118:
96:
260:. In May 1985, Dan Nichols was sentenced to 10 years in prison for kidnapping and misdemeanor assault. In September 1985, Don Nichols was sentenced to 85 years in prison for kidnapping, murder, and aggravated assault. The younger Nichols was released on parole in 1991 and he stayed out of trouble until 2011, when he was arrested on drug charges and sentenced to four years in prison.
200:. The team was awarded a bronze medal for their performance in the event. Swenson placed fifth overall in the women's 10-km final, a record performance at the time for a U.S. biathlete of either gender in 26 years of international biathlon competition. In 2015, Swenson and her 1984 teammates, Holly Beattie and Julie Newnam, were inducted into the U.S. Biathlon Hall of Fame.
277:
In the book, Kari stated, "the
Nichols lived in the mountains part-time but they couldn't survive there, at least not without poaching, breaking into cabins and stealing supplies, leaving the mountains for months at a time and purchasing modern equipment. Ultimately they were caught without a fight
272:
Swenson and her family were not pleased by some of the coverage in the press because they felt it glamorized her abductors as mythical "mountain men," and stereotyped her, a champion athlete, as a "proper Belle." "Using this description in conjunction with these two crazy misfits is truly maligning
263:
Don
Nichols came up for parole review four times, and each time, the Swenson family and its supporters vigorously opposed his release. On April 27, 2017, the elder Nichols, then 86 years old, was granted parole after serving 32 years of his sentence. He was released from prison on August 23, 2017.
231:
As the two rescuers approached, Don
Nichols fired a single shot from his rifle, killing Goldstein with a gunshot wound to the face. The impact knocked him backward out of Swenson's sight. Schwalbe managed to escape. Knowing they had been located, the Nicholses unchained Swenson, then fled, leaving
227:
By the following morning, over 20 searchers were combing the mountains. Swenson's friend Alan
Goldstein and another ranch worker, Jim Schwalbe, paired up during the search and stumbled onto the camp. Because the Nicholses had threatened to shoot any rescuers, Swenson began shouting out to warn the
319:
Following the kidnapping and the immediate aftermath of her injuries, Swenson returned to training, she earned a spot on the United States
Biathlon team again, and she competed in the 1986 biathlon competition in Oslo, Norway, where she finished fourth. That year, she retired from biathlon
165:. Swenson placed fifth overall in the women's 10-km final, which, at the time, marked the best performance for a U.S. biathlete of either sex in 26 years of international biathlon competition. In 2015, Swenson and her 1984 teammates were inducted into the U.S. Biathlon Hall of Fame.
235:
Swenson remained in the clearing, in pain so intense it prevented her from moving, for four hours before she was rescued. It had been over 18 hours since her abduction. Swenson later attributed her survival to the breath control skills she developed as a biathlete.
228:
searchers away. Swenson later recounted that Don
Nichols ordered his son Dan to "shut me up." The younger Nichols looked directly at Swenson and shot her. "It wasn't an accident," she said in a 2019 interview, in reference to his later defense claiming it was.
291:, the episode titled "Kidnapped," premiered on January 5, 1995, and spent the first segment of the episode reenacting the story of Kari Swenson's abduction and the Nichols’ subsequent trial. Her story was also featured on
624:
760:
736:
576:
285:
in the leading role as Kari
Swenson. Swenson contributed as a technical advisor during production and also filmed her own ski sequences. Season 2, episode 5 of TV show
442:
701:
273:
the mystique and legends of the mountain man," wrote
Swenson in a 2012 op-ed. In 1989, Swenson's mother authored a book written from the family's perspective, titled
673:
972:
770:
876:
550:
992:
470:
997:
217:
232:
her alone. The bullet had entered her chest just below her collarbone, went through her lung, collapsing it, and exited below her shoulder blade.
224:
intended to force her to become Dan's bride. When
Swenson did not return to her job that evening as expected, a search party was organized.
