Years later, when she was 12, Stephens told her parents about the abuse and her mother and father confronted their friend Nassar. A young woman in a black dress, hair twisted back off her face, is the first to approach the podium. Steven D. Moore. Rubbed her feet on his penis. They grow into strong women that return to destroy your world.". How much is a young woman worth? SF brother, and until we meet again. May 27, 1958 January 31, 2021. ", Stephens said she carried around the guilt of what happened to her for a long time, but now that Nassars sentencing hearing is over, she feels a sense of relief.. We are sad to announce that on October 14, 2022, at the age of 50, Jeffrey Kyle Stephens (Fort Worth, Texas) passed away. He is survived by his wife Karissa; three children: Connor, Ryker and Ethan; three siblings: Cearra (Josh) Thompson, Kyler Tryon and Cory Stephens; birth father, James Howington, Jr.; birth mother . She ended up confronting her father about Nassar again when she was 18, before leaving for college. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. She said: "You convinced my parents that you didn't pull my feet into your lap, unzip your pants, and rub your erect penis against my bare skin. He messed up big," she added. How it started when she was just 6 years old. . comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . When an Instagram message is the only place where victims can speak their truth, we are failing. I lost my father to his guilt. It is time to take that away from them. Kyle Stephens fathers suicide was also spoken about, as Stephens faced the man who had taken her childhood away from her forever. The abuse put a strain on her relationship with her parents, Stephens said, noting that her family initially did not believe her when she first told them about the abuse. And then, it begins. And, worried the attention that could come with that, asked for complete anonymity," Kyle tells the packed courtroom. It leaves our communities undereducated about prevention, as well as deprived of the resources to treat the consequences. Donna Markham, the mother of Chelsea Markham, testified her daughter was molested by Nassar after seeking treatment for a back injury she suffered in a fall off a balance beam when she was 10, Sports Illustrated reported. Kyle Stephens blames her father's suicide on the abuse she suffered at the hands of disgraced US gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar Credit: Reuters. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. But after Kyle, that starts to change. On Monday, four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles said on her Twitter account that she, too, was abused by Nassar. Sign up. As a survivor of sexual abuse, I can testify to the cascade of mental and physical health complications that stem from this trauma. . "But he made up for it big time. Dr. William Strampel, an osteopathic physician who also was dean of MSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine and Nassar's former boss. DISGRACED gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar cowardly hid his face as one of his victims revealed the abuse she suffered at his hands in chilling detail. Published by News Herald & News-Messenger on Jul. greenhill funeral home obituaries. Later, when her father realized that Stephens was indeed telling the truth, she said that he committed suicide. I understand, and that is why I have limited my personal statements. Instead, they told their young daughter to apologise to her abuser. . Kyle Stephens was a gymnast when she encountered Larry Nassar for the first time in her life. Richard Todd Stephens age 57 of Linden, AL died October 26, 2022 at Marengo Nursing Home. How many tossed-aside and forgotten addicts were victimized as children? Survivors who had not yet come forward hear Kyle's words, and begin showing up. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Browse Kyle local obituaries on Legacy.com. Disconnected from her family, Stephens said she began doing all she could to pay for her own counseling, as she knew she could not ask her parents for help. Every time we got into a fight, he would tell me, You need to apologize to Larry I started to question whether the abuse ever happened. However, more of Nassars horrific actions are coming to light as dozens of girls are accusing him of sexual abuse. Kyle Bazant was born on 03/24/1988 to parents Mike Bazant and Dawn Wastweet (Maki). Throughout my career, I have worked very hard to put Team MSU first. 