Doctor with ties to Michigan State accused of sexually abusing gymnasts

Dr. Larry Nassar faces allegations from 2 former gymnasts

LANSING, Mich. – A former gymnastics doctor with local ties is accused of crossing the line, but not everyone believes he did what he's accused of.

Dr. Larry Nassar is accused of sexually abusing two former gymnasts -- a former Olympic medalist and a 31-year-old woman who now lives in Kentucky.

Rachael Denhollander told an Indianapolis newspaper that Nassar sexually assaulted her when she was 15 years old during club gymnastics in Michigan.

Denhollander said the assault happened while her mother was in the room, but he would position her in such a way that her mother couldn't see what Nassar was doing.

Local 4's Kimberly Gill went to Nassar's house in Holt, Michigan. His wife answered the door, but said she had no comment.

A worker at Twinstars Gymnastics Club in Dewitt, where Nassar was a team physician, said she's known him for more than 30 years. She said he dedicated his life to helping women's gymnastics.

"I'm sure Dr. Nassar is totally overwhelmed, but the Twinstars community is behind him 100 percent," she said. "I have known him before he ever went to medical school. He has been nothing but caring and sincere."

Parents that knew him couldn't believe the accusations.

"Oh my goodness, I'm shocked," one parent said. "I actually knew him when it was Great Lakes, not Twinstars, and he took really good care of me. That's really sad."

Nassar has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

The mother of Jordyn Wieber, who was a U.S. Olympic gymnast in 2012, said Nassar was "totally professional during the years he treated Jordyn." She said the news comes as a shock.


About the Authors:

You can watch Kimberly Gill weekdays anchoring Local 4 News at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. and streaming live at 10 p.m. on Local 4+. She's an award-winning journalist who finally called Detroit home in 2014. Kim has won Regional Emmy Awards, and was part of the team that won the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast in 2022.

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.