Larry Nassar, the former osteopathic doctor for Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics, was reportedly stabbed multiple times by a fellow inmate at the United States Penitentiary Coleman in Sumterville, Florida. The incident took place on Sunday, according to two anonymous sources familiar with the matter who spoke to the Associated Press (AP). Nassar’s condition was stable on Monday, as confirmed by one of the AP’s sources.
Nassar, who gained notoriety for his role in the sexual abuse scandal involving young female gymnasts, was sentenced in 2018 to up to 175 years in prison. The disgraced doctor was found guilty of sexually abusing over 150 women and girl gymnasts, many of whom were his patients. The victims, who included prominent athletes such as Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney, accused Nassar of committing heinous acts during medical appointments, involving digital penetration.
In addition to the sexual assault charges, Nassar faced federal child pornography charges in 2017, after investigators discovered approximately 37,000 videos and images of child pornography in his possession, as reported by the IndyStar.
The news of Nassar’s assault comes amidst ongoing controversy surrounding the handling of the sexual assault allegations by various institutions. In 2022, more than 90 young women, including Olympic gymnasts, filed a tort claim seeking $1 billion in damages against the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), accusing the agency of failing to act on the allegations against Nassar. The survivors expressed a deep sense of betrayal by institutions that were supposed to protect them, including the U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics, the FBI, and the Department of Justice.
“My fellow survivors and I were betrayed by every institution that was supposed to protect us — the U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics, the FBI, and now the Department of Justice,” Maroney said in a statement at the time.
“It is clear that the only path to justice and healing is through the legal process.”
Nassar’s case has had a far-reaching impact, prompting widespread scrutiny and demands for accountability within the sports community and beyond. The survivors have emphasized the importance of the legal process in pursuing justice and healing from the traumatic experiences they endured.
