Former CFL running back Cierre Wood has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and felony child abuse. He will be eligible for parole in 10 years.
La’Rayah Davis, who was five years old at the time of her death in April 2019, was the daughter of Wood’s girlfriend, Amy Taylor, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and felony child abuse earlier this year.
According to court documents obtained by the Associated Press, the child suffered bruises, scratches, and internal injuries as Wood and Taylor forced her to exercise as a form of discipline and weight loss. She died in Las Vegas, Nev. of blunt force injuries.
Wood signed with the Houston Texans after going unselected in the 2013 NFL Draft out of the University of Notre Dame. He also had stints with the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills, recording five carries for 12 yards over seven career regular season NFL games.
The native of Bloomington, Calf. came to the CFL in 2017 as a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was traded to the Montreal Alouettes in exchange for defensive back Khalid Wooten, though he was released before the start of the preseason. He had a brief off-season stint with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers the following year but never dressed for a regular season CFL game.
Wood recorded 450 carries for 1,447 yards and 16 touchdowns over 37 collegiate games with the Fighting Irish.
