As of last week, 156 victims had come forward publicly to detail the abuse they faced from former Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar.
By the time former Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced in Ingham County Circuit Court last week, 156 victims had come forward publicly to detail the abuse they faced at his hands.
At Nassar’s second sentencing hearing for state criminal sexual abuse charges, this time in Eaton County Circuit Court, more women said they were inspired to share their story after watching them speak their truth.
Many of them had never stated their name publicly, or had previously remained anonymous due to concerns about possible consequences in their personal or professional lives. Some said they hadn’t come to terms with their own abuse until they watched the victim impact statements in Nassar’s sentencing hearing.
But many said the army of women that gained international attention last week inspired them to band together with other survivors and share their voice, both for themselves and the women who haven’t yet felt comfortable coming forward.
« When I heard others talk about their treatments, it finally clicked, » wrote Lindsay Medrano, who said she had avoided Nassar coverage entirely until she’d heard Aly Raisman’s testimony last week.
As the memories came rushing back, Medrano wrote that grasping what had happened for the first time was one of the hardest things she’d ever experienced. She felt like it might be too late to tell her story.
« If I was too late, the least I could do was keep sharing, » she wrote.
Judge Janice Cunningham assured her and other victims that their statements continued to matter: « It’s never too late to speak out, » she said.
A total of 29 victims testified in court Wednesday, either in person or through statements read by the Attorney General’s office or a family member. At least 65 women are currently expected to give victim impact statements in the Eaton County Case, which has court dates scheduled through next Tuesday to accommodate the hearing.
More than 250 women have come forward so far to report abuse by Nassar, according to the Attorney General’s office.
Environment at Twistars gymnastics club helped Larry Nassar flourish, victims say
Madison Bonofiglio, who saw Nassar for years as a young gymnast and was one of the charged victims in Ingham County, wrote that she decided to give a statement for all the women and girls out there – those she knew of and those she didn’t – who are the unknown victims of Nassar.
« Some decided it was best for them not to come forward, others simply did not think it happened to them enough, » she wrote of the women she knows personally who were abused but decided not to provide a statement.
« I don’t know about you, but this really makes me sad that some of my best friends think that because they were only assaulted by Larry 5-10 times that wasn’t enough to matter, » she wrote. « Personally, I think this really matters. »
Annie Labrie, one of the charged victims in Eaton County, told the court that she never expected to speak publicly, expressing fears that it could bring back the trauma of her experience.
« I was afraid I’d sound redundant, » she said. Had it not been the encouragement of supporters and other survivors, « I don’t know that I would have had the strength. »
Labrie said she spent most of her youth in the Twistars gym, and was under Nassar’s care for five years. At Twistars, Nassar was « the only option, » she said.
In the culture of gymnastics, a girl’s physical and emotional experiences can be invalidated, she said. Labrie said she’s hoping the power of survivors’ voices helps change that.
« This is what makes the Nassar trial bigger than gymnastics, » she said.
Under Nassar’s plea agreement, he will be sentenced on three first degree criminal sexual abuse charges committed in Eaton County.
Cunningham said at the beginning of the court hearing that she planned to follow the terms of the plea agreement, which includes a minimum sentencing between 25-40 years.
The charges in Eaton County are related specifically to abuse that happened at Twistars, a gymnastics club in Dimondale, Mich.
Several women in court testimony described a dynamic at Twistars where owner John Geddert was quick to anger, tough on the gymnasts and dismissive of pain. Nassar, on the other hand, was a nice man who seemed to truly care about their injuries and want them to feel better, they said.
Nassar’s sentencing hearing in Ingham County shined an international spotlight on MSU, USA Gymnastics and Twistars as his victims portrayed how his abuse continued unabated for decades.
Major shakeups among MSU and USA Gymnastics leadership have already taken place – MSU President Lou Anna Simon resigned last week, and MSU Athletic Director Mark Hollis resigned Friday. The entire USA Gymnastics board has resigned over the scandal after the U. S. Olympic Committee asked for a full turnover of leadership at the organization.
Geddert recently announced his decision to retire from Twistars after he was suspended by USA Gymnastics .
Larry Nassar sentencing in Eaton County criminal sexual abuse charges starts
