Dr. Larry Nassar was working with the USA Gymnastics National Team medical staff since 1986, later becoming the National Team Physician. He has won awards throughout his career for his work, however, there was a dark secret looming behind it all.
In 2015, he was fired from the his position with USA Gymnastics "after learning of athlete concerns," starting a series of events that revealed years of abuse and cover-ups.
A year later, current and former gymnasts who had previously worked with Nassar began coming forward to share stories of sexual harassment and assault. Since 2016, over 150 athletes have spoken up and their bravery has led to the justice system charging Nassar for his crimes.
Before he was taken away, some of his victims were able to share their impact statements.
Kyle Stephens
"Without my knowledge or consent I had engaged in my first sexual experience by kindergarten and had joined an overwhelming statistic of sexual abuse victims."
"Perhaps you have figured it out by now, but little girls don't stay little forever. They grow into strong women who return to destroy your world. Your Honor, there is no time that Larry Nassar can serve that will give me back those years with my family."
Kyle Stephens father committed suicide when he realized that the claims she had been making for years were true.
Jessica Thomashow
"I couldn't be just a normal girl anymore and I have forever lost a big piece of my childhood due to his abuse."
"You took advantage of my innocence and trust. You were my doctor and I trusted you and you took complete advantage of that. Why? I used to ask myself that question all the time, especially when I was laying in bed crying myself to sleep."
"What you did to me was so twisted. You manipulated me and my entire family. How dare you."
Donna Markham
Her daughter, Chelsea, took her own life after the molestation caused her to experience extreme depression.
"We got in the car and she started bawling and I said, 'Chelsea tell me what's wrong,' and she said 'Mom, he put his fingers in me, and they weren't gloved.'"
"She made bad decisions. It affected her social life. She started running with bad crowds, she got into drugs, and she never really recovered the person that was my best friend."
"It will be 10 years in March that I lost my baby. She was 23 years old. And every day I miss her. Every day. And it all started with him."