Convicted Sexual Abuser Larry Nassar Stabbed in Prison Attack
Lawrence G. Nassar, the former doctor who was convicted of sexually abusing young female gymnasts, was brutally stabbed multiple times on Sunday at the federal prison in Florida where he is currently serving a 60-year sentence. The attack took place at the Federal Correctional Complex Coleman, a sprawling prison compound in Central Florida.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Mr. Nassar, 59, was stabbed in the chest, back, and neck and suffered a collapsed lung. However, he is currently in stable condition and conscious at a nearby hospital. The assailant was another inmate at the prison, and it is not clear what prompted the attack or when exactly it took place.
A spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that an inmate was assaulted on Sunday but did not disclose the identity of the individual involved. The inmate was immediately provided with “lifesaving” measures and promptly transported to a hospital for further medical attention.
Joe Rojas, the president of Local 506, a union that represents prison employees, stated that Mr. Nassar was “shanked” repeatedly. He added that the former doctor was fortunate to be alive. Mr. Nassar had previously experienced violence behind bars when he was assaulted shortly after being released into the general population of a federal penitentiary in Arizona in May 2018.
After the Arizona incident, Mr. Nassar was moved to the Coleman II penitentiary, which is known for its “safe” unit designated for high-risk targets like sex offenders and other high-profile prisoners. However, at the time of the recent attack, he was not in protective custody but rather in a general population unit.
The prison authorities are now investigating the incident and reviewing the video surveillance footage to establish the details surrounding the attack.
This latest episode adds to the disturbing history of Larry Nassar, who had been accused of molesting and assaulting numerous young women and children, including athletes from Michigan State University and members of the U.S. national gymnastics team. A scathing 2021 report from the inspector general of the Justice Department revealed that the initial investigation into Nassar was mishandled by the FBI, allowing him to continue his abuses.
In 2017, Mr. Nassar pleaded guilty to federal charges and was subsequently sentenced to an additional 40 to 125 years in Michigan after pleading guilty to three more counts of sexual assault. He was then remanded to federal custody.
The attack on Nassar highlights the ongoing issue of violence and suicides within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which is plagued by chronic understaffing. Notable incidents include the suicide of Theodore J. Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, and the beating death of gangster James Bulger. A report by the inspector general also revealed a dysfunctional environment at the Manhattan federal prison where financier Jeffrey Epstein took his own life in 2019.
In the wake of his attacks, thirteen female athletes who were sexually assaulted by Nassar have sought $10 million each from the FBI, citing mishandling of the investigation that allowed Nassar to continue victimizing more individuals. These athletes were abused while they were at the Twistars gymnastics club in Michigan. John Geddert, the club’s owner, took his own life in 2021 after being charged with human trafficking.
Lawyers for the victims have argued that some of the assaults occurred after the FBI was made aware of the allegations in 2015, indicating a failure in their response. The department’s inspector general also criticized the FBI’s handling of the case in a scathing report issued in 2021, which revealed that Nassar had abused approximately 70 young athletes during the investigated period.
As Larry Nassar recovers from this recent attack, it renews the spotlight on the long and troubling legacy of abuse that has forever scarred the lives of numerous victims as well as exposing systemic failures within the justice system.