962:
967:
982:
189:
154:
124:
926:
977:
1002:
709:
188:
By 1984, Kari
Swenson had become a member of the three-woman U.S. biathlon relay team. They competed at the first women's
299:, season 3, episode 9 titled "Into the Wild" premiering on February 11, 2017. In 2019 her story was the focus of an ESPN
1007:
281:
A two-hour made-for-TV drama titled "The Abduction of Kari Swenson", produced by NBC aired on March 8, 1987. It starred
109:
325:
324:
Veterinary School, where she graduated in 1990. After working for five years at a small animal veterinary practice in
181:
with his wife Janet and their three children, relocating to Bozeman where he became head of the Physics Department at
345:
178:
321:
478:
257:
182:
522:
292:
249:
987:
245:
185:. Janet Swenson was a nurse and ski patrol volunteer, and Kari took up cross-country skiing in her youth.
595:
493:
413:
957:
877:"Kari Swenson Survived Abduction, a Shooting, and a Media Nightmare. Now She's Reclaiming Her Story"
830:
278:
because they were cold, hungry, and tired of living in the mountains. These are not mountain men."
805:
443:"30 for 30 podcast -- How gender politics and tragedy changed Kari Swenson's biathlon generation"
307:
153:
who earned a bronze medal as a member of the 1984 U.S. relay team competing in the first women's
900:
625:"Podcast recounts kidnapping, shooting, recovery of Bozeman biathlete Kari Swenson 30 years ago"
174:
791:
287:
213:
146:
305:
podcast titled "Out of the Woods." The 30 for 30 podcast episode was also featured in the
387:
328:, she returned to Montana, and as of 2019, she was a practicing veterinarian in Bozeman.
855:
831:"A Made-for-Television Movie Brings Biathlete Kari Swenson Face-to-Face with Her Past"
951:
101:
282:
253:
47:
244:
Don and Dan Nichols were captured in December 1984. They were tried separately in
221:
216:, where she could train daily. On July 15, 1984, while on a training run in the
209:
301:
208:
Following the 1984 biathlon season, Swenson took a summer job at a Montana
737:"Kari Swenson speaks out: Nichols still a threat, still belongs in prison"
193:
173:
In 1970, Swenson's father, Bob, former head of the Physics Department at
158:
150:
84:
62:
43:
650:
197:
162:
220:
area, Swenson was abducted by Don Nichols and his son Dan. The two
860:
927:"Dr. Kari Swenson (Gallatin Veterinary Hospital) (Bozeman, MT)"
765:
702:""Mountain Man" granted parole in murder, kidnapping case"
761:"Self-described mountain man in 1984 killing is released"
577:"'Mountain men' kidnap-murder captured world's attention"
551:"Abducted Olympian Kari Swenson Is Reclaiming Her Story"
856:""American Justice" Kidnapped (TV Episode 1995) - IMDb"
792:"Obituary: Donald Boone Nichols, O'Connor Funeral Home"
674:"'Mountain man' Nichols gets 4 years on drug charge"
516:
514:
523:"SKIER VICTORIOUS IN UPHILL BATTLE AFTER KIDNAPING"
68:
58:
53:
39:
31:
26:
117:
388:"Out of the Woods: 30 for 30 Podcasts-Transcript"
655:, Franco Castan, T. J. Garland, Taylor Kalupa
544:
542:
8:
596:"Kidnap Victim Decries Myth of Mountain Men"
494:"Kidnap Victim Decries Myth of Mountain Men"
414:"Kidnap Victim Decries Myth of Mountain Men"
19:
730:
728:
726:
618:
616:
407:
405:
76:
18:
382:
380:
378:
376:
374:
372:
370:
368:
366:
90:
837:. Vol. 27, no. 11. 1987-03-16
696:
694:
337:
973:Biathlon World Championships medalists
806:"The Abduction of Kari Swenson (1987)"
436:
434:
350:Bozeman Daily Chronicle via Legacy.com
7:
464:
462:
460:
441:Ford, Bonnie D. (19 November 2019).
311:episode #128, titled "Deep Breath".
320:competitions. She then enrolled at
993:Sportspeople from Bozeman, Montana
623:French, Brett (December 1, 2019).
549:Hitt, Tarpley (28 November 2019).
14:
672:Florio, Gwen (January 17, 2013).
145:(born 1961) is a veterinarian in
998:Colorado State University alumni
346:"Obituary: Robert "Bob" Swenson"
275:Victims: The Kari Swenson Story.
256:, then a staff attorney for the
116:
94:
521:Mackay, Kathleen (1987-03-08).
469:Jones, Robert F. (1985-03-18).
649:Tanner, Georgia (2017-02-11),
1:
594:Japenga, Ann (10 July 1989).
