Larry Nassar, the disgraced sports doctor who was convicted of sexually abusing gymnasts, was stabbed multiple times during an altercation with another inmate at a federal prison in Florida, a prison union leader said Monday.
Nassar, 59, was stabbed twice in the neck, twice in the back and six times in the chest, and also suffered a collapsed lung in the attack Sunday, said Joe Rojas, president of Local 506, which represents employees. of the Federal Correctional Complex. Coleman in Central Florida.
Rojas, who said that he verified the information with the personnel on duty, added that Nassar is in stable condition.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons said an inmate was assaulted at Coleman at 2:35 p.m. Sunday, but declined to identify the inmates involved. Authorities said staff provided life-saving measures and the inmate was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
“No staff or other inmates were injured and at no time were the public in any danger. An internal investigation is underway,» authorities said, adding that the FBI was also notified.
Nassar was sentenced to decades in prison for sexually assaulting gymnasts, including Olympic medalists. He is serving time behind bars for convictions in state and federal courts.
The disgraced sports doctor pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting gymnasts and other athletes with his hands under the guise of medical treatment for hip and leg injuries. At his trial, more than 150 accusers spoke out or submitted statements detailing his abuse.
In June of last year, the Michigan Supreme Court rejected a final appeal by Nassar.
The sports doctor also pleaded separately to possessing child pornography.
Nassar worked at Michigan State University and at the Indianapolis campus USA Gymnasticstraveling the world with sports elites.
He has been housed at Coleman since 2018 in a unit with other sex offenders, Rojas said.
“It is unusual for this to happen in that unit,” added Rojas. He said staff shortages and vacancies at the high-security prison have left staff working extra shifts and performing other duties detrimental to security.
“That’s why it happened,” Rojas said of the assault on Nassar. «We don’t have the staff.»
The BOP has dealt with the death of a high-profile prisoner in recent months.
Ted Kaczynski, the man known as the Unabomber, who was serving life in prison without the possibility of parole, was found dead in June in his jail cell at FMC Butner Medical Center in North Carolina. A senior law enforcement official said Kaczynski, who had been diagnosed with cancer, committed suicide.
This is a developing story. Please check for updates.
chantal da silva contributed.