Who is Eric Hartter?
Eric Hartter was a tattoo artist who gained popularity for his relationship with Kim Mathers, Eminem’s ex-wife. He is also the biological father of Stevie Scott Mathers, previously known as Whitney Scott Mathers, Kim’s daughter whom Eminem adopted. Eric was born in 1980 in the US – in 2020, it was reported that he died at the age of 40.
Early life, Family, and Career
Not much information is known about his early life, education and background. His mother’s name is Marie Hartter, and regarding his professional life, he worked as a tattoo artist.
Run-ins with the Law
Reportedly, he had several clashes with the police, as he was caught intoxicated and in possession of illegal substances on him. The police reports disclosed that he was working as a drug dealer, and used his tattoo shop as a cover, which led to several charges of drug possession with intent to sell.
In December 2018, he was arrested for allegedly stealing around $200 worth of Red Bull from a CBS pharmacy. While in jail, he was arrested again for a second time in 24 hours for felony contra-ban, for possessing fentanyl and methamphetamines. On 13 March, he pleaded guilty and was faced with nine months to four years of imprisonment, although as a four-time habitual offender, he was potentially looking at life imprisonment. According to the records, in April 2019, Eric was scheduled for sentencing in April 2019, to which he failed to appear.
Consequently, a warrant was issued for his arrest; one of the police officers who was given the duty to take him into custody, revealed: ‘Eric Hartter is wanted on a felony warrant from our city for possession with intent to deliver drugs, resting and obstructing an officer, operating when impaired, and also giving a false identification to a police officer’.
In June 2019, while driving a black Dodge Avenger in Michigan, he was pulled over by police officers for defective equipment. They quickly determined that there was a warrant out in his name, and arrested him.
His relationship with Kim Mathers
Eric began dating Kim Marshall in 2001, allegedly while she was still technically married to Eminem; they’d tied the knot in 1999 after several years of dating, but divorced in 2001 due to irreconcilable differences, and rumors of alleged cheating. On 16 April 2002, Kim gave birth to Stevie Scott, but Eminem disclosed that she was not his biological daughter. Reportedly, Eric showed no interest in being a part of Stevie’s life, and didn appear ’tas her father on her birth certificate. Given Kim’s problematic past, history of drug abuse, and well-documented legal troubles, Eminem adopted Stevie and also Alaina, who is the daughter of Kim’s twin sister.
After Eminem took custody of Stevie, Eric, who wasn’t present at the hospital when Kim gave birth to her, reportedly asked to see Stevie, and Kim replied: ‘Just take me to court if you want to see her. Take me to court’. Even though he had the right to apply for a paternity test which would have set the record straight on his connection with Stevie, and also potentially allowed him visitation rights, Eric opted not to do so. According to sources, he never tried to get in touch with her again, or form a relationship.
In 2005, Eric’s mother, Marie, sued Eminem for depriving her of visitation rights.
How did he die?
According to the police reports, Eric was found unresponsive in an abandoned house in Detroit, and pronounced dead on arrival (DOA) at hospital.
The house he was found in was known to the police as a gathering spot for drug users and homeless people. The police revealed: ‘A call was made by a family member who came by to check the location, and found the victim unresponsive, with no signs of trauma.”
Upon further investigation, it was determined that the cause of death (COD) was a drug overdose. After this information came to light, Eric’s friends revealed that he had struggled with drug addiction, and even began consuming heroin.
What is his daughter doing now?
Stevie, who spent most of her life away from public life, made headlines in 2020 after she came out as non-binary in an announcement on her TikTok account, which read: ‘Watch me become more comfortable with myself.’ A couple of weeks following her grand announcement, she seemingly hinted in a TikTok video that Eminem had failed to tell her and Alaina that they were adopted. Reportedly, she found out after several people had sent her the article about her biological father’s death.
What was his net worth?
At the time of his death, his estimated net worth was around $10,000. Eminem’s net worth is reputedly around $200 million, while Kim’s wealth is around $2 million.
Briefly about Kim Mathers
Kim came into public focus as Eminem’s girlfriend and the mother of their child, Hailie Mathers. They reportedly met at a house party, and began dating in high school. Kim gave birth to Hailie in 1995, and they officially tied the knot in 1999, the same year when Eminem released his LP “The Slim Shady”.
After quickly garnering fame and popularity, Eminem started touring, and was focused on building his career rather than taking care of his marriage. In an interview, Kim said: ‘When Marshall’s first tour started is when his ego just went ‘poof’, like he was God, that’s what he thought.’
To add more insult to injury in 2000, he released his infamous track “Kim”, on which he rapped about killing her and dumping her body at the bottom of a river. Soon their marriage came crashing down, and they divorced in 2001. However, later they would apparently rekindle their love; they remarried in 2006, but the marriage lasted only three months, and the following year Kim broke the silence and for the first time, openly talking about her relationship with Eminem. Kim revealed that he had a lot of issues, mainly coming from his relationship with his mother, although adding that despite their problems, he had always been a good father to Hailie.
In 2018, she was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) crash, for which she received one-year probation and $900 in fines, given it was her first DUI. Later, she admitted that it was actually a suicide attempt.
On a positive note, she managed to get clean and established herself as a children’s book writer, publishing “Mommy! There’s a Snot Man Standing Next to You”, and “Kids in Context: The Sociological Study of Children and Childhood”.
Briefly about Eminem
Widely regarded as one of the best rappers in the world, if not the best, Marshall Bruce Mathers III, professionally known as Eminem, has been appearing on the stage since the ‘90s, and is still active in the music industry.
He began his career performing with the underground group Soul Intent, then after five years went solo, releasing his debut album “Infinite” in 1996; the album was poorly received, and didn’t live up to the expectations.
After signing a record deal with the label Aftermath Record, run by Dr. Dre, he released his second album, “Slim Shady”, which won a Grammy Award. During his lengthy career, he would go on to release 10 albums, all of which landed in the #1 place on the Billboard 200 chart.
Eminem has sold over 250 million albums worldwide, and has successfully added his name among the best-selling rap artists next to 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G. In addition to numerous recognitions and awards, including 15 Grammys, in 2002 he won the Academy Award for Best Original Song “Lose Yourself”, co-written with Jeff Bas and Luis Resto, once again making history as the first rapper to receive this award.
Besides his highly prolific and successful music career, he is also known to the public for his numerous legal battles with family members, distracks, and feuds with a long list of pop and rap stars, such as Mariah Carey, Ja Rule, and Michael Jackson.
