At Larry Nassar’s Sentencing, Parents Ask: ‘How Did I Miss the Red Flags?’<br />In a Michigan court, dozens of parents have sobbed, wiped away tears or stood silently in a grim backdrop as young women<br />and teenagers testify about being molested by Lawrence G. Nassar, the former Olympic gymnastics team and sports medicine doctor.<br />Judge Rosemarie Aquilina of Ingham County Circuit Court, who has called the women<br />and teenagers “survivors” and “superheroes” as they have spoken in court, continued to work her way toward the end of a list of more than 150 young women and teenagers who wanted to make statements.<br />Over the last week, as more than 150 young women have read statements about Dr. Nassar’s abuse,<br />one element has stood out: the role of the parents who sent their children to him.<br />“I willingly took my most precious gift in this world to you,<br />and you hurt her,” said Anne Swinehart, who was allowed to directly address Dr. Nassar in court after her daughter Jillian spoke on Tuesday.<br />“I know how hard-core sports moms are.”<br />Dr. Nassar, 54, pleaded guilty in November to seven counts of sexual assault,<br />and for more than a week the number of women who have wanted to speak in court has grown.<br />The women have said that Dr. Nassar positioned their bodies so their parents, or sometimes a trainer, could<br />not see what he was doing, using a towel, raising the table, or slipping his hand under baggy shorts.
