Disgraced former New York Times journalist, Jayson Blair, has once again found himself in the spotlight, this time as the top donor to a fundraiser for the estranged wife of Gilgo Beach suspect, Rex Heuermann. Blair, who resigned from the prestigious newspaper amid a plagiarism scandal two decades ago, contributed a surprising $2,000 to the fundraiser started by the daughter of the notorious Happy Face Killer.

In an exclusive interview with the New York Daily News, Blair expressed his sympathy for the Heuermann family, stating, "I just thought, of all the practical things that these people are going to have to rebuild, they'll probably have to leave their neighborhood, it will forever impact their dreams. And I just thought that I want to be a part of helping them get back on their feet." He added that he can “relate” to their struggle, given his own past.

Jayson Blair's name became synonymous with journalistic deception when he was at the center of a news frenzy in 2003. He was forced to resign from his position as a national reporter and editor for the New York Times after it was revealed that he had fabricated and plagiarized details in several major stories. The Times described Blair's actions as "a low point in the 152-year history of the newspaper."

Before his downfall, Blair had been seen as a rising star in journalism and had impressed his superiors at the Times during an internship. However, his fabricated stories shattered the trust in his reporting and led to widespread condemnation from his former co-workers and the University of Maryland's newspaper, The Diamondback. Thirty of his former colleagues publicly condemned his actions, highlighting the severity of his betrayal.

Blair's most notorious fabrication was a claim that he had traveled to Palestine, West Virginia to report on the capture and rescue of soldier Jessica Lynch. However, it was later discovered that Blair had never actually been to West Virginia, and his story on Lynch was based on details from the Associated Press. This revelation further tarnished his reputation and exposed the extent of his deceit.

Since his resignation, Blair has embarked on a new career path as a life coach in Ashburn, Virginia. On his website, he identifies himself as a former New York Times reporter and promotes his services, specializing in mental health coaching, career coaching, attention deficit disorder, pervasive developmental disorders, mood disorders, and substance abuse. He attributes his past scandal to untreated mental health problems that "cost me much of my life at the time."

Blair's contribution to the fundraiser for Heuermann's estranged wife, Ellerup, and her two adult children is part of a larger effort that has garnered significant support. The campaign has received a total of 731 donations, raising over $28,000 so far. Blair's donation, though controversial due to his history, adds to the financial assistance that will help the Heuermann family rebuild their lives in the wake of the Gilgo Beach suspect's arrest.

In his message accompanying his GoFundMe donation, Blair alluded to the media scrutiny that he himself had endured, saying, "I hope this also helps them escape some of the media glare that I know can be so damaging." While Blair's motives may be questioned, his contribution serves as a reminder of the complexities of human redemption and the potential for individuals to find ways to make amends for past mistakes.