge Patricia Jenkins found that du Pont continues to be “severely mentally disabled” and ruled that he will continue to receive psychiatric treatment.

Du Pont, 58, whose bizarre behavior in recent years was well known to those close to him, was found guilty Feb. 25 of third-degree murder but also found to be mentally ill. That verdict means he will serve his entire sentence but may spend part of it in a psychiatric hospital until it is determined that he is mentally fit to go to prison.

State authorities must decide how much time du Pont will serve in each place.

Before the sentencing, family members and friends urged Jenkins to mete out a stiff judgment. Jeanne St. Germain, Schultz’s mother, said du Pont had used his wealth to avoid charges in the past for such crimes as assault, possession of illegal drugs and a hit-and-run accident.

Nancy Schultz, who witnessed the shooting, said her children--Alexander, 11, and Danielle, 8--are fearful. She told Jenkins, “I’d like to be able to put my kids to bed at night and tell them they don’t have to worry about where John du Pont is.”

Du Pont shot Schultz three times at point-blank range on Jan. 26, 1996, on the grounds of du Pont’s Foxcatcher estate, where Schultz, 36, lived in a guest house with his wife and children. After the shooting, du Pont retreated to his mansion and held police at bay for two days before he was captured.