The NFL will not suspend Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill following allegations he physically abused his three-year-old son.
Hill had been under investigation for months after Overland Park police were called to his home in March following a domestic abuse disturbance.
An audio clip later emerged of him allegedly threatening his fiancee as she accused him of breaking their three-year-old son’s arm.
But the league said in a statement Friday that as it had not been given access to information in the court proceedings, and that a district attorney said in June that no allegations against him could be proved true, there was no scope to suspend him.
The Chiefs are in the midst of offseason workouts, and Hill is barred from attending
Crystal Espinal, former girlfriend of football player Tyreek Hill, and mother of his son Zev, is seen with Tyreek and Zev in a Twitter photo posted in November 2018
In the 11-minute recording reportedly made by Crystal Espinal in an airport in Dubai, the woman told Hill when he was asked about his injured arm, the boy said: ‘Daddy did it.’
Hill denied any role in what happened, stating: ‘He says Daddy does a lot of things.’
When Espinal told Hill their son is ‘terrified of you,’ he replied, ‘You need to be terrified of me, too b***h.’
Police were called to Hill’s home twice in March, the Kansas City Star reported.
The first was in response to an alleged battery ‘that lists a juvenile as the victim’ and the other was in relation to alleged ‘child abuse or neglect.’
Hill reportedly choked and punched Espinal (right) when she was pregnant in December 2014. Hill was arrested and dismissed from the Oklahoma State football team. He later pleaded guilty to domestic assault and battery by strangulation and received three years’ probation
The three-year-old son of Tyreek Hill (left) and Crystal Espinal (right) was temporarily removed from their custody during the first child abuse investigation. The boy’s arm was reportedly broken during an incident in March
The Chiefs released a statement after the NFL made it’s decision, stating that Hill would return for training camp.
‘We have been informed of the decision by the National Football League that, based on the available evidence, the league has not found that Tyreek Hill violated the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.
‘Based on the information provided to us by the league, we have decided it is appropriate for Tyreek to return to the team at the start of training camp.
‘The club fully supports the conditions for return laid out by the league and will continue to monitor any new developments in the case. We are glad to welcome Tyreek back to the team and look forward to the start of training camp next week.’
In response, Hill released a statement: ‘The last few months have been very difficult for me, especially as a father. The false allegations originally reported in March were highly publicized and involved the care of my son.
Tyreek Hill #10, wide receiver with the Kansas City Chiefs
‘I am grateful for so many things and grateful for so many people who have supported me during this challenging time. I fully respect and accept the NFL’s decision.’
Hill added: ‘To the fans, friends, and family that I have made in Kansas City: I love you and thank you for your continued support.
‘To the NFL, Commissioner Goodell and everyone who assisted in this investigation: thank you for your time and for conducting a thorough investigation. I will not let you down.’
‘I can assure you that I will continue to work to be the person, player, and teammate that you envisioned me to be.’
‘To my children, my beautiful children: I love you all dearly and I promise you all that I will continue to strive to be the best father, the best friend, the best role model, and the best mentor that I can be. I love you all.’
In April it was reported by multiple outlets that the boy had been taken away from Hill and the boy’s mother, Espinal.
On April 24, Howe said charges would not be filed but that he was ‘deeply troubled’ by the situation and said ‘we believe a crime has occurred.’
Howe also said at the time that the case could be reopened if new information surfaced.
Two days later, CBS affiliate KCTV broadcast the aforementioned audio, in which Hill threatens Espinal when she accuses him of hurting their son.
‘He is terrified of you,’ Espinal can be heard saying in audio that was reportedly recorded at an airport in Dubai.
‘You need to be terrified of me, too, b***h,’ replied the man on the tape, who is reported to be Hill. That’s why you can’t keep a f***ing man.’
Howe immediately re-opened the investigation and Hill was suspended indefinitely by the Kansas City Chiefs.
On May 2, The Associated Press published portions of a letter sent from Pettlon to the NFL, in which Hill’s attorney claims to have text messages in which Espinal admits to hurting the couple’s three-year-old son.
In one exchange, according to Pettlon’s letter, Hill tells Espinal after their trip to Dubai: ‘Crystal you know I didn’t cause any bruising or harm to [our son] but for some reason I still may be charged.’
Espinal allegedly replied: ‘I know you didn’t. I did. I hurt [our son]. I’m the one that did it. I was hurt and mad at you so I blamed you for everything.’
It is not known of Espinal and Hill are still engaged, nor is it known where their son is currently residing.
Although there is no current criminal investigation into the matter, Hill and Espinal are still involved in a case with the Kansas Department for Children and Families, which is prevented from addressing ongoing cases.
In his four-page letter to the NFL, Pettlon had insisted that his client was devoted to his son.
‘He is committed to improving his life and becoming the best parent he can be,’ Pettlon wrote in the letter. ‘… He is very upbeat even through this difficult process, and he’s embracing the counseling and the educational aspect to it.’
Although Hill may have avoided criminal charges, the NFL can still punish him
Hill has been in trouble before.
He was drafted by the Chiefs despite a domestic abuse case in which he attacked Espinal while the two attended Oklahoma State. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to domestic assault and battery by strangulation in connection to the incident, which occurred while Espinal was pregnant.
Hill was kicked off the team at Oklahoma State and wound up at West Alabama. When they drafted Hill in 2016, the Chiefs explained that he was undergoing counseling.
That background, combined with the audio revealed hours before the start of last week’s NFL draft, generated a substantial outcry that Hill should be released by the Chiefs. Some have even said Hill, an All-Pro wide receiver, should never play in the NFL again.