At a Glance
- Kari Swenson, 22, was seized as a “bride” during a 1984 training run near Big Sky, Montana.
- Father-and-son survivalists chained her overnight before Dan Nichols accidentally shot her through the lung.
- Rescuer Alan Goldstein was killed moments later; Swenson was left alone to survive until a search party arrived.
- Both captors eluded police for five winter months; the elder Nichols was later paroled in 2017 after 33 years.
Why it matters: The case shows how a lone athlete outran death in the wilderness and helped convict her attackers, then returned to elite sport.
Olympic biathlon hopeful Kari Swenson was snatched at gunpoint on a lonely Montana trail in July 1984, held overnight in chains, shot through the chest and abandoned-yet lived to testify and compete again.
The Abduction
Swenson, a member of the U.S. biathlon team, was jogging near Big Sky when Don Nichols, 53, and his 19-year-old son Dan confronted her, the Associated Press reported at the time.
- The pair had lived off-grid in the Madison Range for more than a decade.
- They told Swenson they “needed a woman up in the mountains,” she later told a Madison County jury during Dan Nichols’ 1985 trial.
- After grabbing and striking her, they shackled her wrist-to-wrist to Dan and marched her deeper into the forest.
Swenson said she tried to deter them by claiming she was married and dropped personal items to mark the trail.
Discovery and Gunfire
When Swenson failed to return, friends from Lone Mountain Ranch formed a search party. On July 16, co-workers Jim Schwalbe and Alan Goldstein spotted the campsite.
- Swenson screamed a warning that the men were armed.
- Don Nichols ordered his son to silence her; Dan Nichols fired, the bullet piercing Swenson’s lung.
- Don Nichols then shot Goldstein in the cheek, killing the 36-year-old.
The Nicholses fled, leaving Swenson bleeding and alone.
Alone in the Wild
“I thought I was probably going to die at any time,” Swenson testified, according to the AP.
- She crawled to a sleeping bag and tried to slow the bleeding.
- A helicopter passed overhead but did not spot her.
- Several hours later a ground team reached her and she was airlifted to Bozeman for emergency surgery.
Doctors saved her life, though the wound permanently reduced her lung capacity.
Five-Month Manhunt
Authorities launched an extensive search across the Madison Range.
- The Nicholses survived winter using cached supplies and remote camps.
- Sheriff Johnny France tracked them to a snowy site near Bear Trap Canyon in December 1984 and arrested them without incident.
Trials and Sentences
Charges and outcomes:
| Defendant | Charges | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Don Nichols | Deliberate homicide, kidnapping, assault | 85 years; paroled 2017 |
| Dan Nichols | Kidnapping, assault | Acquitted of homicide; freed 1991 |
Don Nichols admitted abducting Swenson, saying he believed she would adapt to mountain life. Jurors rejected the claim.
Life After the Mountain
Despite damaged lungs, Swenson resumed training and won a bronze medal at the world biathlon championships. She later earned a veterinary degree, returned to Montana and declined further media interviews.
Key Takeaways
- Swenson’s survival and testimony secured convictions.
- The case highlighted risks faced by athletes in remote areas.
- Her comeback to elite sport inspired teammates and prosecutors alike.
