When I stepped to the microphone in that Michigan courtroom, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina More than 150 women and girls have accused Nassar of assault, including gymnasts Aly Raisman, Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney and Gabby Douglas. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Bekah Snyder works for the prosecutor's office. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. ABC News' Elizabeth Vargas and 19 of the women who made victim impact statements at the Nasser trial. Simon resigned from her post hours after Nassar was sentenced yesterday. Aformer MSU sports-medicine doctor, Nassar is now serving a life sentence for molesting hundreds of patients. How it started when she was just 6 years old. Kyle Stephens was first abused by Larry Nassar, a family friend, at the age of 6. 30, 03-Jul, Crosser Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Oak Harbor. But her parents were friends with Nassar and his wife, and she said her family typically had dinner with the Nassars every Sunday at their home in Holt, Michigan. It was only when Nassar was arrested that Kyle Stephens father discovered the abuse had in fact taken place. Larry is a predator, Rachael says. He was the youngest of three children. May 27, 1958 January 31, 2021. Stollak was one of seven current and former health-care providers at MSUput under investigation by the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs for their actions related to Nassar. Theater of popular music. The spouse of American Idol contestant Kellie Pickler, Kyle Jacobs, tragically shot himself to death on February 17, 2023. Stephens said Nassar first allegedly exposed himself to her in a dark boiler room in the basement of his house when she was 6 years old. 1:24. He was . All rights reserved (About Us). He was born December 1, 1964 in Demopolis, AL to William. Put another way, they didn't want to believe that . Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. She told the court that her father had taken his own life when he discovered the full extent of Nassars abuse of his daughter. Remember what you have witnessed these past seven days. Join Facebook to connect with Kyle Stephens and others you may know. Seeing the report was the first time, Stephens said, she realized she wasnt his only victim. Feb 14, 2023. Every time we got into a fight, he would tell me, You need to apologize to Larry I started to question whether the abuse ever happened. My mother must live with her regret every day. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. For years, Kyle Stephens has been identified only as Victim Z.A. or family friend. But, last week, she stepped out from the cloak of anonymity and gave the first of more than 100 victim impact statements about the abuse she endured at the hands of former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. Dances with Wolves actor pleads not guilty in 'sex cult' case, Star singer La Tigresa dies from a heart attack at 89 after storied career, TikTok star, 28, is charged with child abuse after 'attack on boyfriend', Rape survivor slams Gabby Petito Utah cop over handling of her case, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Kyle Stephens testified against Larry Nassar after he sexually abused her over six years, Kyle Stephens called her father "her rock" before he took his own life, Kyle Stephens denounced Nassar as a "repulsive liar", Kyle's parents didn't believe she was being abused when she first told them, Stephens testified against Nassar in 2018, Simone Biles and gymnasts blast FBI for Nassar cover-up at Senate hearing, Kyle Stephens became the first woman to take the stand against Nassar. When he left this world, he was my rock.. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). All-league boys basketball teams in the South Sound for the 2022-23 season, as chosen by coaches. Pressure had increased on Simon to step down during Nassars sentencing hearing, which included a week of testimonials from Nassars accusers. And, worried the attention that could come with that, asked for complete anonymity," Kyle tells the packed courtroom. michael lombard actor obituary; justinas duknauskas biography; organic valley grassmilk yogurt discontinued; jp morgan salary increase 2022; was robert really injured in everybody loves raymond; madonna's sisters and brothers; does coconut milk shampoo make your hair greasy. Kyle Stephens fathers suicide was also spoken about, as Stephens faced the man who had taken her childhood away from her forever. Clyde Ray Stephens died peacefully on May 17, 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas. . Paul is survived by his children, Victoria . Simone Biles, Aly Raisman Among Victims Suing FBI for $1 Billion Over Larry Nassar Investigation, Larry Nassar Survivors to Receive an Additional $380 Million Settlement After Years-Long Lawsuit Battle, Simone Biles Says Gymnastics Officials 'Should Be Feeling [Pain]' from Larry Nassar Scandal, 'Not Me', McKayla Maroney Says Reliving Trauma from Larry Nassar Abuse Made Her Want to 'Become Someone Else', Aly Raisman Says She's 'Been Trying to Process, Recover' After Testimony About FBI's Nassar Failures, Aly Raisman Recounts FBI Agent 'Diminishing My Abuse' During Larry Nassar Investigation, Simone Biles Gives Emotional Testimony at Senate Hearing on FBI's Handling of Nassar Investigation, McKayla Maroney Shares Photos with Aly Raisman, Maggie Nichols and Simone Biles After Testimony, Angelina Jolie Says She Was 'Honored' to Meet McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman: 'I'm in Awe of Their Courage', Simone Biles Leaves for 'Dream Come True' Gymnastics Tour Following Her Senate Testimony, Aly Raisman Says Meeting Angelina Jolie Was 'Light Moment' on Difficult Day of Senate Testimony, Former USA Gymnastics Doctor Larry Nassar Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing Girls in Michigan, Larry Nassar Apologizes in Court as He's Sentenced to Another 40 to 125 Years in Sex Abuse Case, 'Let Me at Him!' I was the first of 256 known victims to tell the world what Nassar had done to me and how it had affected my life. Then she glares at Larry. Eric Scott Stephens, 37, of Green Forest, died July 9, 2022, at his home in Green Forest, Ark. Kyle Z. Stephenson BARRE On Nov. 10, 2021, an Angel from Heaven came down unexpectedly and took our beloved Kyle. Stephens said Nassar denied the abuse and my parents chose to believe Larry Nassar over me. She said her parents made her speak with Nassar about the allegations, and the predator allegedly told her, No one should ever do that, and if they do, you should tell someone.. Green Forest, AR, 1985 - 2022. View our online Press Pack. Kyle Stephens tried for years to get anyone to believe her that family friend Larry Nassar