'Deadliest Catch' Death Marks Long Year of Tragedy and Hardship for Cast

By Zach Dionne Posted Feb 24th 2011 01:10PM

News of Justin Tennison, the 'Deadliest Catch' star found dead at 33 in an Alaska hotel room over the weekend, marks a year of tragedy and hard times for the reality-documentary show's cast. Since early 2010, the Alaskan king crab fishing series has been plagued by two deaths, individual charges of reckless driving, robbery and drug dealing as well as a lawsuit from Discovery Channel.

Here, we chronicle the cast's hardships and hope for the best in the future.

Late January 2010: Capt. Phil Harris, 53, suffers a stroke aboard the Cornelia Marie.

February 2010: After a near-recovery in the hospital, Harris dies Feb. 9. 'Deadliest Catch' producer Thom Beers tells EW that Capt. Phil asked cameraman to keep rolling while he was on his deathbed in order to get "a great finish" to the show.

March 2010: Then-21-year-old Jake Harris (Capt. Phil's son) charged with reckless driving and operating with a suspended license. The incident in question occurred nine days after Jake's father's death.

Early May 2010: 'Deadliest Catch' production manager Matthew Schneider, 22 at the time, faces felony drug charges after delivering an estimated $300 worth of cocaine to an undercover police officer in March. The AP writes that Schneider reportedly "bragged about his ability to deliver cocaine to the Alaska fishing town of Unalaska."

Mid-May 2010: Joshua Tell Warner, a then-23-year-old 'Deadliest Catch' fisherman, is sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison after three robbery charges. Warner hit a Washington Mutual Bank in Eugene, Ore., in October 2007, immediately before boarding a 'Deadliest Catch' fishing boat. In court, bank tellers recount Warner warning they'd be murdered if they didn't comply with his robbery. Warner's appearance on 'Deadliest Catch' led to his arrest in January -- viewers called police after recognizing Warner on television, identifying him as a suspect in the robberies. Warner was picked up at a traffic stop in Illinois and extradited to his native Oregon for persecution.

July 2010: Toward the end of season six, Capt. Phil's final episode of 'Deadliest Catch' airs. The episode concludes with Harris' son Josh emotionally phoning his brother Jake and breaking the news -- "We lost Dad, dude."

September 2010: Discovery Channel sues 'Deadliest Catch' stars Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand for bailing on a spinoff special titled 'Hillstranded.' The Hollywood Reporter writes that Discovery will seek $3 million in damages after the Hillstrand brothers quit the 'Deadliest Catch' one-time special two weeks into production.

Justin Tennison Deadliest Catch

February 2011: Time Bandit fisherman Justin Tennison is found dead in a Homer, Alaska, hotel room. TMZ reports that a search of the hotel room, registered to Tennison, turned up "a small amount of marijuana, as well as several bottles of alcohol in the refrigerator. Cops tell us they believe there had been a party in the room the night before." Lt. Randy Rosencrans tells USA Today that Tennison died of unknown causes and the state medical examiner's office was set to conduct an autopsy.

Time Bandit Capt. Andy Hillstrand wrote on Facebook:

Justin fished commercially for many years, living in Alaska for 28 years. He worked on the Time Bandit, alongside his second cousin, Eddie Uwekoolani, Jr., serving as Engineer during the tendering seasons, and joined the Time Bandit crew as a deckhand fishing the Red King 2010 and Opilio 2011 seasons.

Justin was tough as a bull and was an all-around good hand. The Captains and Crew appreciated his hard work and many contributions this past year. We will miss him terribly and wish his family all the best during this most difficult time.

Despite all the hardship, Discovery confirms to PopEater that 'Deadliest Catch' will return for a seventh season in April 2011.

See 'Deadliest Catch' stars remember Capt. Phil Harris:

Tags: Deadliest Catch, Justin Tennison, Phil Harris

Comments

(30)

Thursday 24 February

By i

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They want to make the big bucks at the expense of the crabs. They reap what they sow.

By Deanna Cooney

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are you serious man or just trippin now your going to start with save the crabs like save the dolphins please people died and they shouldnt be getting sued for missing out on the spin off Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand have lost enough dont you think

By mike

So you are a member of save the crabs? lol, what a dumb fk now ive heard everything someone thinks the crabs are being mistreated...

Friday 25 February

By bdyftns

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They only way this show will survive is if they sign on Charlie Sheen.

By Bilbo

LIVE HARD , DIE HARD

By tom

follow several dozen men from any profession for several yrs, and you will get the same results. Another big headline/no story from AOL. This a dangerous, full time job on a bunch of boats in a dangerous environment. guys like to party after being away from home and friends. go to the military for a couple of yrs, and see what you want to do when you go on leave.

By Joneo

TELL THEM TOM,,,,,I,m WITH YOU 200%,,,I WAS IN S/E ALASKA

By DVDLBT

This Aint Dancin with the Stars! What do you expect!

Oviously the stateside folks dont get ,what being a fisher man in ALASKAN WATERS IS,,, TO LIVE THE LIFE ,, understand ?,,,TO THE REST OF YOU ..YOU WILL NEVER KNOW.,,,PLAIN & SIMPLE,,,,,,,,,FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO GOSSIP ABOUT,,,BEST TO THE CREWS WHERE THE WILLY WAAS BLOW.TO CREWMAN LOST R.I.P.....A Brother of the WATERS,,,

By Mike

It's not just a "Deadliest Catch" curse. Between deaths and divorces, it's the "Reality TV" curse.

By busterhymen

"Extradited to his native Oregon for persecution?" Doesn't anybody proof-read these articles?

By bob gomez

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Cursed please. the people that work those boats lets face it are not the pillars of society to start with so how can you really be surprised

By Auntd01

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You ask "Could it spell the end of the show?" Are you out of your damn mind.

By Michael

... sent back to Oregon for persecution. LOL. Great editing.

By Kevin

WTF AOL, BIG HEADLINE.....little story??????

By kenny say's

not worth watching and they burned out a good song

By twolanefever

you have to go there ,,,DO that ,,,then you can talk the talk,,,so till you go TO ALASKA AND DO THAT ,,,,GIT Off,,THESE GUYS BACKS,,,THEY ARE NORMAL PEOPLE,,, WHO DISCOVERY CHANNEL MADE into SOMETHING ELSE,,,,

By Tim

(Reality TV) I Hate It! Some of the things you see people do with themselves. One show I haven't watched an don't plan on (AN IDIOT ABROAD). The way I describe that show is like this. the way they speak about it being the most watched show on TV on SCI/FI.

What people are doing is watching THEMSELVES. They know they are idiots everyday. So they want to see someone else be turned into an idiot live on TV so they can laugh at someone. Because the idiots they know they are themselves. They need to find someone to make them feel better. Stop letting themselves look like the Stupid, the Dumb, the Azz. Let them see someone else.

I see that show as totally Stupid & Dumb. Of all things I hate most in my life is STUPIDITY... When people look or act like that I just say get out my face.

By dropper

Hard Livin....Hard Dyin...For some reason I still admire these guys.

By Twolanefever

IF WE ALL LIVED IN MAYBERRY ,,,,WE COULD SAY OH NO!,WE DON,T,,and ,,THEY DON,T,,,,GET ON TO SOMEBODY ELSE ,OTHER THAN THESE NORMAL GUYS,,,, WHO HAVE A ROUGH WAY TO MAKE IT ,,IN THIS WORLD.

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