Former NFL player Cierre Wood, who made his name as a running back who played on three CFL teams and five NFL teams, was sentenced to life in prison this week over his involvement in the killing of a five-year-old.
The Associated Press confirmed this week that Wood will be eligible for parole in 10 years, and that his sentencing follows a deal that was struck earlier this year. Wood was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty in April to felony child abuse and a second-degree murder charge. The 33-year-old former football star was also ordered to serve an additional 28 months and six years for the child abuse element of his charges.
What Did He Do?
Wood was arrested and charged in connection with the murder of La’Rayah Davis, the daughter of his girlfriend at the time. The arrest took place in April, 2019, and drew an enormous amount of media attention.
Wood’s former girlfriend, Amy Taylor, lived with him in Las Vegas at the time of the child’s death. La’Rayah had only recently moved in with the couple, and on April 9, 2018, emergency services received a call about the child. When paramedics arrived they found La’Rayah unresponsive. She was later pronounced dead at the hospital, with coroners later confirming that she died as a result of blunt force trauma.
Years of investigation confirmed that La’Rayah had suffered a series of major injuries over a period of time. At the time of her death, the five-year-old girl was covered in bruises, had a number of internal injuries, and had suffered a lacerated liver.
Throughout the trial, evidence was presented that suggested Wood had forced the young girl to perform a series of grueling and tiring exercises as a way of disciplining her, including making her perform sit-ups, wall sits, and running sprints. While the exercises may have been well tolerated by a grown adult, they put far too much strain on the body of a growing child.
Witnesses confirmed that Wood was too harsh with the child, and experts revealed that La’Rayah’s injuries were consistent with physical abuse. The court also heard that the injury that ultimately killed the child was the result of La’Rayah kicking her in the abdomen after she failed to perform the exercises in the way he expected. The courts also heard that La’Rayah hit her head when falling on the day of her death.
