Former Notre Dame and NFL running back Cierre Wood will go to trial after being held on a murder charge for the death of his girlfriend’s 5-year-old daughter. Wood was arrested April 10 after the 5-year-old, La-Rayah Davis, passed away the previous day from numerous injuries — including broken ribs and organ damage.
Wood played for the Irish from 2009 to 2012 but did not take the field as a freshman. His breakout year came as a redshirt sophomore in 2011, when he rushed for 1,102 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games while also recording 189 receiving yards. His numbers dipped the following year, but he still recorded over 700 rushing yards and scored four touchdowns in 11 games as the Irish went undefeated in the regular season before losing to Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game.
Wood declared for the 2013 NFL draft, despite still having a year of eligibility remaining, and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans. However, Wood’s career was troubled from the outset as he was released by the Texans in October of the same year for unspecified noncompliance with team policies. He was added to the New England Patriots’ practice squad the following month, but was released a month and a half later on December 26.
He had stints with three more NFL teams over the next two years before tearing his ACL in 2015, ending his NFL career with a total of 12 rushing yards on five carries. After a brief hiatus from professional action, Wood joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League in 2017, but was traded nearly two months later to the Montreal Alouettes until he was released exactly one year later.
Wood and his girlfriend, Amy Taylor, are both facing charges. Wood is also facing 19 possible felony charges for child abuse and neglect. Bail was denied for both Wood and Taylor as a court date has yet to be determined.
