Last updated: 2026
Eric Hartter was an American tattoo artist from the Detroit area who became known to the public for one reason: he was the biological father of Stevie Laine Scott, who was raised by the rapper Eminem. He died in August 2019, and his name came back into the news when Stevie talked about learning of his death. This Eric Hartter biography sticks to what several sources agree on, and it points out clearly where the details do not match. Please note that the name also belongs to a business executive in Europe, but this article covers the Michigan man that most people are searching for.
Eric Hartter Quick Facts
| Detail | What is reported |
|---|---|
| Full name | Eric Hartter |
| Born | January 22, 1979 (a few sites say 1980) |
| Birthplace | Roseville, Michigan (reported, not officially confirmed) |
| Died | August 22, 2019, Detroit, Michigan |
| Age at death | 39 or 40, depending on the birth year used |
| Profession | Tattoo artist |
| Known for | Biological father of Stevie Laine Scott (born Whitney) |
| Mother | Marie Hartter |
| Marriage | No confirmed marriage |
| Cause of death | Accidental overdose, reportedly cocaine and fentanyl |
| Net worth | Unverified, no reliable figure exists |
Who Was Eric Hartter?
Hartter never sought fame, and he was not active on major social media. Nearly everything the public knows about him comes from his short relationship with Kim Scott, the former wife of Eminem, and from the child they had together. Because of that, most articles about him read more like a side note to the Eminem story than a real biography. Here, the goal is different: to give Hartter his own timeline, and to be honest about how thin the record is in some places.
Eric Hartter Life Story: Early Years in Michigan
Several biography sites say Hartter was born on January 22, 1979, in Roseville, a city in Macomb County just northeast of Detroit. His mother was Marie Hartter, and his father’s identity has never been made public. Other sites list his birth year as 1980, which is why his age at death appears as both 39 and 40 depending on where you look. One site even gives a full birth date in July 1980, but that page also writes about him as if he were still alive, so it is not a reliable source.
Details about his childhood, schooling and siblings are basically missing. Some articles fill the gap with vague lines about “personal and social challenges,” but none of them point to a named source. It is better to say plainly that his early life is undocumented than to repeat guesses. What we can say is that he lived most of his life in the Detroit area of Michigan.
Eric Hartter Career as a Tattoo Artist
Almost every source describes Hartter as a tattoo artist working in the Detroit region. That claim is repeated widely, but it is worth being careful here, because none of the pages I reviewed named a specific tattoo shop, a portfolio, or a client he worked for. A few sites describe his “distinctive style,” yet they give no examples, so that part reads like filler. The safest summary is that tattooing was his reported profession, and there is no verified record of awards, studio ownership, or any public career milestones.
This is one place where existing articles are weakest. Some make his tattoo work sound like a big success story, while others link his income to drug dealing without solid evidence. Neither claim is backed by an official record I could find. Readers should treat any “career achievements” list for Hartter with caution.
Relationship With Kim Scott and Daughter Stevie Laine
Eminem and Kim Scott divorced in 2001 after a turbulent first marriage. During the time they were apart, Kim dated Hartter, and the two had a daughter, Whitney Scott, born on April 16, 2002. The child later took the name Stevie Laine Scott. Reports say the relationship with Hartter was short, and Kim later returned to Eminem, who legally adopted Stevie around 2005 and raised them alongside his biological daughter Hailie Jade and adopted daughter Alaina.
Some sources claim Hartter fought for custody or was absent from Stevie’s life, while others say he had little involvement at all. None of these claims come with court records that I could verify, so I would not treat them as settled fact. There is also no public record showing that Hartter and Eminem ever met in person. Eminem is connected to Hartter only through Kim and through Stevie.
In 2021, Stevie posted a TikTok video that described learning about Hartter’s death through an article. Stevie said in the captions that Eminem had always insisted he was their real father, and the video was later deleted. It is worth remembering that this is a family matter involving real people, and Stevie’s own words are the best guide to how they feel about it. Anyone trying to guess at private family conversations is just speculating.
