WILDWOOD, FLORIDA: A child predator serving decades for sexually assaulting victims including gold medal-winning Olympians, has been bayoneted several times at a federal prison in Florida on Monday, July 10. Larry Nassar was stabbed in the back and in the chest but he is now in stable condition, said a source according to Associated Press. A couple of people with insights into the incident told the outlet that the attack happened on Sunday when an altercation broke out with another inmate at the United States Penitentiary Coleman.
However, as per ABC News, a source claimed that the disgraced doctor suffered “substantial injuries,” including a collapsed lung. The news was later confirmed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons but they declined to identify him due to privacy and security concerns. “Responding staff immediately initiated life-saving measures,” bureau spokesperson Benjamin O’Cone said. “The inmate was transported by (emergency personnel) to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation.” The spokesperson added that no other staff or inmates were injured and the FBI is currently probing the incident.
Who is Larry Nassar?
Nassar is serving hundreds of years in prison for convictions in state and federal courts. He admitted sexually assaulting athletes when he worked at Michigan State University and at Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics which reportedly trains Olympians. Besides, Nassar also pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography.
More than 300 girls and women, including Olympians like Aly Raisman and Simone Biles, laid charges against the former Michigan State University sports doctor for sexually abusing them under the facade of medical treatment that dates back several years. The victims collectively sought more than $1 billion from the federal government for the FBI’s negligence in stopping the abuser from committing the crimes despite being aware of the allegations made against him in 2015. He was arrested more than a year later in 2016 by the Michigan State University police.
In July 2021, the Justice Department’s inspector general admitted that the FBI made “fundamental” errors while looking into the sexual abuse allegations against Nassar and did not treat the case with the “utmost seriousness.” At least 40 girls and women became victims over 14 months while the FBI was well aware of Nassar's other sexual abuse allegations. In May 2016, officials at USA Gymnastics also contacted FBI officials in Los Angeles after eight months of inactivity from Indianapolis agents.
Michigan Judge Rosemarie Aquilina told Nasser it was her 'honor and privilege to sentence' him
In January 2018, Michigan Judge Rosemarie Aquilina told the predator that it was her “honor and privilege to sentence” him to 40 to 175 years in prison. “I just signed your death warrant,” she told him. “You do not deserve to walk outside a prison ever again.” More than 65 women then recalled the horrific events during a separate trial which sentenced Nassar from 40 to 125 years behind bars for abusing young girls at the Twistars Gymnastics Club in Dimondale, Michigan. An enraged father whose three daughters were molested even tried to attack him in court. Nassar was also sentenced to 60 years in federal prison on child pornography charges.
District Judge Janet Neff said while sentencing that case, the “predator” should “never again have access to children.” The university eventually agreed to a $500 million settlement with his victims. USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee also agreed to a $380 million settlement for being unable to protect their young athletes from Nassar’s ill-treatment.
