USA Gymnastics sex abuse took Texas Rangers to Karolyi Ranch
The famed Karolyi Ranch, where USA Gymnastics trains its top female athletes, is connected to a sexual abuse investigation by the Texas Rangers, IndyStar has learned.
The Rangers confirmed Wednesday that they are conducting a criminal investigation of former USA Gymnastics team physician Dr. Larry Nassar.
A source familiar with the case told IndyStar that Texas investigators went to the training facility in November. Gary Jewell, attorney for owners Bela and Martha Karolyi, former U.S. Olympic team coaches, confirmed that the Rangers showed up at the ranch. He said he doesn't think they took any documents.
Jewell and USA Gymnastics officials said the Karolyis cooperated fully.
The Rangers are at least the third law enforcement agency to launch criminal investigations of the Michigan osteopathic physician in the wake of an IndyStar report about alleged sexual abuse of minors in his care.
The Michigan attorney general charged Nassar in November with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person younger than 13. In December, federal prosecutors charged him with receipt, attempted receipt and possession of child pornography. The federal charges were filed after investigators discovered more than 37,000 images of child pornography on computer devices during a search of Nassar's property.
Lt. Craig Cummings of the Texas Department of Public Safety told IndyStar the Rangers' investigation is not related to the FBI investigation.
"The Rangers are working one sexual assault, and they've actually titled the offense 'continuous sexual assault of a juvenile' out of the USA Gymnastics investigation," Cummings told IndyStar. "There is only one case they are investigating here in Texas."
The ranch enjoys iconic status within the sport of gymnastics. In 2001, it was designated as the official U.S. Women’s National Team Training Center.
Its reputation has suffered at times amid allegations of abusive training methods and because of to a series of recent lawsuits related to Nassar, including a new one filed this week.
The Rangers' visit to the ranch was "very polite," according to Jewell. “They basically toured the property and took photographs and that was that,” Jewell said. "All they wanted to do was see specific areas of the training facilities.”
USA Gymnastics confirmed in a written statement that it "received an inquiry from Texas law enforcement and cooperated fully."
"Security measures are in place at the ranch, and USA Gymnastics has staff on-site," the statement said.
USA Gymnastics announced in July that it had agreed to purchase the Karolyis' training camp located in a remote part of Texas, about 70 miles north of Houston. The sale has not been finalized, but USA Gymnastics said it "has been and continues to work on closing terms with the Karolyis."
Nassar, who is in jail in Michigan, also is accused in six civil lawsuits of molesting young, female gymnasts, two of whom describe alleged abuse at the Karolyi Ranch.
Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics is named in five of those lawsuits and is accused of failing to properly supervise Nassar and children in the organization's care.
The latest civil suit was filed this week in Superior Court of Sacramento County, California. It claims a former member of the U.S. national team, listed in the lawsuit anonymously, was sexually assaulted and abused by Nassar while she was training at the Karolyi Ranch and other sites. USA Gymnastics said it had not seen the new lawsuit and had no comment.
The new lawsuit describes the Karolyi Ranch as a "toxic environment, perfectly suited for (Nassar) to systematically sexually abuse the minor children, including the plaintiff, who were captive at the ranch." It also alleges that Bela and Martha Karolyi physically and verbally abused child gymnasts, depriving them of food, water and communication with their parents.
Nassar would not report the Karolyis' abuse and "in turn, (the Karolyis) turned a blind eye to the sexual abuse being perpetrated by (Nassar)," the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit also alleges that USA Gymnastics ignored Nassar's abuse so it wouldn't face public and legal scrutiny and "could maintain a false facade of high moral repute, and could maintain and grow financial support for its programs." In statements, USA Gymnastics said it notified the FBI and relieved Nassar of duties as soon as it became aware of "athlete concerns" about his conduct.
The lawsuit accuses USA Gymnastics of being aware of the potential threat of child predators, but failing to have proper safeguards in place to protect children from abuse.
Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics, also is a defendant. He is alleged to have overseen "a wide-ranging, calculated concealment of numerous instances, complaints, and allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct among the participants and members of (USAG)."
Allegations about the conduct of Nassar, who accompanied the U.S. women's team to four Olympic games, surfaced last year after IndyStar published a report in August that revealed top officials at USA Gymnastics failed to report many allegations of sexual abuse to authorities.
After that story, two former gymnasts, including a former Olympian, came forward to IndyStar, which published a story about their allegations of abuse by Nassar. That story prompted more than 60 other women to go to police in Michigan with allegations against Nassar, who also been on staff at Michigan State University.
“The silence from USAG and Michigan State in the face of dozens of victims coming forward is stunning," said California attorney John Manly, who is representing several of the Jane Does in the civil lawsuits. He said he has been in contact with about 35 alleged victims of Nassar — the youngest only 9 — in seven states.
"The idea that nobody knew, their position is nobody knew nothing, it reminds me of the Catholic bishops in 1999 or 2000 when they continued to deny the abuse of children," he said. "Not only are there numerous national team coaches that are accused of being abusers, but we also have a national team and Olympic doctor as an abuser. Some may view that as a coincidence. I do not."
Paul Parilla, chairman of USA Gymnastics Board of Directors, said the health and well-being of its members "is and always has been an important priority" for the entire organization.
"Keeping young people safe requires sustained vigilance by everyone — coaches, athletes, parents, administrators and officials," he said in a statement late Thursday.
Manly urged other gymnasts who were abused by Nassar to notify authorities.
"Please come forward and help your sisters," he said. "Come forward and tell law enforcement. You will be believed and you will be safe. Call police and tell them the story.”
Call IndyStar reporter Tim Evans at (317) 444-6204. Follow him on Twitter: @starwatchtim.
Call IndyStar reporter Mark Alesia at (317) 444-6311. Follow him on Twitter: @markalesia.
Call IndyStar reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski at (317) 444-6135. Follow her on Twitter: @IndyMarisaK.
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IndyStar will continue to investigate this topic. If you have information you would like to share, please email investigations@indystar.com or call (317) 444-6262.
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