Nancy Kerrigan's Father Dead, Brother Arrested
Cops find figure skater's father dead, charge brother with assault
Jan. 25, 2010— -- The brother of former Olympic figure-skating star Nancy Kerrigan was arraigned today, charged with assaulting their 70-year-old father, who died soon after police were called Sunday to the Massachusetts home where the skater grew up.
Local and state police were called to the house in Stoneham, Mass., at 1:30 a.m., where they found Daniel Kerrigan, 70, "in need of medical attention." He was taken to Winchester Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to a statement from Middlesex County District Attorney Gerry Leone.
Nancy's brother, Mark Kerrigan, 45, was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on an elderly person and causing serious bodily injury. He was not charged with murder.
Kerrigan pleaded not guilty and his bail was set at $10,000. he did not speak at the arraignment.
"He [Mark Kerrigan] stated that he wanted to use the phone, and his father would not let him,'' according to a Stoneham police report filed in court. "He said that he struggled with his father and put his hands around his father's neck, and his father fell to the floor. He said that his father was faking it.''
According to the report, Mark Kerrigan appeared intoxicated -- smelling of alcohol and seen trying to conceal a bottle of whiskey -- and was belligerent as police officers tried to help his father. Police said in the report they found blood near where Kerrigan was found and pictures knocked off the walls.
"Officer Mahone grabbed his [Mark's] arm when Kerrigan became belligerent and combative. We were finally able to handcuff him. While handcuffed, I used pepper spray to help control the situation," reads the police report.
Reached by phone, Brenda Kerrigan, Nancy's mother, told ABCNews.com that her husband died from a heart attack.
"I'll tell you something, it's a shock. It was a massive heart attack. That's how he died, that's it," said Brenda Kerrigan.
Nancy Kerrigan won a silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. She became the center of a media firestorm when, a month before the games, she was attacked by the ex-husband of American skating rival Tonya Harding.
Related Stories
ABC News Live