A year after suffering a near-fatal stabbing in prison, Larry Nassar, the disgraced former Olympic gymnastics doctor and convicted child molester, continues to bear the physical scars of his attack. Fellow inmates have labeled him as a “weak” man and have sought to exploit him, according to a prison source.
“He came in here looking like a victim and acting like a victim,” said a guard at FCI Coleman, a federal prison in Florida where Nassar was housed from 2018 until 2023.
“He was an easy target. They called him a little b—h and treated him like a doormat. And that’s still happening at his new prison, as far as I know. He’s in danger every day because he’s weak.”
The threat level is possibly heightened as the US Gymnastics Team, which includes members he victimized, takes center stage at the Paris Olympics. Simone Biles, who won gold in the all-around individual gymnastics competition on Thursday, is among those who have publicly discussed being abused by Nassar.
“Lots of these guys have no contact with their family, and they look up to these Olympians,” said the guard. “They are fans. And he’s hated because of what he did not only to little girls, but to heroic little girls.”
Nassar’s tenure at FCI Coleman ended in 2023 when he was transferred to FCI Lewisburg, a medium-security prison in Pennsylvania. This move followed an incident in July of the previous year when fellow inmate Shane McMillan allegedly used a shank to stab Nassar multiple times in his cell. McMillan reportedly said Nassar had expressed a desire to ogle female tennis players at Wimbledon.
“It offended McMillan,” said the guard, who witnessed the aftermath of the attack. “A serial molester saying that stuff is not a good look, and McMillian put him in his place.”
Nassar sustained injuries to his back, chest, torso, and arms, requiring dozens of stitches. He still has visible scars from the stabbing, according to the source.
Currently serving between 40 and 175 years in prison after convictions in state and federal courts, Nassar admitted to sexually assaulting athletes while employed at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics, which governs the Olympic gymnastics team. He also pleaded guilty to possessing images of child sexual abuse in a separate case.
Prominent athletes, including Olympians Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney, were instrumental in bringing Nassar to justice by coming forward with their allegations of sexual abuse.
While some inmates claimed that Nassar provided sexual favors to Mexican gang members, the guard suggested the relationship was likely financial rather than sexual.
“When weak people need protection, they have two things to give, either sex or money,” the guard claims. “He had money and bought them items. I know that for a fact. Now the guys may have spread the rumor that he sucked their d–ks just to humiliate him, but I’d be really surprised if he actually did. His currency is money, not sex.”
A spokesperson for FCI Lewisburg did not immediately respond to a request for comment.