Seth Rich Parents Demand Retraction Of Fox Story On Wikileaks Ties

(JTA) — The family of Seth Rich, a Jewish Democratic National Committee staffer killed near his Washington, D.C., home last summer, has called on Fox News to retract a story that says Rich had contact with Wikileaks before his death.

Rich, 27, a Nebraska native, was shot dead while walking home before dawn on July 10, 2016. Police have speculated that he was the victim of a robbery gone awry. Rich’s body was found about a block from his home with his wallet, watch and cellphone still in his possession.

His death sparked several conspiracy theories, including that he was a source for WikiLeaks.

Several days after Rich’s death WikiLeaks released a collection of DNC emails, which intelligence officials now say was related to Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Fox’s Washington DC affiliate Fox 5 in a story released on Monday linked Rich’s death and the email dump, citing statements from Rod Wheeler, a private investigator who said he is working with the Rich family and has said, among various conflicting comments, that there is evidence of emails between Rich and WikiLeaks.

Wheeler has since backed off of his claims.