Rachael Denhollander, the first gymnast to publicly accuse former US team doctor Larry Nassar of sexual misconduct, has named her new-born child after Lt. Andrea Renee Munford, a detective who headed the investigation.
Michigan State University (MSU) detective Munford interviewed multiple Nassar victims and played a crucial role in building a case against the disgraced doctor, who pleaded guilty to molesting young gymnasts under the guise of medical treatment.
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Denhollander paid tribute to Munford’s efforts in bringing Nassar to justice, saying that the detective had “fought” for the victims who had suffered at the hands of the pedophile physician.
“Elora Renee Joy. Elora - to God belongs the victory. Renee - Rebirth, redemption. And after Dt. Lt. Andrea Renee Munford, who fought for us and made redeeming so much evil, possible,” Denhollander twitted on Friday, explaining the choice of name for her fourth child.
Denhollander came forward in September 2016 to report gut-wrenching details of Nassar’s medical tests to the Indianapolis Star, which published an article about the accusations against the doctor.
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The revelations inspired other Nassar victims to speak up about the ordeals they had been forced to ensure through during their sports careers.
More than 200 women have filed lawsuits against Nassar claiming to have been abused by the former physician. Earlier this year, Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for the sexual crimes he committed during a period spanning more than 30 years.