Wrestler's Widow Settles Big

A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the widow of Olympic wrestler David Schultz against millionaire and convicted murderer John du Pont has been settled.

Lawyers for both sides would not disclose the amount of the settlement. But The Philadelphia Inquirer, citing anonymous sources, reported Saturday that du Pont, an heir to the chemical fortune, is to pay Nancy Schultz at least $35 million.

In 1997, du Pont was found guilty but mentally ill in connection with Schultz's January 1996 shooting death. A week later, Mrs. Schultz sued du Pont.

The civil trial had been scheduled to begin Monday.

During the criminal trial, defense lawyers did not deny that du Pont shot and killed Schultz, but said du Pont suffered from delusions that rendered him unable to recognize that what he did was wrong.

Schultz, 36 and a former University of Oklahoma wrestler, had been training at the wrestling facility on the compound where du Pont lived. Police arrested du Pont after a two-day standoff.

Mrs. Schultz and the couple's son, 13, and daughter, 10, now live in Foster City, Calif.

Du Pont, 61, is serving a 13- to 30-year sentence. With wealth believed to exceed $250 million, he is the richest defendant convicted in the United States on murder charges, The Philadelphia Daily News reported Saturday.