Nancy Kerrigan’s Family Sadness

It’s a sad time for Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan. Her 70-year-old father, Daniel, passed away early Sunday morning. According to the Boston Globe, his body was found at his home in Stoneham, Massachusetts. He was pronounced dead at Winchester Hospital.

Not only is the 40-year-old 1994 silver medalist dealing with her father’s death, but also with her brother, Mark’s, arrest. Mark had an argument with their father right before he died. According to local authorities, “He [Mark Kerrigan] stated that he wanted to use the phone and his father would not let him. 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.” The 45-year-old has not been charged with his father’s death, but was in jail on $10,000 cash bail for assault. He pleaded not guilty.

Mark Kerrigan is an army veteran who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He was released from jail in November for a 2006 assault incident. Mark's attorney, Denise C. Moore, spoke about his client's feelings regarding the family tragedy, saying, "He denies any responsibility for this. He is quite distressed over his father's death. He is grieving."

Daniel's wife believes he may have died from a heart attack. The exact cause of death has yet to be determined.