had sexually abused her. Jennifer Rood Bedford, a former MSU volleyball player, says she told Hadden in 2003 that she was uncomfortable about Nassar's treatments, although Bedford said she was not specific about her complaint. Armeda Joan Gurley Stephens, 86, of Mount Olive, AL passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 23, 2023. Victim impact statements were read in court by dozens of women who accused Nassar of sexual abuse. JULIA STEPHENS Julia Ann Harris Stephens, devoted wife, mother, grandmother and selfless servant to her church and her family, passed on into eternity on August 25, 2022. Michael Stephens Obituary. teacher, father, and grandfather. "Look around the courtroom. She ended up confronting her father about Nassar again when she was 18, before leaving for college. By the time he died, Stephens said her father had made it right. His belief that I lied seeped into the foundation of our relationship, she said. He was predeceased by : his aunt Donna Jean; his uncle Harry Peterson; his . Constant anxiety made me hyperattentive to anything I could control my body, my environment and the people in my life. The HBO doc "At the Heart of Gold" does a better job at looking at victims and wide net for his predation (Holt High, Michigan State, TwistStars . Ultimately, 204 women and girls tell their stories. Stephens blames her father's suicide on the shame and self-loathing he felt for defending Nassar. They grow into strong women who return to destroy your world. Nassar pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a child in November 2017. He was predeceased by : his wife Jessica Davis; his father Ralph; his . Eric was born January 28, 1985, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to Ronald . I understand, and that is why I have limited my personal statements. It was only in 2016 when Kyle read the story of another woman who had been abused by Nassar, that she called the police. Stephens said she believes the reason her father took his own life stemmed from the shame and self-loathing he felt when he refused to believe her . Stephens said, Without my knowledge or consent, I had engaged in my first sexual experience when I was in kindergarten.. PAUL STEPHENS OBITUARY. "'You convinced my parents that you didn't stick your fingers up my adolescent vagina. Every day we do nothing, we send a message to victims everywhere that their pain doesnt matter, and that their lives are expendable. Nassar was the team physician for the Michigan State University gymnastics and womens crew teams, as well as an associate professor at MSUs College of Osteopathic Medicine. He's exposing himself to me and I remember just feeling awkward, like, OK, I've never been in a situation like this. While reading her impact statement in court, Stephens revealed that her father had multiple mental health issues before he committed suicide. And then Rachael turns to her faith, which has guided her through her entire life, but especially through this process of getting justice. ", Rachael Denhollander gives the final victim impact statement. The place is packed. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. After years of suffering from the sexual abuse, Kyle told her parents what was happening. She watches all the survivors give their impact statements. james davis obituary illinoisNitro Acoustic. You convinced my parents that I was a liar, Stephens said. The entire courtroom survivors, parents, coaches, friends, dozens and dozens of people who have been so damaged by a man they trusted breaks into sustained, enthusiastic applause. "And that the world would hear her and believe her and the truth would be exposed.". On another occasion, he molested her underneath a blanket while watching TV on the couch. Masturbated in front of her. "Send a message that these victims are worth everything because everything is what these survivors are worth.". Nassar, 54, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison on Wednesday for sexually assaulting former gymnasts and other young women. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Evelyn Sadler. Our unwillingness to shatter the stigma surrounding sexual exploitation keeps us from realizing the immensity of the problem and the imminent danger to those we love. And while she and her father eventually "did the best to patch up our relationship," he died from suicide in 2016, Stephens said -- and she suspects his guilt over the Nassar abuse was a factor. Stephens said Nassar convinced her parents she was lying about him hiding"lotion in the basement so you could beat your penis while I hid", adding: "But I still get sick at the smell of that lotion." Rich is currently in the hospital and on a ventilator. I lost my father to his guilt. To plant trees in . Stephens was the one victim whose abuse occurred outside of Nassar's medical practice. "You play word games saying you didn't know, because no one believed. I believe, my mom definitely had lingering suspicions, and my dad probably did, too, but they had committed to believing him. 6, 2019. Admittedly, my father was experiencing debilitating health issues, but had he not had to bear the shame and self-loathing that stemmed from his defense of Larry Nassar, I believe he would have had a fighting chance for life.. "Please state your name for the record," Judge Aquilina says. Kyle Stephens, whose family was close with Nassar's, said he repeatedly abused her from age 6 to 12 during family visits to his home near Lansing, Michigan. USA Gymnastics Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Prosecutors are seeking at least 40 years in prison for Nassar, who has already been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for child pornography crimes. Facebook gives people the power to. Speaking to Nassar in court in January 2018 while testifying against him, she said: You convinced my parents that I was a liar.. She is preceded in death by her mother, Grace; father . On the first day of sentencing Kyle Stephens, who blames Nassar for her father's suicide, revealed how he repeatedly abused her between the ages of six and 12 at her family home. February 16, 2018 at 9:18 a.m. EST. Visitation for Jim will be held on Monday, March 13, 2023 from 4:00PM until 6:00PM at the Peacock Family Chapel. They grow into strong women who return to destroy your world. Stephens blames her father's suicide on the shame and self-loathing he felt for defending Nassar. Emma Winowiecki/Jodi Westrick/Michigan Radio. As a young girl, Kyle was abused by Larry Nassar, a family friend, for six years as her family would visit him every Sunday for dinner. As a survivor of sexual abuse, I can testify to the cascade of mental and physical health complications that stem from this trauma. 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