Former Notre Dame football standout Cierre Wood has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend's 5-year-old daughter.
According to Fox News, Wood pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and felony child abuse in connection with the April 2019 death of the child at his Las Vegas apartment.
Wood, who also briefly played in the NFL and Canadian Football League, will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years. Clark County District Court Judge Jacqueline Bluth handed down the sentence, which was also ordered for Wood to serve between 28 months and six years for the child abuse charge, with the sentences to be served consecutively.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed the remaining felony counts of child abuse initially filed against Wood. The former running back entered an Alford plea, which allows a defendant to formally admit guilt in criminal court while still claiming innocence.
Wood's girlfriend, Amy Taylor, also pleaded guilty earlier this year to second-degree murder and felony child abuse as part of a deal with prosecutors. The details of her sentencing were not provided in the report.
The victim, Taylor's 5-year-old daughter, was found in Wood's apartment with bruises and trauma, leading to the charges against both Wood and Taylor.
Cierre Wood's football career peaked during his time at Notre Dame, where he became a star player for the Fighting Irish. In his sophomore season, Wood rushed for 1,102 yards and nine touchdowns on 217 carries, all of which were career-best statistics.
The following season, Wood shared carries with teammate Theo Riddick. Despite having one year of eligibility remaining, Wood chose to enter the NFL Draft, forgoing his final season at Notre Dame.
After going undrafted, Wood signed with the Houston Texans as a free agent in 2013. However, his NFL career was short-lived. He played in only three games for the Texans before being released in October of that year for violating team rules.
Wood then had brief stints with the New England Patriots, appearing in two games, and the Buffalo Bills. His time with the Bills was cut short when he tore his ACL, effectively ending his NFL career.
In 2017, Wood attempted to continue his professional football career in the Canadian Football League. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes during his time in the CFL.
The court sentenced Wood to life for second-degree murder and added time for child abuse. Wood used an Alford plea, maintaining innocence while acknowledging the prosecution's strong case. The plea deal led to some charges being dropped, but the life sentence with parole eligibility after 10 years underscores the crime's seriousness.
In conclusion, Cierre Wood, once a promising football player at Notre Dame, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend's 5-year-old daughter. The crime occurred in April 2019 at Wood's Las Vegas apartment. Wood pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and felony child abuse, entering an Alford plea. He will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years, with an additional consecutive sentence for child abuse. The case marks a tragic end to Wood's journey from college football star to convicted felon.