Legal Problems Before His Death
Hartter’s later years were marked by drug-related legal trouble. Reports say he was arrested on December 28, 2018, on a felony charge tied to contraband involving methamphetamine and fentanyl. He reportedly pleaded guilty on March 12, 2019, and served a jail term that ended around July 2019, only weeks before he died. The sentence length is reported differently across sites, with one saying 153 days and another giving a different mix of jail time and probation, so the exact figure is unconfirmed.
You may also see a story online about a small theft charge involving energy drinks. It appears on a few wiki-style sites, but I could not trace it to a court record, so I have left the details out. The main point that sources agree on is that Hartter struggled with addiction and that it shaped his final years.
How Did Eric Hartter Die?
According to widely repeated reports, Hartter was found dead on August 22, 2019, in an abandoned house in Detroit. Several sites say his mother, Marie, was the one who found him. An autopsy reportedly showed cocaine and fentanyl in his system, and his death was labeled accidental. One original report is often credited to Radar Online, and most other sites appear to trace back to it, so the claim rests on a fairly small base of reporting.
A few sites add that he was cremated in September 2019. Because that detail comes from a single low-profile source, I am mentioning it only as reported. Fentanyl has been linked to a very large number of overdose deaths in the United States, and Hartter’s case is one more reminder of how dangerous it is. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, you can call or text the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-4357 in the US.
Eric Hartter Net Worth: Why the Numbers Don’t Match
Search results for his net worth are all over the place. One site says between $50,000 and $150,000, another says $3 million, and several say the figure is unknown. None of them cite tax records, business filings, or any official source. Since Hartter was not a public figure with disclosed earnings, any number should be treated as a rough guess at best, and I would not rely on it. As of 2026, there is no verified net worth for him.
Eric Hartter’s Legacy
Hartter’s story is not a success story, and it does not need to be turned into one. He was a man with a hard life who left behind a daughter and a family that still remembers him. His name stays in search results mostly because of who he was connected to, but the more lasting lesson is about addiction and how quickly it can take over a life. For readers who want more background on the family around him, you can read more about Eminem’s family and their public story on our site.
How This Was Researched
I looked at a broad set of biography pages and celebrity news sites about Hartter, plus general reference pages on Eminem’s family, to compare dates and details side by side. I found that most existing articles copy each other, mix up birth years and death dates, and pad their word count with unsourced claims about his net worth and career. Wherever facts conflicted, I chose the version that appeared most often and clearly labeled it as reported or unconfirmed. I also searched for recent 2026 news and found nothing new and credible, so I did not add a “latest news” section. I have no personal connection to anyone in this story.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eric Hartter
Who was Eric Hartter? Eric Hartter was an American tattoo artist from Michigan who is best known as the biological father of Stevie Laine Scott, whom Eminem adopted.
How did Eric Hartter die? Reports say he died on August 22, 2019, from an accidental overdose involving cocaine and fentanyl. He was reportedly found in an abandoned house in Detroit.
Was Eric Hartter married to Kim Scott? No marriage has been confirmed. Sources describe a short romantic relationship while Kim and Eminem were divorced.
Did Eric Hartter ever meet Eminem? There is no public record that they met. Their connection came through Kim Scott and Stevie.
How old was Eric Hartter when he died? He was 39 or 40, depending on whether you use 1979 or 1980 as his birth year. Most sources lean toward January 22, 1979.
What was Eric Hartter’s net worth? There is no verified figure. The numbers online are guesses, so any amount should be considered unconfirmed as of 2026.
Accuracy Note
This biography is based on publicly available information, including news coverage and biography pages, and much of it is unofficial. Some details about Hartter’s life, especially his early years and career, could not be confirmed. If you spot anything outdated or incorrect, please let us know so we can update it.
Written and researched by Laura Castillo, contributor at icons golf cart