Ex-US gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar reportedly stabbed in prison


Larry Nassar, the former sports doctor convicted of sexually abusing female gymnasts, was stabbed multiple times in a Florida federal prison, The Associated Press reported Monday.
The incident reportedly occurred Sunday at United States Penitentiary Coleman, where Nassar has been incarcerated since 2018. Sources said Nassar was stabbed during an altercation with another inmate, and was reportedly in stable condition after receiving medical attention.
Nassar "has a collapsed lung" and "was stabbed twice in the neck, six times in the chest, and twice in the back," Joe Rojas, a prison union leader for USP Coleman, told The Daily Beast. Rojas added that Nassar "is lucky to be alive and the only reason he is alive, in my opinion, is because of the staff members who were there." Prison officials were surprised by the incident because Nassar "kept to himself" and rarely had issues with other inmates, Rojas said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Nassar is serving decades in prison after convictions in both federal and state court on charges related to sexually assaulting numerous female gymnasts over many years. Following a law enforcement investigation, Nassar admitted to abusing gymnasts while working as a doctor for both Team USA and Michigan State University. He also pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography in a separate charge.
The Indianapolis Star first reported in 2016 that multiple gymnasts had accused Nassar of sexual assault. In the following two years, many prominent gymnasts, including Olympians McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Simone Biles, also accused Nassar of assault. In 2021, more than 500 survivors of Nassar reached a $380 million settlement.
A separate investigation by the Star alleged that USA Gymnastics officials "failed to alert authorities to many allegations of sexual abuse by coaches." A Justice Department report found that when the FBI was finally tipped off about Nassar in 2015, they failed to act properly.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Insects and sewer water: the alleged conditions at 'Alligator Alcatraz'
The Explainer Hundreds of immigrants with no criminal charges in the United States are being held at the Florida facility
-
Diddy: An abuser who escaped justice?
Feature The jury cleared Sean Combs of major charges but found him guilty of lesser offenses
-
Australian woman found guilty of mushroom murders
speed read Erin Patterson murdered three of her ex-husband's relatives by serving them toxic death cap mushrooms
-
Combs convicted on 2 of 5 charges, denied bail
Speed Read Sean 'Diddy' Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking
-
Sniper kills 2 Idaho firefighters in ambush
Speed Read A man started a wildfire, then fired a rifle at first responders when they arrived
-
7 charged in LA for 'largest jewelry heist in US history'
Speed Read The purported thieves stole an estimated $100 million worth of items
-
Weinstein convicted of sex crime in retrial
Speed Read The New York jury delivered a mixed and partial verdict at the disgraced Hollywood producer's retrial
-
'King of the Hill' actor shot dead outside home
speed read Jonathan Joss was fatally shot by a neighbor who was 'yelling violent homophobic slurs,' says his husband