Yahoo Sports Former Notre Dame RB charged with murder after allegedly exercising 5-year-old to death
Former Notre Dame and NFL running back Cierre Wood and his girlfriend Amy Taylor are facing murder and child abuse charges after officials claimed they used rigorous exercise to punish Taylor’s 5-year-old daughter until it resulted in her death, according to TMZ.
Wood was arrested last week on child abuse charges, but it appears a murder charge was tacked on after further investigation into La'Rayah Davis’ death.
The details of what Wood and Davis allegedly put the child through are simply horrifying. Prosecutors reportedly claimed Wood forced the child, whom he called “chunky,” to do wind sprints, sit-ups and wall sits in response to what he claimed to be behavioral issues.
Wood reportedly admitted the child was unable to complete a second round of sit-ups on April 9, then flailed backward and hit her head against the floor. Per the report, she got up, swayed, then collapsed and was pronounced dead a short time later.
Per TMZ, officials said Wood’s slogan for the punishment was “learning through fun.”
Taylor, the girl’s mother, also allegedly had a hand in her death. Prosecutors said Taylor admitted she “popped” her daughter the day she died and that her daughter complained of chest pains in the final days of her life. Her mother reportedly sat on her chest to punish her for misbehaving.
According to KSNV News 3, the Clark County Coroner’s report said the younger Taylor had multiple rib fractures of unknown age.
The judge presiding over Wood’s hearing on Tuesday had this to say, according to TMZ:
During Tuesday's hearing, the judge says photos of Davis' body show severe injuries -- and told the court, "Once you’ve seen them, you can’t ever unsee them."
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