Larry Nassar, the Disgraced US Gymnastics Doctor, Reportedly Stabbed in Prison
Larry Nassar has been injured in a prison altercation.
The AP reports that the doctor—who was convicted of sexually abusing female gymnasts—was stabbed multiple times by another incarcerated inmate. Sources familiar with the incident say he was stabbed in the back and the chest on Sunday at United States Penitentiary Coleman in Florida, per The AP.
ESPN spoke with a source that confirmed the disgraced doctor was taken to the hospital with multiple stab wounds.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons cited security concerns in their decision not to disclose the identity or health condition of the inmates, telling the outlet, “We can confirm on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at approximately 2:35 pm, an inmate was assaulted at the United States Penitentiary (USP) Coleman II, in Sumterville, Florida. Responding staff immediately initiated life-saving measures. Staff requested Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and life-saving efforts continued. The inmate was transported by EMS to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation."
The bureau said no other staff or inmates were injured.
The AP’s two sources—who are not authorized to speak publicly about the situation amid the ongoing investigation—spoke to the outlet anonymously and revealed that the situation escalated as the prison is experiencing staffing shortages.
The officers on duty at the unit where Nassar was held were reportedly working mandated overtime shifts; one guard was allegedly on their third straight 16-hour day shift, while the second officer was on their second shift.
The AP reports that staffing shortages have been an ongoing issue, with a 2021 investigation revealing that it hindered emergency responses.
Nassar is serving decades in prison—60 years for child pornography charges, with an additional sentence of 40 to 175 years for sexually assaulting gymnasts, including Olympic medalists. He’s also serving an additional 40 to 125 years in Michigan State prison after pleading guilty to three counts of sexual assault.
In 2018, several athletes testified against him citing more than two decades of sexual abuse, which they said went unreported despite being brought up to adults like coaches and trainers.
Nearly 100 women, including Olympians Simone Biles and Aly Raisman, said they were sexually assaulted by Nassar and sought more than $1 billion from the FBI for not stopping the doctor when the agency was first informed of the allegations against him in 2015, allowing him to continue abusing women before his arrest in 2016.
The AP reports that at least 40 girls and women were molested over the course of the year that the FBI was aware of the allegations against Nassar.
Michigan State, which was also accused of failing to stop Nassar for years, paid out $500 million to 300 women, while the USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee reached a $380 million settlement with victims.