1:24. Stephens blames her father's suicide on the shame and self-loathing he felt for defending Nassar. Put another way, they didn't want to believe that . Nassar is already serving a 60-year-sentence after pleading guilty in July in federal court to child pornography charges. My desperate need to regain jurisdiction over my life led me to eat myself sick and to compulsively exercise in fear of gaining weight. Kyle Stephens, the first of more than 100 women to testify about Larry Nassar's abuse, says her father did not believe her and later died of suicide. He labeled me within my family as someone that was just a vile person, Stephens said of Nassar during a Thursday appearance on Megyn Kelly Today alongside fellow victims Rachael Denhollander and Mattie Larson. Sexual abuse is hardly limited to Nassar, Michigan State University or USA Gymnastics. Stephens said that she told her parents, but they did not believe her. Stephens was also a babysitter to Nassars children, and in court, she accused him of rubbing his genitalia on her and digitally penetrating her among other things. Well, Larry, I'm here not to tell someone, but to tell everyone. Kyle Stephens was first abused by Larry Nassar, a family friend, at the age of 6. Despite telling her parents of the abuse she suffered for six years, Kyles parents did not believe her. Their message was this: This is a Larry Nassar problem, not an MSU problem. Kyle Stephens and her parents were family friends to Larry Nassar, a respected doctor for the USA Gymnastics team. Constant anxiety made me hyperattentive to anything I could control my body, my environment and the people in my life. Stephens said Nassar convinced her parents she was lying about him hiding "lotion in the basement so you could beat your penis while I hid. This site is sponsored as public resource by the independent funeral homes repesented here. Nassar pleaded guilty in November to several counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Kyle Stephens claims Larry Nassar abused her for years as a child. But instead of believing her, Kyles parents demanded their daughter apologise to her abuser. Nassar has pleaded guilty to molesting females with his hands at his Michigan State University office, his home and a Lansing-area gymnastics club, often while their parents were in the room. Believed is a podcast produced by Michigan Radio and distributed by NPR. The Basement. He was . Many wept as they told harrowing stories of thesexual abuse and emotional trauma he inflicted on them as children. Stephens was the first of nearly 100 women who are expected to provide victim-impact statements during the four-day hearing. For years, Kyle Stephens has been identified only as Victim Z.A. or family friend. But, last week, she stepped out from the cloak of anonymity and gave the first of more than 100 victim impact statements about the abuse she endured at the hands of former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. "As president, it is only natural that I am the focus of this anger. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. My deepest sympathies to the family of John Stephens. When I stepped to the microphone in that Michigan courtroom, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina She's like a talisman, the unofficial symbol of the Larry Nassar case. All-league boys basketball teams in the South Sound for the 2022-23 season, as chosen by coaches. Nassar bowed his head with closed eyes or looked away as Stephens spoke about the ordeal she allegedly suffered at the hands of the doctor. Many said it led to depression, suicidal thoughts, anger and anxiety about whether they should have spoken up sooner. Nov 13, 2021. Father of Three Larry Nassar Victims Lunges at 'Demon' Doctor in Court, Disgraced Former Gymnastics Doctor Larry Nassar Sentenced to 175 Years for Sexually Abusing Girls, Father Who Lunged at Larry Nassar in Courtroom: 'I'm No Hero, My Daughters Are the Heroes', pleaded guilty in November to several counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. They would approach her in the courtroom, shyly, and say, "Thank you." "You used my body for six years for your own sexual gratification. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Now, Athlete A, a new Netflix documentary, shares the stories of the women, including Kyle Stephens, who were abused by Nassar and their fight for justice. STEPHENS - Brandon Kyle Stephens, Sr., 25, of Yulee passed away Saturday, June 24, 2017. Obituaries; Classifieds. She was a retired Registered Nurse. 0:03. ", "'You convinced my parents that you didn't stick your fingers up my adolescent vagina. Every single one. Larry is a predator, Rachael says. It's easy now, with the sheer number of survivors, to forget that for so long, Rachael Denhollander's name was the only one out there. When she was at their home, the family acted as if she never accused Nassar at all. Quickly find an Australian funeral, death or obituary notice by entering a name in the search box below and then clicking search. We must start treating sexual abuse as a public health issue. She said that Nassar repeatedly abused her from the time she was six years old to when she was 12 when her family visited the doctor at his home. Windows 11 update brings Bings chatbot to the desktop, Chinese state media calls out Elon Musk over coronavirus tweet. Emma Winowiecki/Jodi Westrick/Michigan Radio. KYLE STEPHENS OBITUARY. 