Denhollander, first Nassar accuser, names child after detective in case
LANSING, Mich. – Rachael Denhollander, the first person to publicly accuse Larry Nassar of sexual assault, has named her fourth child after the Michigan State University Police detective who built the case against the former MSU doctor.
The girl’s name is Elora Renee Joy, Denhollander announced via Twitter on Friday.
Elora, she explained, means to God belongs the victory. The newborn’s middle name, Renee, means rebirth and redemption, Denhollander wrote.
It’s also in honor of Michigan State University Detective Lt. Andrea Renee Munford “who fought for us and made redeeming so much evil, possible,” Denhollander wrote.
Munford, along with then-Michigan Assistant Attorney General Angie Povilaitis, spent more than a year building a case against Nassar.
Because of the recent birth, Denhollander didn’t attend Tuesday’s Senate hearing that focused on changes made by the U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics and Michigan State to protect athletes from abuse.
More than 80 survivors met with senators before the hearing and shared their stories.