492:Japenga, Ann (10 July 1989).
412:Japenga, Ann (10 July 1989).
875:Hitt, Tarpley (2019-11-28).
735:Swenson, Kari (2012-04-25).
708:. 2017-04-27. Archived from
190:Biathlon World Championships
155:Biathlon World Championships
110:Biathlon World Championships
963:21st-century American women
326:Steamboat Springs, Colorado
35:1961 (age 62–63)
1024:
968:American female biathletes
901:"Episode 128: Deep Breath"
471:"Terror in the Wilderness"
179:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
983:Kidnapped American people
322:Colorado State University
177:, moved from a suburb in
108:
83:
79:
264:Don died June 17, 2023.
258:Montana Attorney General
183:Montana State University
978:Formerly missing people
741:Bozeman Daily Chronicle
581:Bozeman Daily Chronicle
293:Investigation Discovery
1003:American veterinarians
390:. ESPN. November 2019
629:The Billings Gazette
297:Your Worst Nightmare
252:seat, prosecuted by
27:Personal information
1008:Women veterinarians
239:
23:
931:www.petmedicus.com
905:Thisiscriminal.com
527:chicagotribune.com
475:Sports Illustrated
16:American biathlete
600:Los Angeles Times
498:Los Angeles Times
418:Los Angeles Times
295:in the TV series
175:Temple University
140:
139:
134:
133:
1015:
942:
941:
939:
937:
923:
917:
916:
914:
912:
897:
891:
890:
888:
887:
872:
866:
865:
852:
846:
845:
843:
842:
827:
821:
820:
818:
817:
802:
796:
795:
788:
782:
781:
779:
778:
769:. Archived from
757:
751:
750:
748:
747:
732:
721:
720:
718:
717:
698:
689:
688:
686:
684:
669:
663:
662:
661:
660:
646:
640:
639:
637:
635:
620:
611:
610:
608:
606:
591:
585:
584:
575:Ricker, Amanda.
572:
566:
565:
563:
561:
546:
537:
536:
534:
533:
518:
509:
508:
506:
504:
489:
483:
482:
477:. Archived from
466:
455:
454:
452:
450:
438:
429:
428:
426:
424:
409:
400:
399:
397:
395:
384:
361:
360:
358:
356:
342:
288:American Justice
240:Kidnappers' fate
214:Big Sky, Montana
147:Bozeman, Montana
127:
120:
119:
104:
100:
98:
97:
77:
24:
1023:
1022:
1018:
1017:
1016:
1014:
1013:
1012:
948:
947:
946:
945:
935:
933:
925:
924:
920:
910:
908:
899:
898:
894:
885:
883:
881:The Daily Beast
874:
873:
869:
854:
853:
849:
840:
838:
829:
828:
824:
815:
813:
810:Rotten Tomatoes
804:
803:
799:
790:
789:
785:
776:
774:
759:
758:
754:
745:
743:
734:
733:
724:
715:
713:
700:
699:
692:
682:
680:
671:
670:
666:
658:
656:
648:
647:
643:
633:
631:
622:
621:
614:
604:
602:
593:
592:
588:
574:
573:
569:
559:
557:
555:The Daily Beast
548:
547:
540:
531:
529:
520:
519:
512:
502:
500:
491:
490:
486:
468:
467:
458:
448:
446:
440:
439:
432:
422:
420:
411:
410:
403:
393:
391:
386:
385:
364:
354:
352:
344:
343:
339:
334:
317:
270:
242:
206:
171:
136:
135:
130:3 x 5 km relay
123:
95:
93:
92:
74:
73:
22:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1021:
1019:
1011:
1010:
1005:
1000:
995:
990:
985:
980:
975:
970:
965:
960:
950:
949:
944:
943:
918:
892:
867:
847:
822:
797:
783:
752:
722:
690:
678:missoulian.com
664:
641:
612:
586:
567:
538:
510:
484:
481:on 2012-10-05.