1. Once Kyles father discovered what had happened, he tragically took his own life. K-Y-L-E S-T-E-P-H-E-N-S.", "I was the first to testify in this case. "But I still get sick at the smell of that lotion.". Interment will follow in Green Pine Cemetery. By: Naveen Rao - Published: January 17, 2018 at 8:14 am. "I was the first to testify in this case. ", News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. It's another to actually see 15-year-olds sitting with their moms. And while she and her father eventually "did the best to patch up our relationship," he died from suicide in 2016, Stephens told the court -- and she suspects his guilt over the Nassar abuse was a factor. David Von Drehle: The rot in USA Gymnastics goes beyond Larry Nassar. Nassar pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a child in November 2017. Her parents were close friends with the doctor, and Nassar began sexually abusing her in her own home when she was a kindergartner, she said during her moving testimony. Stollak was one of seven current and former health-care providers at MSUput under investigation by the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs for their actions related to Nassar. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by a sister and . Brandon was full of life, never met any strangers, and always had a smile on his face. Put friendships in front of the truth, fail to create or enforce proper policy and fail to hold enablers accountable. As the final day of sentencing approaches, everybody knows: The woman who started this case would be the one to finish it. Kyle Stephens, whose family was close with Nassar's, said he repeatedly abused her from age 6 to 12 during family visits to his home near Lansing, Michigan. My mom says now that she did think, Huh, that's a little weird. But at that time, he just came off as like a guy that just really liked children, and he would always say he was going down to play with us, entertain us and have fun with us, she said. Our society is conditioned to put the reputations of people and institutions above the well-being of a child or adult survivor. Stephens told the court her mother and father became close to Nassar and his wife, Stephanie, when Stephens was 5. She added: "I couldn't be just a normal girl anymore, and I forever lost a big piece of my childhood due to his abuse.". Once Kyle had been separated from her brother, Nassar would masturbate in front of her. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Gary Stollak, a retired Michigan State University psychologist, has been forced to permanently surrender his pscychology license for failing to report a patient's allegations of sexual abuse by Larry Nassar. I have received messages from survivors all over the world detailing their abuse and isolation. She told the court that her father had taken his own life when he discovered the full extent of Nassars abuse of his daughter. Kyle Stephens mentioned he got very sick and believes it was the mixture of him getting sick and hearing that Nassar was being charged. We mournfully announce the passing of Kyle Brandon Bazant of the Town of Russell, Wisconsin. His belief that I lied seeped into the foundation of our relationship, she said. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Armeda Joan Gurley Stephens, 86, of Mount Olive, AL passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 23, 2023. Heres why. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. In January 2018, Kyle Stephens became the first woman to take the stand against Nassar and tell her harrowing story. For other inquiries, Contact Us. In January 2018, Kyle Stephens became the first woman to take the stand against Nassar and tell her harrowing story. ", Finally, she makes a plea to Judge Rosemarie Aquilina: Give Larry the maximum sentence the plea agreement allows. We must demand that every candidate running for office has a sexual-abuse and assault prevention agenda. Nassar became an assistant professor and team physician at Michigan State University, and was named the national medical coordinator for USA Gymnastics, in 1996. While reading her impact statement in court, Stephens revealed that her father had multiple mental health issues before he committed suicide. After years of suffering from the sexual abuse, Kyle told her parents what was happening. Little girls dont stay little forever, she added. Believed is a podcast produced by Michigan Radio and distributed by NPR. Stephens said, Without my knowledge or consent, I had engaged in my first sexual experience when I was in kindergarten.. How it started when she was just 6 years old. Stephens asked the judge to ensure that Nassar did not walk free to hurt anyone again. The lawyers run through some last-minute logistics. Abusers dont see race, religion or political affiliation. On that last day, lead prosecutor Angela Povilaitis stands to introduce Rachael. These maladaptive behaviors kept me anchored in seemingly endless pain. Nassar was the team physician for the Michigan State University gymnastics and womens crew teams, as well as an associate professor at MSUs College of Osteopathic Medicine. He loved to hunt, fish and spend time with his family. Kyle Stephens, who was abused by Nassar from the ages of 6 to 12, was one of the former gymnasts to read out her statement in a Michigan court, in which she detailed Nassar's crimes. "Send a message that these victims are worth everything because everything is what these survivors are worth.". He then later moved to Hebbronvi Paul Young Stephens, a resident of Prairieville, passed away on Thursday, March 23, 2017 at the age of 56. For years, Kyle Stephens has been identified only as "Victim Z.A." or "family friend." 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