Former US Olympic volleyball player charged with murder and child abuse in 2016 death of daughter, 3

Former US Olympic volleyball player Kim Willoughby, 37, was indicted Thursday on murder and child abuse in the March 2016 death of her three-year-old daughter

A former US Olympic volleyball player has been indicted in Puerto Rico on first-degree murder and child abuse charges stemming from the 2016 death of her adopted daughter.   

Kim Willoughby, 37, was indicted Thursday in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, eight months after a judge originally declared that that there wasn’t enough evidence to go to trial in January. 

Willoughby, who won the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was charged by police in Puerto Rico in the March 2016 death of her three-year-old Kailia, who Willoughby was trying to adopt. 

The Olympian was living in Puerto Rico and playing professional volleyball for the Mayaguez Indias when the incident occurred. 

Willoughby told police she had been searching for a towel around 9.45am, when Kailia slipped and hit her head in the shower, according to a police report. CPR was performed, but the toddler was pronounced dead upon her arrival at the Medical Center of Mayaguez.  

During the investigation, it was found that the blows she suffered were inconsistent with the alleged fall. 

‘The Forensic Science report showed that the cause of death was not compatible with a fall. On the contrary, the cause of death was a severe corporal blow,’ Commander Janice Rodríguez, of the Criminal Investigation Body of Mayaguez said at the time.

Despite this, the judge declared that there was not enough evidence to indict Willoughby in January.  

A new hearing was held on September 10, in which the doctor who performed Kailia’s autopsy took the stand to reveal multiple findings of injuries that indicated a pattern of abuse.   

The indictment comes eight months after a judge had declared that Willoughby (pictured at the 2008 Beijing Olympics) would not stand trial due to lack of evidence in the toddler's death

The indictment comes eight months after a judge had declared that Willoughby (pictured at the 2008 Beijing Olympics) would not stand trial due to lack of evidence in the toddler’s death

An investigation into Willoughby's daughter's death indicated that the blows she suffered were incompatible with the alleged shower fall

Willoughby is pictured with the US Women's National Volleyball team in 2008

An investigation into Willoughby’s daughter’s death indicated that the blows she suffered were incompatible with the alleged shower fall (Willoughby pictured in 2008)

At a September 10 hearing, a forensic pathologist testified to finding 11 signs of external trauma and 21 signs of internal trauma during Willoughby's daughter's autopsy (file photo)

At a September 10 hearing, a forensic pathologist testified to finding 11 signs of external trauma and 21 signs of internal trauma during Willoughby’s daughter’s autopsy (file photo)

Dr Irma Rivera Diez, forensic pathologist at the Bureau of Forensic Sciences (NCF), testified that there were 11 instances of external trauma on the toddler’s body — including cuts and bruised on her face and arms — in addition to 21 signs of recent internal trauma, El Nuevo Dia reported. 

The internal injuries were said to have included a ruptured vertebra and abdominal aorta, in addition to kidney and pancreas injuries, while X-rays revealed shoulder injuries dating back to as long as three months prior to Kailia’s death, plus a rib fracture. 

Some of the reported injuries were said to have been the result of excessive force which were not consistent with a bathtub slip and fall.  

Additionally, Rivera Diez said, some of the injuries were consistent with Kailia having been hit just minutes before dying. 

Willoughby’s defense attorney said that Kailia had been abused before entering the Olympian’s care and that the injuries found during the autopsy could have been made worse due to improperly rendered first aid, according to the Honolulu Star Advertiser. 

Rivera Diez testified that first aid would not have caused injuries as severe as those uncovered during the autopsy.  

At Thursday’s indictment, Willoughby’s trial start date was set for October 4. Although it is not clear if she is currently in custody, it has been reported that she is being held in lieu of a $200,000 bond. 

This is not Willoughby’s first run-in with the law.

In June 2001, Honolulu police charged her with abuse of a family or household member and third-degree assault, both misdemeanors. One month later, Willoughby entered deferred guilty pleas to both charges.

Five days after police charged Willoughby in the case, the victim filed for a temporary restraining order against her, leading a judge to issue a three-year protective order.

In September 2008, she was arrested for assaulting a woman outside a Honolulu night club in December 2006.

Willoughby allegedly got into an altercation with Sara Daniel at the Pipeline Cafe in Kakaako, causing severe bone fractures to Daniel’s face. 

Willoughby claimed self-defense, but prosecutor Sherri Chun disagreed, saying: ‘This incident was not self-defense. [Willoughby] followed [Daniel] out of the club, and that’s when this all happened.’

The volleyball star pleaded no contest in a plea agreement with the state and was sentenced to five years’ probation. In January 2012, she was granted an early end to her probation.   

After winning the silver medal a the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Willoughby moved to Italy to continue her professional career. 

She tested positive for nandrolone – a steroid – after a match for her Italian team, Perugia, in April 2009.

In September 2009, it was announced that Willoughby was given a two-year suspension from the Italian Olympic Committee, to end in July 2011, reported the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Following that, Willoughby moved to Puerto Rico to play for various teams in the Puerto Rican league.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk