Cierre Wood used to be an NFL player, so he was well aware of the benefits of exercising. When he started dating Amy Taylor, a single mother, he took on the responsibility of making sure her five-year-old daughter got fit.
Wood allegedly thought the child was too “chunky” and was hellbent on changing that. His dedication to his mission eventually led to the demise of the little girl in 2019. And now, years later, the former NFL player and his girlfriend have been sentenced.
Cierre Wood Has Been Sentenced
Cierre Wood has been sentenced to ten years to life in prison for the killing of his girlfriend’s daughter. The child, named La’Rayah Davis, 5, passed away in April 2019 after she was rushed to a Las Vegas hospital.
Reports claim she was covered with at least 100 bruises, including 20 broken ribs and a laceration to her liver that authorities are certain led to her demise. At the time of her death, Wood was in a relationship with La’Rayah’s mother and was arrested and then charged with murder.
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In April, Wood, an athlete at the University of Notre Dame before his professional career, took an Alford plea on a charge of second-degree murder and a charge of child abuse.
The plea lets a defendant acknowledge that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict but do not admit guilt. On the other hand, Taylor pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder and felony child abuse as part of a deal with prosecutors.
What Did Cierre Wood Do to La’Rayah Davis?
According to reports, Cierre Wood made the 5-year-old do intensive workouts as punishment. “He would make her run sprints in the apartment and do sit-ups and wall squats,” police said shortly after her death.
The police also said that Wood claimed he was “trying to get her on the right path due to her being chunky.” The day she died, Wood put the child through sit-ups, punishment for not learning her letters and numbers. Taylor told police she was grocery shopping while Wood was with La’Rayah that day.
When she died on his watch, Cierre Wood called 911, but he lied about what happened. According to him, the girl fell backward while doing sit-ups and hit her head on the carpet. When authorities responded to his call, they found La’Rayah’s body already cold and stiff.
The Extent of the Abuse
La’Rayah’s demise prompted an autopsy that revealed the extent of the abuse—mental and physical—the girl suffered before her death. According to the Clark County Coroner, La’Rayah had fractured ribs and “multiple skull contusions.”
Her wounds were extensive, but the autopsy also showed a prominent liver laceration that authorities believe to be “the probable cause of her demise.” The wounds on her body were inconsistent with Wood’s version of events, which was that the girl fell backward and hit her head.
However, Wood’s lawyer, Thomas Ericsson, claimed it was Taylor who abused the child, and Wood was away when the abuse took place.
La’Rayah Davis’ Mother Also Pleaded Guilty
Amy Taylor is facing one charge of child abuse and neglect. Police claim that she would sit on her daughter’s chest to punish her mistakes. Taylor pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder and felony child abuse as part of a deal with prosecutors.
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As a result, Taylor was sentenced in July to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the murder charge and eight to 20 years on the abuse charge. La’Rayah’s father was saddened by her demise as he shared a close bond with the child.
“She had so many people she touched, and she was only 5,” Danuan Davis said. “That’s the most tragic thing. I can’t call her. I just talked to her that Monday before. ‘Dad, I’ll see you in two weeks.’ The next day I get a call that she’s gone.”
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