Tonya Harding's bodyguard dies

BEAVERTON, Ore., Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Figure skater Tonya Harding's former bodyguard, Brian Sean Griffith, has died in Oregon of natural causes at age 40.

Griffith was known as Shawn Eckardt at the time he was involved in the attack of Harding's rival, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, in 1994. He served 14 months in prison for his role in the incident, The (Portland) Oregonian reported Saturday.

Eckardt changed his name to Brian Sean Griffith in an effort to put his past behind him, the newspaper said. After his release from prison, Griffith started a computer business.

His family declined to discuss his life since the assault.

Griffith was Harding's hired bodyguard as the skater competed for a spot on the U.S. Olympic figure skating team in 1994. Days after Kerrigan's attack, Griffith confessed to the FBI and detailed a plan he and Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, had hatched.

Harding has maintained she didn't know of the plan. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to hinder an investigation into the assault and was banned from U.S. Figure Skating Association competitions.