Former NFL player jailed for murder of 5-year-old girl he forced to play sports and called “Chunky”

Cierre Wood was in a relationship with Amy Taylor, the five-year-old's mother.

A former National Football League (NFL) player has been sentenced to 10 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of a 5-year-old girl who was forced to play sports as punishment for her “chubby” figure. According to NBC SportsThe child, identified as La'Rayah Davis, died in April 2019 after being hospitalized with at least 100 bruises, including 20 broken ribs and an injury to the liver that authorities believe led to death.

Former NFL player Cierre Wood was dating Amy Taylor, the 5-year-old's mother, at the time. He was arrested earlier this week and charged with murder. Ms. Taylor also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse as part of the deal with prosecutors, the newspaper reported.

An investigation into the little girl's death revealed details of the severe abuse she suffered before her death. The mother reportedly told police officers that she sat on the child while disciplining her, while Wood claimed that the child fell backwards while doing sit-ups and hit her head.

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According to the arrest warrant, the former NFL player had her “run sprints, do sit-ups and wall squats in the apartment.” Woods told police he was “trying to get her on the right track because she is so fat.” On the day of her death, Wood had the child do sit-ups because she had not learned her letters and numbers, he said, according to People.

However, Wood's attorney claimed that Amy Taylor abused the child and that Wood was not home at the time of the abuse. The mother was sentenced in July to life in prison with the possibility of parole for murder and eight to 20 years in prison for abuse.

Wood pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse and will be eligible for parole after 10 years. He entered an Alford plea, which is an admission of guilt but also allows him to maintain his innocence.