Jennifer Eckhart, the former Fox Business associate producer who later built a podcast and nonprofit around reinvention and trauma recovery, has died at 36.
Eckhart was found dead at her home in Hobe Sound, Florida, on Sept. 19. A spokesperson for the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said her death had been ruled a suicide, according to People.
She became widely known in 2020 after filing a federal lawsuit accusing former Fox News anchor Ed Henry of rape and sexual harassment. Henry denied her allegations and maintained that their relationship had been consensual.
By the time of her death, Eckhart’s claims against Henry had ended in a settlement, while an appeal involving her separate claims against Fox News had also concluded. She had continued developing her REINVENTED podcast and work with trauma survivors, and her final Instagram post in June said she was working on projects she was excited to share.
Authorities Confirmed Her Death in Florida
Eckhart worked at Fox for seven years, including as an associate producer at Fox Business. Before joining the network, her résumé included work with ESPN Radio and WUFT-TV, the PBS affiliate in Gainesville, Florida.
After leaving Fox, she shifted toward long-form interviews and personal reinvention. Her REINVENTED with Jen Eckhart podcast featured guests from entertainment, sports, business and public life discussing career changes, adversity and rebuilding.
Her most recent podcast episode was released March 26 and featured former Florida state senator and Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg. Eckhart had also returned to Instagram in June after spending time away from the platform.
Her Lawsuit Against Ed Henry Lasted Five Years
Eckhart sued Henry and Fox News in 2020, alleging that Henry had sexually harassed and raped her while they worked at the network. Henry denied the allegations. Fox News fired Henry in July 2020 after receiving a misconduct complaint and conducting an outside investigation. The lawsuit was filed later that month.
On March 12, 2025, a federal judge granted Fox News summary judgment on Eckhart’s claims against the network while denying Henry’s request for summary judgment on several of the claims against him. Eckhart and Henry then reached a settlement on June 15, 2025, shortly before a federal trial was expected to begin, as People reported.
“This has been an exhaustive, re-traumatizing, five-year legal battle,” Eckhart said after the settlement, adding that it had renewed her desire to support other trauma survivors.
Eckhart separately appealed the ruling that dismissed Fox News from the case. On April 24, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the lower court’s decision.
The appeals court concluded that Eckhart had not shown Fox knew about Henry’s alleged conduct toward her and failed to take appropriate corrective action. The panel noted that the network hired outside counsel after learning of her complaint and fired Henry following the investigation.
She Built Her ‘Second Act’ Around Reinvention
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Eckhart described the years after Fox as her professional “second act.” She launched REINVENTED with Jen Eckhart, interviewing guests about rebuilding their lives and careers after setbacks.
She also founded The Reinvented Project, a nonprofit focused on supporting trauma survivors through animal-assisted healing and collaborations with mental health professionals. After settling with Henry, Eckhart said she had “turned pain into purpose” and wanted to continue helping other survivors.