Former University of Hawaii volleyball star and U.S. Olympian Kim Willoughby is scheduled for indictment today in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, for first-degree murder and child abuse. This is according to multiple reports from Puerto Rico media outlets, including the website of El Nuevo Dia, the U.S. territory’s largest newspaper.
The case stems from the 2016 death of a 3-year-old girl under Willoughby’s care, whom Willoughby was reported to be in the process of adopting. The three-time first-team All-American was playing professional volleyball for the Mayaguez Indias at the time of the girl’s death.
According to a 2012 FoxNews report, in Puerto Rico first-degree murder is punishable by up to 99 years in prison. Puerto Rico abolished the death penalty in 1929, according to the deathpenaltyinfo.org website.
It is unclear if Willoughby is currently being detained, but a news report from last week indicated she was being held in lieu of a $200,000 bond. Her trial is set to start Oct. 4.
In January, it appeared Willoughby was cleared of wrongdoing when a judge in Puerto Rico ruled there was not enough evidence to indict her. Police had accused her of murder and child abuse, but Willoughby said the child died by hitting her head after an accidental fall in a shower while Willoughby had gone to look for a towel.
But new evidence presented at a hearing Sept. 10 revealed injuries inconsistent with such a fall, according to testimony by Dr. Irma Rivera Diez, who conducted an autopsy on the child (whose name has never been revealed in media reports).
Rivera Diez testified to finding 11 evidences of external trauma, including abrasions, bruises and lacerations on the child’s face, forehead, the back of her head and arms. The forensic pathologist testified that some of the injuries were not recent and indicated a pattern of abuse.
Also, some of the injuries were consistent with the child being struck minutes before death, Rivera Diez testified.
Rivera Diez also discovered 21 occurrences of recent internal trauma including a ruptured vertebra, abdominal injuries, rupture of the abdominal aorta, kidney and pancreas injuries, according to the doctor’s testimony.
Also, X-rays showed arm and shoulder injuries from two and three months prior, and a rib fracture.
Defense attorney Harry Padilla said the girl was a victim of abuse before Willoughby took custody, and that the internal injuries could have been aggravated by improper attempts at first aid.
Rivera Diez countered that incorrect first aid would not cause injuries as serious as those found in the autopsy.
Willoughby had several previous legal problems, some involving violence, including during her time in Hawaii.
In 2009, she pleaded no contest in a plea agreement and was sentenced to five years probation following a fight in 2006 outside of Pipeline Cafe in Kakaako. Willoughby originally pleaded not guilty to allegations of assault causing broken nose and eye socket bones to Sara Daniel. Willoughby claimed self-defense, but judge Sherri Chun disagreed, since evidence indicated Willoughby followed Daniel out of the club.
Willoughby was also charged with assault in two other separate incidents around the same time as the Pipeline fight.
While she was a student-athlete at UH in 2001, Willoughby was charged with abuse of a family or household member and third-degree assault. The victim filed for a temporary restraining order and a three-year protective order was issued.
While playing professionally for an Italian team in 2009, Willoughby tested positive for nandrolone, an anabolic steroid and banned performance enhancer. She was suspended two years by the Italian Olympic Committee.
At UH, Willoughby was a star performer on some of the most talented teams in Rainbow Wahine history.
She was the national player of the year in 2003 when Hawaii made it to the national semifinals her senior year.
Willoughby started on the U.S. 2008 Olympic team that won the silver medal in Beijing.
In January, she was named a member of the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame.