Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publicly accuse Larry Nassar of sexual assault, paid tribute to a detective who worked on the case naming his newborn daughter after her.
Denhollander, 33, praised the Michigan State University detective, Lieutenant Andrea Renee Munford, in the announcement of Friday's birth of her third daughter, Elora Renee Joy.
Munford "fought for us and made possible the redemption of so much evil," Denhollander tweeted. "We just need some more babies so we can have the same name for the others who fought for us too."
Elora Renee Joy.
Elora – God has the victory.
Renee – Rebirth, redemption. And after Lt. Lieutenant Andrea Renee Munford, who fought for us and made possible the redemption of so much evil,
We just need some more babies so we can have the same name for the others who fought for us too ? pic.twitter. com / L6pIhPtXoB
– Rachael Denhollander (@R_Denhollander) July 21, 2018
Denhollander was the first to make public the accusations against Nassar, the former sports doctor at Michigan State University and Gymnastics in the United States who pleaded guilty in November to sexually assaulting his patients.
She informed MSU police in August 2016 that Nassar had bothered her when she was seeking treatment for back pain in 2000. She was 15.
Denhollander and another woman, who chose not to be named, filed complaints against Nassar in September 2016. More than a year later, in February 2018, after hearing statements of impact during seven days from more than 100 accusers, a judge sentenced Nassar to 40 to 175 years in prison.
Denhollander told the Lansing State Journal in April that he was impressed by Munford's tenacity and commitment to seek the truth.
"These women show love, courage and sacrifice more than anyone ever knows," Denhollander tweeted in April about the Assistant Attorney General of Munford and Michigan Angela Povilaitis, who directed the indictment against Nassar.
"Heroes long before the attention of the media, fighting for those who have no voice and little strength left," he wrote. "Very grateful for them"
JEFF KOWALSKY through Getty Images
Povilaitis welcomed the new incorporation of Denhollander to the family in a sincere tweet on Friday.
"I have such happy tears at this moment, what a beautiful and perfect name!" Tweeted Povilaitis, adding that she shared Denhollander's publication with Munford, who is not on Twitter.
A representative of Munford did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
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