Former Notre Dame RB Indicted on Murder Charges and 20 Counts of Felony Child Abuse

A former Notre Dame and Patriots running back is facing serious time behind bars.

Cierre Wood and girlfriend, Amy Taylor, were indicted on murder and 20 felony child abuse charges in relation to the death of Taylor's five-year-old daughter, per the Associated Press.

La'Rayah Davis was found lifeless in Wood's Las Vegas apartment on April 9. Just two weeks earlier, Taylor and Davis had moved in with Wood and his young daughter.

According to Davis' autopsy report, the young girl had 20 newly broken ribs, a lacerated liver, internal bleeding, and bruises to her heart, diaphragm and collective tissue.

Taylor told police that she sat on her daughter as punishment just a week prior to her death. Wood let the authorities know that he used exercise as discipline for the young girl, and on the day of her death, stated that she hit her head off the carpeted floor after falling backwards while doing sit-ups.

As an undrafted free agent in 2013, Wood played for the Houston Texans, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills during his three-year NFL career. Wood joined the Canadian Football League in 2017, playing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Montreal Alouettes, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Wood plans to plead not guilty during his July 2 arraignments. If found guilty, both Wood and Taylor face life in prison.