456:
430:
401:
362:
336:
335:
333:
330:
316:
313:
269:
268:Media coverage
266:
250:Madison County
241:
238:
205:
202:
170:
167:
138:
137:
132:
131:
128:
121:
113:
112:
106:
105:
88:
87:
81:
80:
75:
71:
70:
69:
66:
65:
60:
56:
55:
51:
50:
41:
37:
36:
33:
29:
28:
20:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1020:
1009:
1006:
1004:
1001:
999:
996:
994:
991:
989:
988:Living people
986:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
955:
953:
932:
928:
922:
919:
906:
902:
896:
893:
882:
878:
871:
868:
863:
862:
857:
851:
848:
836:
832:
826:
823:
811:
807:
801:
798:
793:
787:
784:
773:on 2017-08-25
772:
768:
767:
762:
756:
753:
742:
738:
731:
729:
727:
723:
712:on 2017-04-28
711:
707:
703:
697:
695:
691:
679:
675:
668:
665:
654:
653:
652:Into the Wild
645:
642:
630:
626:
619:
617:
613:
601:
597:
590:
587:
582:
578:
571:
568:
556:
552:
545:
543:
539:
528:
524:
517:
515:
511:
499:
495:
488:
485:
480:
476:
472:
465:
463:
461:
457:
444:
437:
435:
431:
419:
415:
408:
406:
402:
389:
383:
381:
379:
377:
375:
373:
371:
369:
367:
363:
351:
347:
341:
338:
331:
329:
327:
323:
314:
312:
310:
309:
304:
303:
298:
294:
290:
289:
284:
279:
276:
267:
265:
261:
259:
255:
251:
247:
246:Virginia City
237:
233:
229:
225:
223:
219:
215:
211:
203:
201:
199:
195:
191:
186:
184:
180:
176:
168:
166:
164:
160:
156:
152:
148:
144:
129:
126:
125:1984 Chamonix
122:
115:
114:
111:
107:
103:
102:United States
91:Representing
89:
86:
82:
78:
67:
64:
61:
57:
52:
49:
45:
42:
40:Occupation(s)
38:
34:
30:
25:
934:. Retrieved
930:
921:
909:. Retrieved
907:. 2019-11-22
904:
895:
884:. Retrieved
880:
870:
859:
850:
839:. Retrieved
834:
825:
814:. Retrieved
812:. 2017-02-21
809:
800:
786:
775:. Retrieved
771:the original
764:
755:
744:. Retrieved
740:
714:. Retrieved
710:the original
705:
681:. Retrieved
677:
667:
657:, retrieved
651:
644:
632:. Retrieved
628:
603:. Retrieved
599:
589:
580:
570:
558:. Retrieved
554:
530:. Retrieved
526:
501:. Retrieved
497:
487:
479:the original
474:
447:. Retrieved
421:. Retrieved
417:
392:. Retrieved
355:December 29,
353:. Retrieved
349:
340:
318:
306:
300:
296:
286:
283:Tracy Pollan
280:
274:
271:
262:
254:Marc Racicot
243:
234:
230:
226:
222:survivalists
218:Ulerys Lakes
207:
187:
172:
143:Kari Swenson
142:
141:
72:Medal record
48:veterinarian
21:Kari Swenson
958:1961 births
936:26 December
911:26 December
683:26 December
449:22 November
394:22 November
210:guest ranch
149:and former
952:Categories
886:2019-12-03
841:2016-06-26
835:People.com
816:2019-12-03
777:2017-08-24
746:2016-06-26
716:2017-04-27
659:2018-06-24
634:2 December
560:2 December
532:2019-12-03
423:2 December
332:References
315:Later life
169:Background
706:MTN, News
605:24 August
503:24 August
302:30 for 30
204:Abduction
151:biathlete
44:Biathlete
308:Criminal
194:Chamonix
159:Chamonix
85:Biathlon
63:Biathlon
445:. ESPN
248:, the
198:France
163:France
99:
212:near
59:Sport
54:Sport
938:2019
913:2019
861:IMDb
685:2019
636:2019
607:2017
562:2019
505:2017
451:2019
425:2019
396:2019
357:2017
32:Born
766:MSN
192:in
157:in
954::
929:.
903:.
879:.
858:.
833:.
808:.
763:.
739:.
725:^
704:.
693:^
676:.
627:.
615:^
598:.
579:.
553:.
541:^
525:.
513:^
496:.
473:.
459:^
433:^
416:.
404:^
365:^
348:.
196:,
161:,
46:,
940:.
915:.
889:.
864:.
844:.
819:.
794:.
780:.
749:.
719:.
687:.
638:.
609:.
583:.
564:.
535:.
507:.
453:.
427:.
398:.
359:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.