Larry Nassar's downfall started with an email to IndyStar

Breaking news: Larry Nassar sentenced to 60 years in federal child pornography case

Longtime USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar will be sentenced Thursday in federal court in Grand Rapids, Mich., after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.

It will be the first time a judge decides the length of a jail sentence for Nassar. He faces sentencing in two state courts next month after pleading guilty in both to charges of sexual assault of minors.

Here are the events that led to the downfall of the once-beloved doctor who worked for USA Gymnastics for 29 years, including four Olympic Games.

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The first tip

IndyStar published "Out of Balance," an investigation into how USA Gymnastics policies for handling sexual abuse complaints enabled predators to abuse children long after the organization had been warned.

The morning of publication, Aug. 4, 2016, IndyStar received an email from Rachael Denhollander of Louisville that started, "I recently read the article titled 'Out of Balance' published by the IndyStar. My experience may not be relevant to your investigation, but I am emailing to report an incident ..."

Denhollander described having been abused by Nassar more than 10 years earlier as a club-level gymnast in Michigan. As more tips came in, two more gymnasts claimed Nassar abused them.

More accusers

California lawyer John Manly called IndyStar on Aug. 15 to say he was representing Olympic medalist Jamie Dantzscher, who had been sexually abused by Nassar. He planned to file a lawsuit against USA Gymnastics for failing to act on suspicions about Nassar's conduct.

Less than a week later, a third person contacted IndyStar about Nassar. Jessica Howard, a USA Gymnastics Hall of Famer and national champion in rhythmic gymnastics, said she had been sexually abused by Nassar at age 15.

All three women had similar stories about what the doctor did to them. (Howard wanted to remain anonymous at the time, but gave permission to use her name for this account.)

Publication and its impact

IndyStar published its first story on Nassar on Sept. 12, 2016, after Denhollander filed a criminal complaint with police and Dantzscher's lawsuit was officially filed. Denhollander gave permission to use her name. Dantzscher remained anonymous, although gymnastics people could easily figure out her identity from details in the lawsuit.

On the day of publication, an IndyStar reporter was interviewing Nassar and his lawyer in Grand Rapids, Mich. Nassar denied wrongdoing, saying his medical procedures were being misunderstood.

Eight days later, though, Michigan State University fired Nassar for failing to comply with requirements imposed after a 2014 sexual abuse allegation filed with the university. Nassar was cleared in that case, but given protocols to follow when performing procedures in sensitive areas. Those included the use of gloves and having a nurse in the room.

IndyStar reported on Sept. 25, 2016, that 16 more women had filed criminal complaints about Nassar with law enforcement.

Criminal charges

Child sex abuse charges were filed against Nassar on Nov. 22, 2016. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette called them "the tip of the iceberg." The chief of Michigan State's police department said the agency had received more than 50 tips about the doctor.

On Dec. 16, 2016, Nassar was indicted on federal child pornography charges. It would later come out that he possessed more than 37,000 such images on his computer equipment.

Personal, professional breakdown

In January, Nassar's wife filed for divorce.

In April, his medical license was suspended for three years by Michigan's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

In June, the state of Michigan moved to terminate Nassar's parental rights.

Guilty Pleas

Nassar pleaded guilty to federal child porn charges in July in Grand Rapids, Mich. That is the crime he will be sentenced for today.

On Nov. 22, he pleaded guilty to seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Ingham County, Michigan.

A week later, he pleaded guilty to three other counts of first-degree sexual conduct in Eaton County, Michigan.

Nassar will be sentenced in those two case in January.

Call IndyStar reporter Mark Alesia at (317) 444-6311. Follow him on Twitter: @markalesia.

Call IndyStar reporter Tim Evans at (317) 444-6204. Follow him on Twitter: @starwatchtim.

Call IndyStar reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski at (317) 444-6135. Follow her on Twitter: @IndyMarisaK.